12 Horses To Race In The Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on February 9

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro, runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last October at Monmouth Park, and Zayat Stables’ Z Fortune, who remained unbeaten with a win in last month’s Lecomte Stakes (gr. III), head a field of a dozen 3-year-olds in the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, February 9.

One of the 2008 Kentucky Derby preparatory races, the Risen Star Stakes field at Fair Grounds on Saturday consists of the following with jockeys, weight and odds from the rail out:

  1. Check It Twice ridden by jockey John Velazquez carries 122 lbs. with odds 12-1
  2. Blackberry Road ridden by jockey Calvin Borel, 116 lbs., 5-1
  3. Visionaire ridden by jockey Jose Lezcano, 118 lbs., 6-1
  4. Bonanza ridden by jockey Patrick Husbands, 122 lbs., 15-1
  5. Unbridled Vicar ridden by jockey Corey Lanerie, 116 lbs., 15-1
  6. Rich Young Ruler ridden by jockey Fabio Arguello Jr., 116 lbs., 30-1
  7. The Darp ridden by jockey Robby Albarado, 116 lbs., 15-1
  8. Pyro ridden by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, 116 lbs., 3-1
  9. Signature Move ridden by jockey Michael Baze, 120 lbs., 6-1
  10. Peteadoris ridden by jockey James Graham, 118 lbs., 20-1
  11. Z Fortune ridden by jockey Garrett Gomez, 122 lbs., 7-2
  12. Prince Cortez ridden by jockey Julien Leparoux, 120 lbs., 12-1

Both Pyro, who will break from post number 8 and is 3-1 in the morning-line, and Z Fortune, who drew post number 11 as the 7-2 second choice, are conditioned by Steve Asmussen, who has a commanding lead in his quest for a seventh Fair Grounds training title. Because of different ownership, the duo will not be coupled for wagering purposes.

Pyro will make his first start as a sophomore in the Risen Star, but his last two works at Fair Grounds have been bullets – breezing 5 furlongs in 1:13 on January 30 and 5 furlongs on January 24 in 1:00.60, both in company with stablemate and 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin.

The only horse to finish in front of Pyro in his racing career is Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old War Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park and a first-level allowance at Saratoga. Jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who has been aboard Pyro in every career start, will again be aboard.

Before winning the Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds in his seasonal bow, Z Fortune broke his maiden at first asking October 20 at Belmont Park and captured his next race December 7 at Aqueduct. Recently crowned Eclipse Award-winning jockey Garrett Gomez will fly in to New Orleans for the mount on Z Fortune Saturday.

Horse trainer Steve Asmussen has won seven of the 10 stakes on Fair Grounds’ last two event days and will saddle nine horses in Saturday’s six stakes.

The Risen Star Stakes will be the ninth race on Saturday’s card with approximate post at 4:28 p.m. CST. It is the last of six stakes races on Louisiana Derby Preview Day, which includes four Grade III stakes and $1 million in purses.

"12 Horses To Race In The Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on February 9" was posted on 4 February 2008 8:44 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Kentucky Derby, Stakes Races, Triple Crown

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