Race Details
- Venue Location: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119.
- Poat Time is scheduled for post time 5:30 p.m. CT (6:30 p.m. ET).
- Race Conditions: $500,000 purse, Grade II, 1 1/8 miles on dirt, for 3-year-olds. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 50-25-15-10-5. Lasix allowed (noted as “L”). No apprentices. Weights: 122 lbs. Trophy to the winning owner.
- Expected Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 73°F and low of 60°F. Winds S at 4-7 mph, 20% chance of light rain (0.01-0.05 inches), humidity around 80-100%. Mild winter day with potential for brief showers.
- Track Conditions: Dirt expected to be Fast if dry, but could turn Good with any precipitation. Fair Grounds’ dirt favors early speed in routes (60% wire-to-wire winners in similar stakes), though contested paces benefit closers in wetter conditions.
The Grade II Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes is the featured event on Louisiana Derby Preview Day, serving as a major Kentucky Derby prep and the first to award 50 points to the winner. This $500,000 dirt route for 3-year-olds has produced recent Derby contenders like Sierra Leone (2024 winner) and has a history of upsets, with longshots like Magnitude (44-1 in 2025) occasionally prevailing. With a moderate pace projected from speed types like Chip Honcho and Courting, stalkers such as Paladin and closers like Universe could thrive in this compact field of eight.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions, dates, and Beyer speed figures where available), pedigree notes, and performance analysis. Morning line odds are from official entries.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position/Date/Beyer Fig) | Analysis |
| 1 | Universe (KY) | Christopher Elliott | Kenneth G. McPeek | 8/1 | 7th (Jan 3, 2026, OP Smarty Jones S./80), 3rd (Oct 2025, BEL Champagne S./91), 2nd (Nov 2025, CD Kentucky Jockey Club S./89) | Stalker/closer with blinkers on; respectable Derby prep form last fall but disappointed as favorite in Smarty Jones after breaking last; steady trainer with Derby experience; could rally if pace melts. Pedigree (Global Campaign – Equalityforall by Quality Road) suits distance; bay colt. Pros: Experience in preps; cons: Recent poor start. Owners: 4 G Racing, LLC et al. Breeder: Becky Pietras. |
| 2 | Golden Tempo (KY) | Jose L. Ortiz | Cherie DeVaux | 3/1 | 1st (Jan 17, 2026, FG Lecomte S./85), 1st (Dec 20, 2025, FG MSW/82), Debut N/A | Undefeated closer; sustained rally to win Lecomte from ninth; excellent pedigree for stretch-out; top jockey leading Fair Grounds standings. Pedigree (Curlin – Carrumba by Bernardini) loaded with stamina; bay colt. Pros: Local wins; cons: Faces tougher shippers. Owners: Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. Breeder: Phipps Stable & St. Elias Stables, LLC. |
| 3 | Carson Street (KY) | Ben Curtis | Brendan P. Walsh | 8/1 | 3rd (Jan 17, 2026, FG Lecomte S./86), 1st (Dec 2025, FG MSW/85), 2nd (Nov 2025, CD MSW/82) | Pace presser; led in Lecomte stretch but tired late; dominated maiden by 11¼ on sloppy track (rain possible); consistent in five starts. Pedigree (Street Sense – Miz Kella by Harlan’s Holiday); dark bay/brown colt. Pros: Loves Fair Grounds; cons: Figures plateaued mid-80s. Owners: Ike and Dawn Thrash. Breeder: Stonehaven Steadings. |
| 4 | Paladin (KY) | Tyler Gaffalione | Chad C. Brown | 8/5 | 1st (Dec 6, 2025, AQU Remsen S./96), 1st (Oct 17, 2025, AQU MSW/83) (promoted from 2nd), Debut N/A | Undefeated stalker; improved 13 points to win Remsen by two; runner-up Renegade flattered form with recent romp; highly regarded Derby prospect. Pedigree (Gun Runner – Secret Sigh by Tapit); chestnut colt. Pros: Big upside; cons: Jockey switch from Prat. Owners: Mrs. John Magnier et al. Breeder: Summer Wind Equine LLC. |
| 5 | Chip Honcho (KY) | Luis Saez | Steven M. Asmussen | 6/1 | 4th (Jan 17, 2026, FG Lecomte S./87), 1st (Dec 20, 2025, FG Gun Runner S./85), 2nd (Nov 2025, CD MSW/82) | Pace presser with blinkers off; won Gun Runner but settled for fourth in Lecomte after slow start; new jockey could help. Pedigree (Connect – Miss My Rose by Magician (IRE)); dark bay/brown colt. Pros: Juvenile campaign strong; cons: Stamina questions. Owners: Leland Ackerley Racing LLC et al. Breeder: Venneri Racing Inc. & Tony Fanticola. |
| 6 | Colt Forty Seven (KY) | James Graham | J. Keith Desormeaux | 20/1 | 2nd (Jan 17, 2026, FG AOC/75), 4th (Nov 2025, CD MSW/72), 1st (Nov 2025, CD Claiming/70) | Experienced closer; eight starts; dirt win by 4½ at Churchill; outran odds in Fair Grounds debut; 2013 Risen Star-winning connections. Pedigree (Bolt d’Oro – Getting Lucky by Pioneerof the Nile); bay colt. Pros: Most seasoned; cons: Figures 15-20 below top. Owners: Blazing Saddles Racing Stables 2024 LLC. Breeder: Wimberley Bloodstock, LLC. |
| 7 | Courting (KY) | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | 6/1 | 4th (Dec 6, 2025, AQU Remsen S./85), 1st (Nov 2025, AQU MSW/82), 4th (Sep 2025, AQU MSW/80) | Stalker with blinkers on; $5M yearling; won second start easily; troubled Remsen but made ground; elite pedigree for stamina. Pedigree (Curlin – Cavorting by Bernardini); chestnut colt. Pros: Hall of Fame connections; cons: Needs 10-point figure jump. Owners: Whisper Hill Farm LLC et al. Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC. |
| 8 | Quality Mischief (KY) | Florent Geroux | Brad H. Cox | 10/1 | 5th (Jan 17, 2026, FG Lecomte S./86), 4th (Dec 20, 2025, FG Gun Runner S./85), N/A | Deep closer; three lengths behind Golden Tempo in Lecomte; length behind Chip Honcho in Gun Runner; stamina pedigree. Pedigree (Into Mischief – Quality Way by Quality Road); bay colt. Pros: Could fill exotics; cons: Must elevate to upset. Owners: West Paces Racing LLC and Donegal Racing. Breeder: Robert Low & Lawana Low. |
Series History
- All-Time: The Risen Star Stakes, in its 52nd running, has been a Grade II at Fair Grounds since 1989 (previously a handicap). Lengthened to 1 1/8 miles in 2020, it has produced Derby winners like Mandaloun (2021) and contenders like Sierra Leone (2024).
- Recent Trends: Favorites win 50% (4 of last 8), but upsets common (e.g., 44-1 in 2025); stalkers thrive in 55% of routes; average exacta $60.
