Paladin gained the $495,000 Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes on the Fairgrounds on Feb. 14 by a half-length over free-running chief Chip Honcho, displaying why many contemplate him a robust contender for the Could 2 Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve.
The win gave Paladin 50 qualifying factors for the Kentucky Derby and vaulted him to the highest of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 factors. That whole consists of 10 factors from his first win within the G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct final fall. His fast win over 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1 minute, 49.14 seconds will possible trigger his worth to plummet within the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closes on February fifteenth. The chestnut colt sired by Gun Runner is for certain to be among the many lowest-priced favorites in particular person betting.
“This horse carried out very well from the refresh and confirmed why he selected this race. It took all of the stretches to get there,” coach Chad Brown stated.
Gun Runner Stakes winner Chip Honcho ran solo on the entrance with splits of 23.68, 47.49 and 1:11.53 and had an earful, however below jockey Luis Saez, he kindly took the lead by eradicating his blinkers. He ran the perfect race of his life, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. Paradin, ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, raced across the exterior of the lead and doggedly pursued Chip Honcho, inching previous him within the closing sixteenth mile as he approached the lengthy fairground end line.
“While you name on him, he simply retains discovering and retains getting higher the additional he goes,” Gaffalione stated of Paladin.
Brown was not on website on the Fairgrounds, however stated in a post-race cellphone interview that Gaffalione’s experience was “excellent.” Requested whether or not Gaffalione would proceed to experience him, or if Flavien Prat would resume driving him as he did for the colt’s first two wins, Brown stated: “Nothing is about in stone both means.”
On Saturday, Pratt was in Saudi Arabia, profitable the $2 million Riyadh Grime Dash driving Creativeness and ending runner-up within the $20 million Saudi Cup driving Nisos.
Chip Honcho, educated by Steve Asmussen, completed second and earned 25 factors, transferring him to second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 39 factors.
“He ran quick to get to the entrance, however I obtained him to the entrance the place I needed him to be,” Saez stated. “He simply obtained slightly drained within the second half. I’ve a sense he’ll be a extremely good horse.”
G3 Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo made a belated comeback and completed a distant third place within the Risen Star, including 15 factors to carry the whole factors on the leaderboard to 35 factors.
Fourth place Universe earned 10 factors for a complete of 23 factors. Fifth place Carson Avenue added 5 factors for 11 factors.
Risen Star was the primary 105-point qualifying race within the Street to the Kentucky Derby collection. Different nationwide prep races this winter or spring might be at or above that threshold. Officers at Churchill Downs, the place the Kentucky Derby is held, use qualifying factors to advertise the Derby and as a precedence system for races with greater than 20 horses.
Brown, Gaffalione and far of the stallion’s possession group labored collectively to win Risen Star for the second time previously three years. In 2024, he gained the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland with Sierra Leone, however within the 2024 Kentucky Derby, he and Japanese star Perpetually Younger have been crushed on the nostril by Mystic Dan in a three-horse photograph end and completed runner-up.
Brooke Smith, who co-owns Paladin with Susan Magnier, Michael Taber, Derrick Smith, Peter Brandt and producer Summer season Wind Equine, stated from Winners Circle that “you would possibly see us in Kentucky in April,” hinting that the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass S could possibly be subsequent on April 4.
Mr. Brown later confirmed that Bluegrass was Paladin’s subsequent goal.
