Risen Star Stakes

Notes:
An overflow field of 15 sophomores, including six shippers, was drawn as the road to the Kentucky Derby proceeds through New Orleans with 50-20-10-5 points awarded to the first four finishers. Oxbow, the runaway winner of the G3 Lecomte S. here on 1/19, returns from his winter home in Arkansas for Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Normandy Invasion ships in from South Florida to make his much-anticipated three-year-old debut after closing out his juvenile season with a narrow miss in the G2 Remsen S. at Aqueduct. Another South Florida invader, Palace Malice, figures to get plenty of support at the windows and players can get a handle on his ability by watching his 1/19 allowance optional claiming conqueror, Majestic Hussar, run in the Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park about 20 minutes earlier. Traveling the longest distance for the Risen Star is Code West from the incredibly deep Bob Baffert barn. He was flattered when stablemate Super Ninety Nine dusted his foes in the Southwest S. at Oaklawn on 2/18. Fellow Californian He s Had Enough is expected to scratch and run instead in the Fountain of Youth. The well-traveled Hardrock Eleven comes in from Evangeline Downs off a close 2 nd in a minor stakes at Sam Houston. Of the locally-based contingent, Lecomte S. runner up Golden Soul, multiple stakes-placed Mylute and flashy January maiden winner Proud Strike all look capable. Graded stakes winner Circle Unbroken disappointed when returning from an injury in the Lecomte and could improve with that race under his belt. Departing and AE Sunbean, both from the barn of Al Stall, Jr. and not yet eligible for the Triple Crown, are talented but up against it from the outside posts. The latter is cross-entered in the Gentilly S. earlier on the card. Ive Struck a Nerve has a runner up effort in a stakes, but his best races came in sprints. Agent took a 1m allowance at Sam Houston in his last start but looks too slow to contend for a check. Bethel, who began his career with three starts in the maiden claiming ranks, looks ambitiously-placed on the quick turnaround from a 4 th -palce run in a starter allowance here.
Risen Star Stakes is a horse racing event that is organized at Fair Grounds. It has a purse value of 400,000. 3 years old that can cover a distance of 8 furlong may participate in the race.

Risen Star Stakes Past Winners

Year	Winner	Trainer	Jockey	Owner	Time
2011	Mucho Macho Man	Katherine Ritvo	Rajiv Maragh	Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Dream Team One Racing Stable	1:43.98
2010	Discreetly Mine	Todd A. Pletcher	Javier Castellano	E. Paul Robsham Stables, LLC	1:44.88
2009	Friesan Fire	J. Larry Jones	Gabriel Saez	Fox Hill Farms/Vinery	1:45.11
2008	Pyro	Steve Asmussen	Shaun Bridgmohan	Winchell Thoroughbreds	1:44.68
2007	Notional		Robby Albarado
2006	Lawyer Ron
2005	Scipion
2004	Gradepoint
2003	Badge of Silver
2002	Repent