<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>
<\/SPAN>Grade III Risen Star Stakes<\/SPAN><\/B>
$125,000, 3 years Only
One Mile and One Sixteenth (8.5 F) \u00a0<\/SPAN>
Track:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Dirt <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>
<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Local racegoers will be out in full force as fourteen three year olds take centre stage in the 10th<\/SUP> annual edition of the Grade III Risen Star Stakes as they begin their quest for bluegrass glory.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>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\u00a0begin their 2009 campaigns.\u00a0\u00a0This race has provided incredible thrills over the years as i<\/SPAN>n both 2002 and 2007, two heads separated three horses (see Stakes history below<\/I>). Let\u2019s examine this competitive field \u2026<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Race Analysis<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B> by Hladun<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/SPAN>PP 1:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>155605\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SKUNKHILL AFFAIR(FL)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>skunkbred<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>U. Cunningham\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(12\/1)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>177<\/o:p><\/B><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>This son of Congrats has finished on the board in seven of eight career starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>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. \u00a0<\/SPAN>He looks to build on his last effort and take the next step. Jockey F. Oxon has opted for another in here. <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 2:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>158645\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SEATTLE EXPLOIT(KOR) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>radioguy\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/I>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>D. Hogin\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(6\/1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>63<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>With five victories to his credit in ten career starts, this son of Exploit looks to do just that in this event.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>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).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With two graded races worth of experience at today\u2019s distance under his belt, a repeat of his latest makes him a force to be reckoned with in this spot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Dangerous!<\/I><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 3:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>163733\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>SKIP OR SKEET(KY)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>dutrowbros<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Bo Ryan\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(11\/1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>107<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This light gray son of Skip Away is making his three year old debut in this spot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Two races back he was winning the Cat Bill Bonanza Stakes in Arkansas at today\u2019s distance in 1:43:1 (94).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Most recently he weakened in the stretch of the Their Storms Stakes and was put away after a busy fall campaign.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He needs to get himself moving in the right direction again.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Watch once.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 4:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>166165\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>SANSKRIT II(ENG)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>stallcorio<\/I>\u00a0 <\/SPAN>R. Andretti\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(6\/1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>80<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This three year old by Starcraft made his three year old debut a winning one in the Carby\u2019s King Cap Stakes on a track listed as \u201cgood\u201d just three weeks ago.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>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.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has been on the improve for sometime now and he\u2019ll be a handful today on a repeat of his last.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If uncontested early he can wire this field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>High percentage jockey Bo Ryan takes over.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 5:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>163872\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>FLY SKY HIGH(KY)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>lsumark<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Ma Scott\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(6\/1) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>92<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This good looking son of Sky Mesa wired his field just two weeks ago in the Pharrun Prospect Special Stakes.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Covering today\u2019s distance in 1:42:3, he barely hung on after assuming command early in that event.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019ll need to keep Sanskrit in his sights today as both have speed to burn and a duel of that nature would be ill advised.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A contender.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>PP 6:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0 <\/SPAN>84493 \u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>SISSON\u2019S DISCREET(KY)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>anzstable<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RJ Rehberger\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(22\/1)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>283<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>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.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There are more seasoned individuals in here to contend with and will prove more difficult to run away from.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A stalking style may be prefered here to offer the best chance of competing and must take the next step to do so.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>PP 7:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>171144\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>AFRIKA KORPS(KY)<\/SPAN><\/B>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>buffy8\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B><\/I>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>F. Oxon\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(8\/1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>60<\/o:p><\/B><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>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.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His three year old debut in Norway saw him easily take an allowance race there covering the mile in 1:36 flat.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If he takes the next step here, he\u2019ll be dangerous.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A mild surprise only.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>