Championship Series

The stakes are raised this weekend as the "Kentucky Derby Championship Series" kicks off with the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and the Risen Star at Fairgrounds. Points are elevated from 10-4-2-1 to 50-20-10-5 for the top four finishers. There is also the Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, the last race of the "Prep Season", which had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather last week.

Fountain of Youth (G2) 1 1/16m
2/21 Gulfstream Park 5:30 EST

4 Gorgeous Bird 6-1

- Upstart and Frosted will be tough to upstage in here, but the Marylou Whitney Stables homebred has a shot. Looked very impressive picking off horses in his allowance win over the track last month and should enjoy his first start around two turns. Has to handle the class test, but is primed to breakout on Saturday.

$15 FOY Bankroll

$5 WPS: 4

Risen Star (G2) 1 1/16m
2/21 Fairgrounds 6:24 EST

8 Keen Ice 8-1

- Powerful closer ships to the Bayou after not being able to make up much ground in the short stretch at GP in the Holy Bull (G3) last time out. His gallop out in that race was promising and the longer stretch will benefit this son of Curlin. Has improved BRIS Speed figures in each start and could capture his first stakes here.

$15 Risen Star Bankroll

$5 WPS: 8

*Keen Ice couldn't get up to complete the TRI in the Holy Bull, but I'm giving him another shot in the Risen Star. Will play it safe and put him across the board as he will likely drift up to double-digit odds once again. Going with Gorgeous Bird to WPS in the FOY as it will take a big effort to pull off the upset. 

2015 KY Derby Bankroll: $43.60