The Equibase leaderboard noticed vital swings final weekend following the Valentine’s Day card on the Fairgrounds and Sunday’s program at Sunland Park. Each featured the necessary Kentucky Derby ready by Woodford Reserve and the Kentucky Oaks.
Saturday’s Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes on the Fairgrounds was a prelude to the season’s first 50-point Kentucky Derby, with 105 complete factors awarded to the highest 5 finishes on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. Paladin, who received the G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in December with coach Chad Brown driving him, improved to 3-3 with a half-length resolution win at Risen Star, catching up within the closing phases to tug away from Chip Honcho. The win earned Paladin $300,000 and moved him to 3rd amongst 3-year-old colts and sixth general on the Equibase cash leaderboard, main the Kentucky Derby standings with 60 complete factors.
The Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, additionally held Saturday on the Fairgrounds, was the season’s first 50-point Kentucky Oaks prelude, with 105 complete factors awarded to the highest 5 finishes. Bella Ballerina, a half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Fairly Mischievous, was the No. 4-5 favourite within the six-horse discipline. After setting the early tempo and being handed within the straight line, Bella Ballerina fought again alongside the within and received by half a size over Luv Your Neighbor. Avenue Sense, an undefeated 2-year-old filly who received the G2 Goldenrod Stakes at Churchill Downs in November, continued to carry out nicely in her first race in 2026. Rachel Alexandra’s win earned her $180,000 and moved her to second place within the 3-year-old fillies division and twelfth general on the leaderboard. With 50 factors added to the ten she secured at Goldenrod, Bella Ballerina presently leads the Kentucky Oaks standings.
The $500,000 Sunland Park Derby and $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks, every price a complete of 42 factors for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, are staples of the Sunland Park meet. The Sunland Park Derby featured an exhilarating stretch run on Sunday, with jockey Pavlov holding off Categorical Child in opposition to coach Doug O’Neill, who received at a 36% clip final week. Reddam Racing’s homebred horse Pavlovian rocketed up the leaderboard, ending second within the 3-year-old male division and fifth general.
Firstly of the Sunland card, Bottle of Rouge made his first begin since ending sixth within the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, incomes a victory within the Sunland Park Oaks. Bottle of Rouge took command on the entrance of the straight because the 2-5 favourite, and coach Bob Baffert, ridden by Juan Hernandez, received by a size and a half. She received a career-best 94 Equibase Pace Determine in her 3-year-old debut and Sunday’s win earned her $147,000, shifting her into fourth place within the 3-year-old fillies division. Battle of Rouge Rank 10th He entered the Oaks leaderboard with 20 factors.
Final weekend, we additionally noticed some motion within the older males’s class. Kantaros’ 5-year-old son Raginos earned the best Equibase Pace Determine of any North American horse final Saturday with a career-best 116 to win by two and 1 / 4 lengths within the G3 Fairgrounds Stakes offered by Horse Racing Nation on Saturday. Coach Steve Asmussen positioned second in his 5-year-old debut within the Kernel ER Bradley Stakes in mid-January and superior to thirteenth place with Saturday’s win.th Aged male class, 32 folksn.d. Revenues in 2026 will complete $125,000.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione continues to steadily lead North American jockeys by greater than $1 million, presently incomes $3,738,302. Gaffalione led all jockeys final week with earnings of $641,010 regardless of having solely three wins. On Saturday on the Fairgrounds, Gaffalione received each the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, ridden by Vera Ballerina, and the Risen Star, ridden by Paladin.
When it comes to coaching, Safie Joseph Jr. stays in first place with earnings of $3,574,065, though he’s now lower than $1 million behind Steve Asmussen in second place. Asmussen led all trainers in earnings and wins final week, overtaking Brad Cox for second place.
Final week’s high grossing trainers — Steve Asmussen: 11 wins, $624,290
Final week’s high incomes jockeys — Tyler Gaffalione: 3 wins, $641,010
Prime Equibase pace numbers from final week — Raginos: 116
North American leaders listing Horse, jockey, coach and proprietor information is accessible at equibase.com and you may filter and look at information by varied classes akin to age, gender, monitor and race kind.
