Wagering

A total of eight three-year-olds will run 1 1/8 miles on the dirt at Fair Grounds on Saturday in the $500,000 Risen Star (G2).

Sunday’s $500,000 Sunland Park Derby at Sunland Park is a 1 1/16-mile Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 20-10-6-4-2 points to the top five finishers.

Saturday’s $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds is a pivotal stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

It was an exciting week for Kentucky Oaks contenders, as the three top horses on the Power Rankings all raced. The results have seen a bit of a shake-up; all three remain highly placed, but some others have forced their way up as well.

John Oxley’s three-year-old horse Silent Tactic picked up 20 important points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series after posting an impressive, 3 1/4-length score in the $1 million Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 6.

SEI Thoroughbreds and trainer Rudy Rodriguez’s three-year-old Talk to Me Jimmy led early and drew off late on his way to a superb, 11-length triumph in the $200,000 Withers S. at Aqueduct on Feb. 6.

Magnier, Smith, and Tabor’s three-year-old Plutarch took a short lead entering the stretch and battled gamely to the finish in taking the $101,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.

Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole’s three-year-old horse, named Renegade, picked up 20 qualifying points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard after dominating his foes late by 3 3/4 lengths in the $210,000 Sam F. Davis...

James Scully analyzes four Kentucky Derby qualifiers offered Feb. 6-7

The Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks it up a notch at Fair Grounds on Saturday, as the $500,000 Risen Star (G2) ushers in the Championship Series of scoring races with more points up for grabs.