Fair Grounds Race Course 🏇🏾// Sat., Feb. 15, 2025
- Fink
- Feb 15
- 4 min read
Happy Saturday & National Gumdrop Day!
The road to the Kentucky Derby is heating up as we return to New Orleans, LA, to play the ponies at Fairgrounds. Less than a week ago, many believed the biggest sporting event of the year took place in New Orleans, but they may have overlooked the Derby prep and Oaks prep events happening this weekend. While the Big Game might attract more viewers (so please don’t @ us—unless you want to increase our engagement), this weekend's races offer up to 50 points each, significantly shaking up the leaderboard.
Today's card features a total of 14 races, including six stakes races and the two prep races. The highlight of the day is the Risen Star, a race that has produced only one Kentucky Derby winner in the last 25 years. However, this win sparked controversy, as Mandaloun was later declared the winner after the actual winner failed a drug test months after the race. Notably, several prominent trainers are vying for a record number of wins in this event, with Cox, Pletcher, Lukas, and Asmussen each entering a horse in the featured race. They are all currently tied, each having won three times.
According to our Lundin Line analysis, we anticipate that this tie will remain intact after today's races. A few horses in this field have already accumulated prep points from previous races, but a victory today could allow one of them to surpass Citizen Bull at the top of the leaderboard. East Avenue is also in contention; if this Medaglia d'Oro colt wins today, he would tie for the top position as well.
It’s important to note that we excluded Jonathan's Way from our analysis, as we learned earlier this week that he would be scratched from the race. We had a detailed write-up planned for the Oaks prep race, but with early scratches, there are now only four horses left competing. As a result, the winner will receive only 25 points instead of the traditional 50.
Good Cheer, a top bet according to our Lundin Line (spoiler alert), looks to take the lead with a victory, allowing her to overtake Tenma if she performs as we expect. Gowells Delight and Bless the Broken have also scored points in earlier races, meaning they could climb into the top five with an upset today.
Today's weather conditions are promising, with highs in the low 80s, partly cloudy skies, and little to no rain in the forecast. The track is fast, and the turf is firm, setting the stage for an exciting day of racing featuring the future stars of the sport. Now, let’s take a look at some racing history before we delve into our picks.
Here's some background on the two amazing horses, which are the namesakes of today's featured KY Derby & KY Oaks prep races......
Rachel Alexandra was a remarkable American Thoroughbred racehorse who made history with her dominant performances in 2009. Born in 2006, she became the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes and also claimed significant victories in the Kentucky Oaks, Haskell Invitational, and Woodward Stakes, defeating top male horses. Her exceptional speed, stamina, and versatility earned her Horse of the Year honors in 2009.
Risen Star was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who rose to prominence during the late 1980s, capturing the nation’s attention with his dynamic performances. Born in 1985, he became renowned for his versatility and speed, notably winning prestigious races such as the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 1988. His competitive spirit and impressive endurance made him one of the standout three-year-olds of his time, and his legacy continues to influence the sport through events like the Risen Star Stakes, which honors his impact on American horse racing.
Fair Grounds Race Course, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is one of the oldest horse racing tracks in the United States, with its origins dating back to 1838. Known for its rich history and Southern charm, the track has been a cornerstone of American thoroughbred racing.
Need help pickin' winners? We've got you covered! Our Lundin Line's - (Always Free) top picks and best bets are below in this post. We use them to help narrow the field while putting our tickets together. The first post will be here soon, so don't be late -
It's time to get #InTheMoney! 💰🤑💰
Fair Grounds 🏇🏾 // Sat., Feb. 15th, 2025
First Post @ 12:00 (CT) / 10:00 (PT)
R1: 6-10-7-9
R2: 1-3-5
R3: 8-1-2-9
R4: 1-5-7-9
R5: 11-6-13-5
R6: 8-4-5-2
R7: 6-5-10-4
R8Ⓢ: 10-6-8-4
R9: 7-9-2-1
R10Ⓢ: 3-10-14-4
R11Ⓢ: 5-4-7-8
R12Ⓢ: 3-1-2-7
🏇R13Ⓢ/OP: 2⭑-3-1-6
Mr. W: 2-3-6-1
Bill: 2-1-3-6
Mr. Fink: 2-4-6-3
🏇R14Ⓢ/DP: 4-9-1-7
Mr. W: 4-9-3-1
Bill: 9-4-1-8
Mr. Fink: 4-9-7-6
⭑Best Bet(s)
R13: Good Cheer (#2)
Ⓢtakes Race(s)
R8: 100K Colonel Power S.
5 1/2 Furlongs on Turf for 4 Yr. Olds & Up
R10: 100K Albert M. Stall Mem. S.
1 1/16 Miles on Turf for Fillies & Mares 4 Yrs. Old & Up
R11: 250K Mineshaft S (G3)
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for 4 Yr Olds & Up
R12: 175K Fair Grounds S (G2)
1 1/8 Miles on Turf for 4 Yr Olds & Up
🏇R13: 300K Rachel Alexandra S. (G2)/OP
1 1/16 Miles on Dirt for Fillies 3 Yrs. Old
KY Oaks Prep Race: Points = 50-25-15-10-5
🏇R14: 500K Risen Star S. (G2)/DP
1 1/8 Miles on Dirt for 3 Yr. Olds
KY Derby Prep Race: Points = 50-25-15-10-5
🏇 = featured race(s)
Photo from our friends at National Day Calendar
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-TSL
/ As always, please forgive any typos and grammatical errors
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