Risen Star Stakes At Fair Grounds Features Top 2012 Kentucky Derby Contenders

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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The Risen Star Stakes is a top race for 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail and the 2012 edition on Feb. 25 at Fair Grounds is slated to feature several of this year's leading Kentucky Derby contenders.

The Risen Star Stakes, which dates back to 1973, is contested over 1 1/16 miles and carries a purse of $300,000. In 2010, it was promoted to a Grade 2 from a Grade 3 because of the success of its recent competitors.

Expected to headline the 2012 Risen Star Stakes is El Padrino, who will ship to New Orleans from his base in South Florida for trainer Todd Pletcher, as well as the top-three finishers from last month's Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds.

El Padrino exits a sharp allowance win at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29 that created plenty of buzz among bettors. The son of Pulpit was knocked down to 16-to-1 in Pool 1 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager based off the victory. Jockey Javier Castellano will fly to New Orleans to ride El Padrino.

In last month's Lecomte Stakes, the first race in Fair Grounds' 3-year-old series that culminates with Louisiana Derby next month, Mr. Bowling stamped himself ...
... as one to watch with his first graded stakes victory. He is slated to return for the Risen Star, as are Z Dager and Shared Property, the second and third-place finishers in the Lecomte.

The Risen Star Stakes was known as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes prior to 1989. That year, the race name was changed to Risen Star in honor of the 1988 winner who would go on to win that year's Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Risen Star was named the champion 3-year-old of 1988 for the effort.

Recent winners of the Risen Star have included Mucho Macho Man (2011), Discreetly Mine (2010), Friesan Fire (2009) and Lawyer Ron (2006).

Friesan Fire might be the most notable of that group. The son of A.P. Indy ripped off consecutive wins in the Lecomte, Risen Star and Louisiana Derby that helped send him postward as the favorite in that year's Kentucky Derby. However, Friesan Fire failed to fire in the Derby and finished a disappointing 18th.

Another notable previous Risen Star Stakes winner is Master Derby. The son of Dust Commander won the 1975 Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby before going on to add the Preakness Stakes.

The fastest running of the Risen Star was set in 1996 by Zarbs Magic, who completed the 1 1/16-miles in a swift 1:42.80.

The Risen Star Stakes is just one race in a big day of racing at Fair Grounds Feb. 25. Also scheduled to be run is the Grade 3, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies with eyes on the Kentucky Oaks later this spring; the Grade 3, $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap for older horses and the Grade 3, $125,000 Fair Grounds Handicap for older horses on the turf are also on the slate.