Grade III Risen Star Looking For One
Race ID:3861.0515
Grade III Risen Star Stakes
$125,000, 3 years Only
One Mile and One Sixteenth (8.5 F)
Track: Dirt
Local racegoers will be out in full force as fourteen three year olds take centre stage in the 10th annual edition of the Grade III Risen Star Stakes as they begin their quest for bluegrass glory. A highly competitive field will parade to the post in this renewal and without a standout among them it promises to be an exciting edition. An early season surprise may lie in store for both horseplayers and owners alike as these promising youngsters begin their 2009 campaigns. This race has provided incredible thrills over the years as in both 2002 and 2007, two heads separated three horses (see Stakes history below). Let’s examine this competitive field …
Race Analysis by Hladun
PP 1: 155605 SKUNKHILL AFFAIR(FL) skunkbred U. Cunningham (12/1) RANK: 177
This son of Congrats has finished on the board in seven of eight career starts. Light on Graded Stakes experience, he comes into the Risen Star off of an allowance victory here at Louisiana covering seven furlongs in a brisk 1:23:1 (92) while drawing off in the stretch. He looks to build on his last effort and take the next step. Jockey F. Oxon has opted for another in here.
PP 2: 158645 SEATTLE EXPLOIT(KOR) radioguy D. Hogin (6/1) RANK: 63
With five victories to his credit in ten career starts, this son of Exploit looks to do just that in this event. He comes into this race off a winning effort at Idaho where he took the Carolina Niner Stakes with relative ease covering the eight and a half furlongs in 1:43:1 (96). With two graded races worth of experience at today’s distance under his belt, a repeat of his latest makes him a force to be reckoned with in this spot. Dangerous!
PP 3: 163733 SKIP OR SKEET(KY) dutrowbros Bo Ryan (11/1) RANK: 107
This light gray son of Skip Away is making his three year old debut in this spot. Two races back he was winning the Cat Bill Bonanza Stakes in Arkansas at today’s distance in 1:43:1 (94). Most recently he weakened in the stretch of the Their Storms Stakes and was put away after a busy fall campaign. He needs to get himself moving in the right direction again. Watch once.
PP 4: 166165 SANSKRIT II(ENG) stallcorio R. Andretti (6/1) RANK: 80
This three year old by Starcraft made his three year old debut a winning one in the Carby’s King Cap Stakes on a track listed as “good” just three weeks ago. He was full measure for the victory as he made every pole a winning one covering the eight and a half furlongs in 1:42:3 (100) being eased under the wire by jockey N. Disher. He has been on the improve for sometime now and he’ll be a handful today on a repeat of his last. If uncontested early he can wire this field. High percentage jockey Bo Ryan takes over.
PP 5: 163872 FLY SKY HIGH(KY) lsumark Ma Scott (6/1) RANK: 92
This good looking son of Sky Mesa wired his field just two weeks ago in the Pharrun Prospect Special Stakes. Covering today’s distance in 1:42:3, he barely hung on after assuming command early in that event. He’ll need to keep Sanskrit in his sights today as both have speed to burn and a duel of that nature would be ill advised. A contender.
PP 6: 84493 SISSON’S DISCREET(KY) anzstable RJ Rehberger (22/1) RANK: 283
Like others in here, this son of Discreet Cat has won most recently with a speed-style in an allowance affair shipping in from Kentucky for this event. There are more seasoned individuals in here to contend with and will prove more difficult to run away from. A stalking style may be prefered here to offer the best chance of competing and must take the next step to do so.
PP 7: 171144 AFRIKA KORPS(KY) buffy8 F. Oxon (8/1) RANK: 60
With only four starts to his credit, this son of Storm Cat has been improving steadily both in the morning and the afternoon since he made his debut back in September. His three year old debut in Norway saw him easily take an allowance race there covering the mile in 1:36 flat. If he takes the next step here, he’ll be dangerous. A mild surprise only.
PP 8: 103072 STEVIE RAY(KY) gradetwo T. Campy (8/1) RANK: 64
This son of Seeking the Gold may only have one win on his record but he has been racing tough along the way and may be better for it in the longrun as his last two were in graded company. In the Grade III Silver Fence Derby he finished a solid third (97) at today’s distance beaten less than three lengths. Earlier in his two year old campaign he finished third in the Grade III Little Tree Stakes. Will need to build off of his last to take this group. A contender.
PP 9: 158262 SCAT BRUSH(KY) graywolf4 C. Snowden (15/1) RANK: 200
This son of Suave has yet to distinguish himself in four attempts in graded company over his twelve race career and this group is no less tougher. He concluded his two year old season with a win at the allowance level and is being brought back here after a seven week freshening looking to build off that effort. He’ll need to take a big step forward to crack the board here.
PP 10: 161587 RUBAN BLADES(KY) puracrema A. Donahue (11/1) RANK: 97
Mineshaft is represented here by this lightly raced colt who is on a three race winning streak. His latest, The Sister’s King Cap Stakes, was a strong effort at a mile covering the distance in 1:35:4 (97). Coming out of the clouds to win going away, it’s a running style that sets up perfectly today with tons of speed to his inside to sweep around through the stretch.
PP 11: 160528 GRAND LAND(KY) graywolf3 P. Sullivan (14/1) RANK: 65
Perhaps the most seasoned of the performers in today’s event with five garded appearances to date, this son of Indian Charlie will need to improve some of late to compete here. Having now started twice as a three year old, early indications are that he’ll get better with more distance and this event may prove a little short for him to provide his best effort. Watch once.
PP 12: 166079 RASTAFARIAN RIDE(IRE) simond4 D. Coleman (24/1) RANK: 111
This son of Hurricane Run comes into this event on a two race winning streak. Most recently, he won the The Unbridled Fury Special in which he came from far back to win going away. He is two for three with one second on an “off” track to date but with no rain in the forecast his strength is negated here. An outsider here as this group is simply a notch above at this point.
PP 13: 105538 NINJA SILENCE(KY) peeps7 A. Baldinger (13/1) RANK: 108
Having not won since his maiden debut, this son of Dehere has his work cut out for him if he’s going to compete against this group. His best effort to date was in the Grade III Pea Patch Juvenile in which he finished a good second over a mile in Kentucky gaining at the end and missing by just a couple. He is another in here that would likely benefit from going longer than afforded today. Watch for this one on the stretch out later in the year.
PP 14: 171223 PARADISE ROVER(KY) sparadise N. Bonkowski (9/1) RANK: 353
This lightly raced son of vindication ships in from the big apple hoping to pick up a slice of the pie. Winning an allowance affair most recently he has been freshened like others in here and is looking for a successful launch to his three year campaign. A possibility.
Stake History:
- Stake Record (8.5 F): 1:42:0 … Awesome Force(KY) (2007)
- Lowest Win Mutuel: $ 2.60 … Dyna Form (1999)
- Highest Win Mutuel: $ 38.00 … Unbridled Power (2002)
- Smallest Win Margin: Head … Awesome Force(KY) (‘07) & Unbridled Power (‘02)
- Largest Win Margin: 8 lengths … Dyna Form (1999)
- Most Post Position Wins: #2, #6 & #9 each have two Wins
- Most Jockey Wins: No Jockey has more than one win in this race
Stakes Notes:
- Wire-to-Wire Wins: 4 (1999, 2000, 2002 & 2004)
- In 2007, 2 heads separated winner Awesome Force(KY) (camry), El Industrial(KY) (semental) & Zap De Lemon(KY) (unostable)
- In 2002, 2 heads seperated winner Unbridled Power (zgreat1), Uncanny (bud) & Chase’s Baby Bro (theprofit6)
- The Risen Star Stakes has been used as a launching pad to the Bluegrass Derby in every year (except 2001 & 2002) for the winning connections of this event. However, the racing gods have not been kind to Risen Star winners over the years. In fact, only one entrant, Silverwore (hannibal), has hit the board in the big race … that being a second place finish in 2003
HLADUN TRACKMAN APPAS TAPPAS
1. AFRIKA KORPS SEATTLE EXPLOIT SANSKRIT
2. SEATTLE EXPLOIT SANSKRIT RUBAN BLADES
3. RUBAN BLADES FLY SKY HIGH AFRIKA KORPS