Risen Star Stakes Kicks Off Kentucky Derby Road

The 2025 Risen Star Stakes, a crucial prep race for the Kentucky Derby, takes place on Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, awarding qualifying points to the top five finishers. The 1 1/8 mile Grade 2 race features a competitive field of 13 horses, with East Avenue as the morning line favorite at 9/5, ridden by top jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The race carries a purse of $500,000, and the winner will earn 50 Derby points, securing a spot in the May 3 Kentucky Derby. Other notable contenders include Built at 5/1 and Vassimo at 8/1, while Jonathan's Way has been scratched due to health issues. The event will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV, which will also cover several other stakes races on the card. Horse racing experts are offering analyses and betting insights leading up to this anticipated event.