Risen Star

The former claimer is shipping in from Delta Downs, where he finished second in a seven-furlong allowance last month. Quiet as Midnight's pedigree suggests stretching out over 1 1/8 miles won't be an issue, but his career-best 68 Brisnet Speed rating looks rather light against the Risen Star field.

Beaten in his first four starts, Single Ruler improved when rallying to victory in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Fair Grounds last month, earning an encouraging 90 Brisnet Speed rating. Hot trainer Keith Desormeaux won this race 10 years ago with Ive Struck a Nerve, and Single Ruler can't be dismissed as a live longshot on Saturday.

Showed improved tactical speed when making his two-turn debut in a $32,000 starter optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs last month, pressing the pace on his way to a neck triumph. But Shaq Diesel been beaten by wide margins in both of his stakes starts to date, suggesting he'll need a step forward to challenge against tougher competition in the Risen Star.

A disappointing third-place finisher as the favorite in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds on his first foray on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Determinedly bounced back to wire a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer over the same track. With a trio of 93-94 Brisnet Speed ratings under his belt, the gray colt ranks among the fastest horses in the Risen Star field and can't be dismissed from win consideration.

The California raider finished second in his first two starts before wiring a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, earning an encouraging 93 Brisnet Speed rating. Harlocap, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify, is progressing in the right direction and looms as a danger on the front end in his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Hasn't run a bad race on dirt, winning his first two dirt tries before rallying to finish second in Oaklawn Park's Smarty Jones S. on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Brad Cox has been on fire at Fair Grounds, winning at a 43% rate, but Angel of Empire needs to improve upon his career-best 86 Brisnet Speed rating if he's going to challenge in his graded stakes debut.

Third behind Determinedly in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, Sun Thunder broke his maiden easily at Oaklawn Park before joining the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a fourth-place finish in Oaklawn's Southwest (G3). Hot jockey Brian Hernandez (a 24% winner at Fair Grounds) is slated to ride, but Sun Thunder's career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.

Closed a ton of ground against Determinedly in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds last month, gaining 3 1/4 lengths through the final furlong to finish second by a neck. Tapit's Conquest is versatile in terms of running style and has three-time Risen Star-winning jockey Florent Geroux named to ride, so don't be surprised if the Brad Cox trainee takes another step forward and challenges for victory on Saturday.

Arguably the most accomplished of the Risen Star entrants, with his Road to the Kentucky Derby forays including victory in the Iroquois (G3) and a runner-up finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). Curly Jack is capable of running well from a variety of positions, and his Kentucky Jockey Club effort was flattered when the victorious Instant Coffee returned to win the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds. Curly Jack has the talent and credentials to vie for victory in the Risen Star.

Seven of the last 15 Risen Star winners prepped in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, which is a good sign for Two Phil's, the only Lecomte alumnus in Saturday's field. Last year's Street Sense (G3) winner ran second by 2 1/2 lengths in the Lecomte while pulling 5 1/4 lengths clear of the rest. Two Phil's runs well with any style and enters off a bullet five-furlong workout at Fair Grounds, so he's eligible to produce a career-best effort and challenge for top honors on Saturday.

Ran well against Determinedly and Tapit's Conquest in a recent 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds, finishing third by one length. He'll need improvement to turn the tables on Saturday, but Silver Heist has only run twice and has the pedigree to improve with maturity.

The New York raider has yet to visit the winner's circle, but he's cracked the trifecta in all five of his starts while squaring off against well-regarded runners like Instant Coffee and Disarm. Crupi earned an impressive 98 Brisnet Speed rating when beaten a head in a one-mile maiden special weight at Aqueduct last month, so he's fast enough to challenge against tougher competition in the Risen Star.

The undefeated colt figures to start as the Risen Star favorite after wiring the one-mile Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn by three lengths over stablemate Angel of Empire. Victory Formation's 3-for-3 record is eye-catching, and he's turned in a sharp series of recent workouts for Brad Cox, suggesting he'll be a danger even while breaking from an outside post in this large field.

Has competed exclusively on turf so far, winning a couple of stakes and rallying to finish third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1). Switching to dirt and stretching out over 1 1/8 miles are major question marks for the son of sprinter Jimmy Creed, but Private Creed hasn't missed the trifecta in half a dozen starts (including five stakes), so his talent and consistency can't be dismissed.