FAIR Grounds hosted the two main classic trials in the US last weekend with the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes over nine furlongs going to the Gun Runner colt Paladin.

Carrying the Michael Tabor colours, he ran down free-running leader Chip Honcho to win by a half-length with Lecomte Stakes winner Golden Tempo in third, a length and three-quarters back.

The win, which earned the Chad Brown-trained colt 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby, sent him to the top of that leaderboard with 60 points. He runs in the ownership of Magnier/Tabor/Smith/Brant/Smith and Summer Wind Equine.

“When you call on him, he just keeps finding, just keeps getting better the farther he goes,” jockey Gaffalione said. The Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland is Paladin’s next target.

In the fillies’ trial, the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, last year’s Kentucky Oaks winning combination of Brendan Walsh, Tyler Gaffalione and Godolphin struck again with the Street Sense filly Bella Ballerina. Walsh, Godolphin and Gaffalione also won this race three years ago with her half-sister, Pretty Mischievous, who went on to win the Oaks.

Bella Ballerina led early but on the far turn, Luv Your Neighbor loomed up. As the two fillies turned for home, Luv Your Neighbor looked to have the race in her grasp, edging by Bella Ballerina to lead but Bella Ballerina dug in at the rail and fought back late to get back up. Unbeaten in three races, she earned 50 qualifying points towards the Kentucky Oaks with this win, bringing her total to 60 to top the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard.

Sunland

Also on the Derby trail, Reddam Racing’s home-bred Pavlovian took the $500,000 Sunland Park Derby for trainer Doug O’Neill under a good ride by jockey Edwin Maldonado.

They ran down a game Express Kid in the final stride to win by a nose, and earned the grey Pavel colt 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.