Chip Honcho and Universe enter the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds with high expectations tempered by recent disappointments. The pair faces Remsen Stakes winner Paladin and Lecomte victor Golden Tempo in this Kentucky Derby prep race on Saturday. Analysts see value in betting on the also-rans due to equipment changes and trainer expertise.
The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes, set for Saturday at Fair Grounds, features a competitive field of 3-year-olds vying for points on the Kentucky Derby trail. Chip Honcho, trained by Steve Asmussen, arrives after a fourth-place finish in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), where he pressed a fast pace five wide from the 10th post in a field of 10. Despite the result, his effort appears stronger than the placing suggests, especially with the distance stretching to 1 1/8 miles. Sired by Connect out of a Magician mare, Chip Honcho previously won the Gun Runner Stakes. Asmussen, who captured the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby (G2) last year with Magnitude and Tiztastic, pairs the colt with jockey Luis Saez and removes blinkers, signaling potential improvement.
Universe, under trainer Ken McPeek, showed promise as a 2-year-old with a second-place finish to Further Ado in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). However, he faltered as the 5-2 favorite in the Smarty Jones Stakes, delivering a poor performance against seven rivals. Bettors willing to overlook that race may find value here, as Universe also sheds blinkers and switches to jockey Christopher Elliott.
Paladin, the Remsen Stakes (G2) winner, enters as the likely favorite at morning-line odds of 8-5, though his layoff raises questions about sharpness. Golden Tempo, who bested Chip Honcho in the Lecomte, remains a contender as a deep closer, but the race setup could favor others if early pace intensifies with runners like Carson Street. Chip Honcho's forward style might allow him to dictate terms, while Universe could benefit from a contested pace. Overall, the analysis highlights opportunities beyond the favorite in this key prep.
