Preparations are underway for Louisiana Derby Preview Day, set for Saturday, February 14th at Fairgrounds Racetrack & Slots, showcasing six stakes races with a combined purse of $1.425 million.
The highlight of the day includes the Grade 2 $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes and the Grade 2 $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, which serve as important stepping stones toward the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. The top five finishers in each race will earn qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
While the list of participants remains tentative, some notable potential contenders have emerged. Golden Tempo, trained by Shelley Devaux, currently leads the Derby leaderboard with 20 points after winning the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in a stunning come-from-behind fashion, making him a strong candidate for the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star.
Undefeated Paladin, trained by Chad Brown, who secured 10 Derby points by winning the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct last December, is expected to be a serious rival. Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher is optimistic about his Curlin colt’s chances following a disappointing fourth-place finish at Remsen.
Other possible entrants for the Risen Star include Chip Honcho, winner of the Gun Runner race, Steve Asmussen’s Lecomte fourth-place finisher, and Brendan Walsh’s third-place finisher, Carson Street. Additional horses likely to participate are Quality Mischief (Brad Cox), Liberty National (Kenny McPeek), and Universe (McPeek).
In the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Godolphin-bred Bella Ballerina, one of eleven fillies nominated for the Triple Crown, leads the field after capturing the Grade 2 Goldenrod Stakes at Churchill Downs. She is the half-sister of Pretty Mischievous, the 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner.
Challengers may include Love Your Neighbor, who placed second in two local preps for trainer Mike Stidham, Rob Atlas’s Pashmina, Keith Desormeaux’s Dancin’ in Old Town, and Peter Urton’s Majestical. Other potential Rachel Alexandra participants include Actis (Tom Amos), Agrippina (Lindsay Schultz), Just Singing (Kent Sweezy), Nikon (Whit Beckman), Powered By Family (Deveaux), and White Smoke (Deveaux).
The Brad Cox-trained Hit Show, boasting lifetime earnings over $8.9 million, is the favored contender in the Grade 3, 1 1/16-mile $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes presented by Hagyard. Possible rivals include Todd Pletcher’s Grade 3 Louisiana Stakes winner Accelerize and Doug Cowans’ Tenacious Stakes winner Not This Boy. Additional Mineshaft prospects are Stowway (Whit Beckman), Moonlight (Chris Bullock), Time to Win (Chad Brown), Willie Dees (Mike Maker), and Next Level (Desormeaux).
Contenders for the $175,000 Grade 3 Fairgrounds Stakes on the 1 1/8-mile turf course include Kernel ER Bradley Stakes winner Kupuna and Wood Chopper Stakes winner Montador.
The $100,000 Albert M. Stoll Memorial, contested over 1 1/16 miles for older mares and fillies, is likely to be led by Medlo, trained by Peter Urton and winner of the Marie G. Krantz Memorial.
A potential rematch of the Duncan F. Kenner Stakes’ top finishers could unfold in the 5 1/2-furlong, $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes, featuring Normally Long (Robertino Diodoro), Mondojetsbuckets (Brock), and Bear River (Desormeaux).
Entries for Louisiana Derby Preview Day will be finalized with a draw scheduled for Saturday, February 7th.
This report was originally published by Paulick Report on February 4, 2026, and first appeared in the News section.
Fan Take: This upcoming Louisiana Derby Preview Day promises to be an exciting showcase of promising talent on the road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, offering fans a glimpse of the next generation of potential champions. The stakes races not only elevate competition but also help maintain the sport’s vitality by spotlighting emerging stars and building narratives that captivate racing enthusiasts.
