Expert Pick of the Week: 2025 Risen Star Stakes

Feb 11, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A strong group of 13 sophomores will travel nine panels on the Fair Grounds main oval in Saturday’s $500,000 Risen Star S. (G2). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 structure.

Rigney Racing’s Jonathan’s Way bagged the Iroquois S. (G3) last season and capped his juvenile campaign with a clear second in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. The $290,000 weanling purchase has posted a nice string of morning drills in advance of his three-year-old debut, and he seems poised for a big showing in his local bow. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Jonathan’s Way debuted at Saratoga in the summer and roared home a decisive winner over maiden special weight foes, prior to leading at every call beneath the Twin Spires en route to his Iroquois triumph. He finished seventh behind Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his third assignment, prior to his professional effort in the Jockey Club. The son of Vekoma has registered Brisnet Late Pace numbers of 106 and 104 in his last pair of route tries, and I feel that 1 1/8 miles will be right in his wheelhouse on Saturday. He is training in swift fashion and will get Jose Ortiz to ride.

#10 Jonathan's Way backs up his debut win and grabs the first Kentucky Derby prep race in the G3 Iroquois at @churchilldowns for trainer Phil Bauer with @jrosariojockey aboard! 🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JAoC3UdYUe

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 14, 2024

Breeders’ Futurity S. (G1) star East Avenue lost all chances following a poor break in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita in his juvenile finale but seems set for a return to his best on Saturday for conditioner Brendan Walsh. The son of Medaglia d’Oro has good speed and a fine closing kick, as well as a nice string of works in preparation for this endeavor, too. The Godolphin homebred will be forcing the tempo from the early stages of the event with regular pilot Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

The Wayne Catalano-trained Built romped in the Gun Runner S. on the surface prior to finishing a close second in the Lecomte S. (G3) here most recently. The Hard Spun sophomore has performed well from on the pace, or when rallying from off the early tempo, and he shows a solid half-mile morning drill leading up to this tilt, as well. The Kentucky-bred bay will likely be tracking the tempo from the second flight in the early going with Luis Seaz inheriting the ride.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #2 Jonathan’s Way on top of #4 East Avenue and #9 Built in the 2025 Risen Star Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.