Risen Star Stakes – Grade II [KYD]
FG Race #13 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Money En Fuego, trained by Axeman
His form tailed off a little last year after looking a promising type in the early summer. A good maiden winner he then took the Mountain Top Futurity before running a brilliant second in the grade one DMR Futurity. Those runs put him on course for the BC but after a lack lustre run in the Front Runner he made no show in the BC Juvenile. Since then he has had a couple of good efforts the most recent when sixth in the Swale Stakes so whilst he is not without a chance he does have something to prove today.
2 Mr C, trained by DJC Racing Stable
Another that hasnt been able to follow up a very good grade one effort this gelding dead heated for third in the Brett Futurity just a half length off the winner. His two efforts since then havent been bad finishing fourth in both the Remsen and the Sham Stakes this season. He has a very good work time over a mile at SA to his name and with a decent draw today could be dark horse.
3 Bronx Bomber, trained by Aer Stables
Slaughtered his maiden field and has been running in black type ever since. He managed a hard fought nose win in the ungraded NY Stallion Series race which was not a bad effort and probably ran his best career race in the Lewis Stakes last time out when running on nicely for fifth. A decent mile work suggests he is better over a decent trip and with a competitive draw he is right in the mix.
4 Noble Crusader, trained by Mb Stables
You cant get better than five from five and this son of Chai Latte may be hailed a superstar if e can add one more to his unbeaten record. He has been brought along slowly since his two and a half furlong maiden win last April not running again until September when he followed up in an Allowance. Two ungraded wins since then were good but he looked like a superstar in his most recent outing when destroying the Lecomt field. He gets another nice draw today and seems to get lucky in that department and whilst his works arent the fastest he does look the one to beat.
5 Major Wiener, trained by NightRider Stables
A consistent sort he took a while to break his maidens but did so in his last start and sixth attempt. That was his first run over a trip and he won with plenty in hand but this is a huge step up and he will have to be on song to get past the best of these. His last work was on the money though and stranger things have happened at HRP.
6 Warrior Chant, trained by Sccj Stables
Another that took a bit to clear maidens he did so in the end with a strong front running display over the mile at SA. Although fairly beaten in the Lecomt he did have an awkward draw and did well to dead heat for second. Again his work times are good enough but he will have to have improved to turn round that last start defeat by Noble Crusader.
7 They All Laughed, trained by Mb Stables
Hasnt run a bad race and could easily have a near perfect record. Second in a photo finish in both the Iroquois and The Futurity and a flying third in the DED Jackpot from a horrible draw he managed to get his nose in front again on his seasonal debut in The Smarty Jones. With the stable dominating the KYD points races as usual this is number two of three entries and has a real chance of adding another prep race to the stables record. Two lightening works this months suggest there has been some improvement since the Smarty Jones win.
8 Coin Flip, trained by Mb Stables
The winner of the grade one Brett Futurity last year he ran a super race in the BC Juvenile from a terrible draw, running on the speed and only beaten a length into fifth. I liked his chances from a handy draw in the CAC Derby but he disappointed a little to run sixth although he was making ground at the end. With decent work times he is yet another from the massive stable that has a real chance and wouldnt it be something to see a stable 1,2,3.
9 Caught Stealing, trained by Sir Daniel Martin
A nice sort he was bought for $90 from Heavens Own but has no black type experience heading into this. That of course means nothing at HRP and i was hugely impressed by his easy win in an FG Allowance on his first start of the season.A couple of sub 1.37 works show he has the speed to compete the only question is whether he has the hidden class gene required.
10 Nineties Battler, trained by John Henry
Lived up to his name last time out to run on nicely for third in the Sham Stakes and had previously ran on to be third in the Pilgrim as a two year old. A competitive win in the ungraded The Awad and a fair sixth in the KY Jockey Club suggest this one deserves a shot but may find a wide draw and a hot field a bit too much.
11 Midwestern Slang, trained by Oquinn Farm
Looked very strong in the Smarty Jones, running on the pace and keeping on gamely for a head second. That run and some swift work times put him very close to the Mb Stable trio although an unkind draw may be enough to see him beaten again. An on pace sort he will have to clear the field and be left alone early to have a hope, but with some luck in running he has a very good chance.
12 The Great Bansai, trained by Allinthegate
Another good type who may be beaten by the draw. He was four from four as a two year old taking a couple of ungraded wins and then the competitive AP wishful at grade three level. That put him into the mix for top two year old honours but he got lost in both the Champagne and the BC Juvenile and ended the season on a bit of a low. That all changed as he returned to action in the Jerome and he looked back to his best with a gae second beaten just a half length. His works arent the quickest and the draw may see him lost again so i cant support his chances today.
SUMMARY
Is there any stopping Mb Stables dominance of the KYD points races? last year he qualified 6 horses and this year he may well better that with three in this race that would be the best TC hope in most Peoples stable. I am actually going for an Mb Stables one two three here but i have no idea which order they will finish in.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
