Me or You A pair of unbeaten graded stakes winning sophomores will clash in the $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds with up to 50 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on the line. The 1 1/8-mile dirt dash has far more to offer than bragging rights for ascending stars Paladin and Golden Tempo, who can parlay a victory Saturday into a potential berth in May’s ‘Run for the Roses.’ Paladin, the early 8-5 choice, will try to recreate the success his sire Gun Runner found in the 2016 Risen Star. The Chad Brown charge is perfect through two starts, backed by a two-length Remsen (G2) tally on December 6 at Aqueduct. Golden Tempo, following at 3-1 on the morning line, is also unbeaten from two starts for breeders/owners Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable, headlined by a hard-fought Lecomte (G3) triumph on January 17, also at Fair Grounds. The Next Step After waltzing her way to a Golden Rod (G2) victory last November, Bella Ballerina begins her bid for a Kentucky Oaks (G1) berth in this Saturday’s $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds. Awarding 50 qualifying points to the winner, the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra is a key early stop on the ‘Road to the Kentucky Oaks.’ Godolphin’s Bella Ballerina (2-1) paces the early betting on the strength of a small-in-sample but highly encouraging freshman season that saw the Street Sense filly go undefeated across two starts. The Grade 2 champion has generated over $301,500 in purse earnings thus far while training under Brendan Walsh. It Only Takes One Veteran Miller Racing mare Dazzling Move has struggled to find her rhythm following a hard-fought Royal Delta (G3) score last February, missing the winner’s circle in eight subsequent starts. On Saturday, the 5-year-old Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee returns to Gulfstream Park with the sole intention of defending her $175,000 Royal Delta crown. A reliable performer despite the winless streak, Dazzling Move has delivered a trio of runner-up outings in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes, Ogden Phipps (G1), and Shuvee (G2), as well as a third in the Delaware Handicap (G3). At 12-1 Saturday, the daughter of Not This Time–Lady Liam opens as the fifth choice in the field of eight. Back on the Horse Truly Quality has been exactly that across three seasons for owner Augustin Stables, collecting three-graded stakes badges and nearly $660,000 in purse earnings. The 6-year-old Quality Road gelding, three weeks after a third in the John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes at Sam Houston, heads west to Santa Anita this Saturday for a second shot at the $100,000 San Marcos (G3T). Eager to avenge a sixth in last year’s edition of the 1 ¼-mile turf tilt, Truly Quality finds himself slotted into post four with Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons. The Jonathan Thomas trainee’s past graded successes include the 2024 Singspiel (G3T) and 2024 and 2025 runnings of the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T). Truly Quality enters the San Marcos at 3-1. Hungry for More With 10 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points already in his pocket after a Remington Springboard Mile Stakes triumph, Express Kid looks to add to his total in this Sunday’s $500,000 Sunland Park Derby. After a dominant 6 ¼-length victory in the Springboard last time out at 34-1, Express Kid has definitively shed underdog status leading into the 1 1/16-mile main track test at Sunland Park. Topping the eight-horse field at 3-1 on the morning line, the 3-year-old son of Bodexpress–Sensationalize will team with rider Juan Hernandez for the first time Sunday. Bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises and owned by Paradise Equine Farm, Bradley Kleven, and Sharon Kleven, Express Kid leaves the gate from post one. Points will be awarded to the top five finishers on a scale of 20-10-6-4-2. Matthew Lomon, for Woodbine Share This:Share
