Home / Sports / Paladin Dominates Derby Rankings After Risen Star Win
Paladin Dominates Derby Rankings After Risen Star Win
23 Feb
Summary
- Paladin secured a commanding Risen Star Stakes victory, solidifying his top ranking.
- Several horses, including Mesquite and Thunderously, exited the Derby trail due to injuries.
- New contenders Al Haram and top horses like Renegade and Nearly eye upcoming major races.
Paladin has solidified his top spot in the Kentucky Derby rankings after a convincing win in the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday. The colt, trained by Chad Brown, earned 50 qualifying points, making his entry into the May 2 Churchill Downs race highly probable. This victory marks his third consecutive win of the season.
Notable horses have been affected by setbacks. Mesquite has exited the Derby trail due to a soft-tissue injury, and Thunderously suffered a setback that will keep him out of the Triple Crown season. Courting also dropped out of the top 20 after a sixth-place finish.
New contenders are emerging, with Al Haram joining the rankings after an undefeated Saudi Derby victory. Meanwhile, Todd Pletcher's horses Nearly and Renegade remain strong contenders, with Nearly heading to the Florida Derby and Renegade targeting the Arkansas Derby. Upcoming major North American preps include the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
