Brace yourself for a long day at the races on Saturday, starting off in the morning with the richest day in horse racing from Saudi Arabia and finishing in the early evening with the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park.
Saturday’s 50th running of the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star offers 50, 20, 10 and 5 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, and it should produce some runners for the 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby on March 26
Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2), presented by Lamarque Ford, at the Fair Grounds drew a talent-packed field of 10, which isn’t much of a surprise since it’s the first North American Kentucky Derby (G1) prep race this year.
The local prep for the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby is Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis, a Grade 3 that tops a four-stakes card. Let’s see if I can help you cash a few tickets.