Risen Star Stakes Betting Guide

One of the most important prep runs on the way to the Kentucky Derby takes place annually in February at Fair Grounds. The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade 2 race, and you can learn all about the event below.

Risen Star Stakes Event Details

The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade 2 race that is run in February. Horses involved are three, and winners tend to go on and run in the Triple Crown races. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, which is nine furlongs. There is a purse of $400,000 available in this race, which has been the prize money since 2013.

Risen Star Stakes Preview

The entries for the Risen Star Stakes aren’t made official until early in the new year. That means that at present, it isn’t clear which horses will be targeting the competitive Grade 2 in 2022. However, we can assess previous winners of the race to help identify the horses that could target the Risen Star Stakes next year.

• Mandaloun (2021)

• Mr Monomoy (2020)

• Modernist (2020)

• War of Will (2019)

• Bravazo (2018)

The most recent winner of the Risen Star Stakes was Mandaloun. The horse trained by Brad Cox later went on to run in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished second behind Medina Spirit. However, he could yet be awarded the victory in that race after the Bob Baffert-trained horse failed a drug test. That would be a historic occasion for this race, as it has not previously been won by a horse that later wins the Kentucky Derby.

The Risen Star Stakes was a first Grade 2 victory for the three-year-old and was just his third run of his career. Prior to starting at Fair Grounds, he had won an allowance race and finished third in the G3 Lecomte Stakes.

In 2020, the race was run in two divisions for just the fourth time in its history. Mr Monomoy and Modernist were the two winners of the race. Mr Monomoy was another Cox-trained winner of the race. He will be looking to join a select company in 2022 by winning the race for a record-equalling third time. Mr Monomoy won the race in the middle of February, and it was also his first victory of his career. Prior to winning the Risen Star Stakes, he was third in the Lecomte Stakes and was beaten on his maiden at Fair Grounds in late December.

Modernist won the Risen Star Stakes the following day at Fair Grounds. Unlike many of the past winners of the race, this winner didn’t line up at Fair Grounds before winning the Grade 2. His two previous runs had come at Belmont Park and Aqueduct, with his only win before the Risen Star Stakes coming at the latter. Since winning the Risen Star Stakes, Modernist has won on just one occasion, with that victory coming in the G3 Excelsior Stakes in April 2021.

Risen Star Stakes Event Information

The Risen Star Stakes is the main prep race for horses looking to win the Louisiana Derby. Master Derby was the first horse to achieve success in both races, as he won the Louisiana Derby after winning this Grade 2 in 1975. Since his victory, the feat has been achieved on a further eleven occasions. The most recent horse to have achieved the double came in 2017, as Girvin achieved the feat. Pyro, International Star, and Gun Runner have also completed the double since 2000.

Mandaloun broke the speed record over the current distance this year, as he won in a time of 1:50.39. However, the most dominant winner of the race remains Badge of Silver, who won in 2003 by a commanding ten lengths. Three jockeys are tied for the most wins in this race, as Shane Romero, Florent Geroux, and Robby Albarado have all achieved three victories.

Wayne Lukas, Todd Pletcher, and Neil Howard are tied for the most wins as a trainer, with all trainers having recorded three victories. This race is yet to produce a Kentucky Derby winner, but two horses have gone on to win the Preakness Stakes, and two have also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Risen Star Stakes Betting Information

The Risen Star Stakes is a hugely popular betting race. Gamblers looking to make a wager on the race can do so with all the leading sportsbooks. Some of the markets that you can expect to put money on can be found below.

• Win: The most prominent bet that bettors can make on the Risen Star Stakes is to bet on a selection that will win the race.

• Place: The place market is also popular. Gamblers will need to bet on a horse that will finish in the first two.

• Exacta: Bets can also be placed on the first two horses that will cross the line. Selections must be correct to get returns.