2026 Risen Star Stakes picks, odds: Horse racing writer has best bets for Saturday's Kentucky Derby prep race

Remsen Stakes winner Paladin will try to solidify his status as the early Kentucky Derby favorite when he leaves the starting gate in the 2026 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Trained by Chad Brown, Paladin is a perfect 2-for-2 in his career and enters the weekend as the 8-1 future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby. For Saturday is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the Risen Star Stakes odds. Golden Tempo (3-1), Chip Honcho (6-1), Courting (6-1), Universe (8-1) and Carson Street (8-1) round out the top six in the odds among the eight total Risen Star Stakes horses. Post time for the Risen Star Stakes is 6:30 p.m. ET, with temperatures forecasted to be in the mid 60s around post time. 

With several talented horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2026 Risen Star Stakes picks or horse racing predictions.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. 

Menez excels on horse racing's biggest days. In 2024 he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. Last year he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. Hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. In the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout.

And in November, Menez finished 115th out of 643 entries in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, the biggest live-money handicapping tournament in the country.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2026 Risen Star Stakes field and revealed his picks. We can tell you that Menez is high on Chip Honcho, even though he is the co-third choice at 6-1. "If he can get out of the gate on Saturday, he should be on the lead in a race without much pace," he says. Menez is using Chip Honcho in his Risen Star wagers.

Moreover, Menez's top pick is a horse who "has the tactical speed to sit a perfect trip." Menez also is high on another darkhorse who "has trained very well" for Saturday. Menez is including these horses in his 2026 Risen Star Stakes bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horses they are before making any 2026 Risen Star Stakes picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Risen Star Stakes? What horse is a must-back? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get the top 2026 Risen Star Stakes picks and bets, all from the expert who nailed last year's Kentucky Derby trifecta and exacta.