Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist - Risen Star

Keeneland Select Derby Prep Hotlist

Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022

By Matt Shifman and Bob Ehalt

The $400,000 Risen Star (G2) Fair Grounds 

Race 13 – The Risen Star is the first Kentucky Derby prep race this year that offers the increased qualifying points of 50, 20, 10, 5. (8) Smile Happy won both of his starts as a 2-year-old. The son of Runhappy impressed when he rallied and drew off to win the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). That race has become a key race when three horses that finished behind Smile Happy in the Jockey Club came back to win a Derby prep this year – Classic Causeway won the Sam F. Davis (G3), White Abarrio took the Holy Bull (G3), and Call Me Midnight got the Lecomte (G3) victory. (7) Zandon won his debut for Chad Brown in a sprint and then stretched out in the Remsen (G2) where he battled with Mo Donegal in the controversial stretch run where he got roughed up by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. He is the only horse in the field that ran nine furlongs already and he should appreciate the long stretch run at Fair Grounds.  (10) Slow Down Andy won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) impressively over Messier who returned to romp in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita. (1) Pappacap leads the field in earnings and Derby points after a series of competitive starts in graded stakes last year. Betting strategy:  Exacta key box: 8 with 1, 5, 7, 10.