Full field of 14 to start Risen Star Stakes
New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) – An overflow group of 16 3-year-olds have been entered for Saturday’s $400,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds, guaranteeing the maximum field of 14 will start the 1 1/16-mile race.
The Risen Star is the final local prep for the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 29. Last year, 135-1 longshot Ive Struck a Nerve won the Risen Star.
The first three across the wire in the track’s Lecomte Stakes last month will face each other again on Saturday.
If there are no scratches from the original field, Lecomte winner Vicar’s in Trouble will start from the outside post in the 14-horse field with Rosie Napravnik again riding.
Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, and trained by Mike Maker, Vicar’s in Trouble won the Lecomte by better than six lengths over runner-up Albano with Gold Hawk finishing third.
Vicar’s in Trouble has won two straight coming into Saturday after finishing third in his debut effort last October. The colt has earned $148,900.
Albano has drawn the inside post with Kerwin Clark retaining the mount. The colt is trained by Larry Jones for former Kentucky governor Brereton Jones.
Albano has two wins, both at Fair Grounds, including the Sugar Bowl Stakes on Dec. 21. He has banked $98,100 in four starts.
Gold Hawk, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, will break from post 6 with Corey Nakatani riding. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the colt opened his career with consecutive wins before finishing third in the Lecomte. Gold Hawk has earned $69,200.
Winning the Risen Star will be worth 50 points toward starting in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Here is the field for the Risen Star in post position order: Albano, Kerwin Clark; Rise Up, Gerard Melancon; Flat Gone, Chris Landeros; Vigorish, Marcelino Pedroza; Bond Holder, Mario Gutierrez; Gold Hawk, Corey Nakatani; Interchange, Eddie Baird; Hoppertunity, Martin Garcia; Intense Holiday, Mike Smith; Son of a Preacher, Miguel Mena; Quick Indian, Brian Hernandez Jr.; Xtra Luck, Richard Eramia; Commanding Curve, Robby Albarado and Vicar’s in Trouble, Rosie Napravnik. Currently on the also eligible list are Emmett Park, James Graham and Teniente Coronel, Shaun Bridgmohan.
Post-time will be approximately 6:25 ET for the Risen Star Stakes.
Categorized in: Horses