The Risen Star Stakes (Grade 2) (KYD)- $400.000 Purse
FG- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
February 16, 2019

It’s the first 50-point prep race of the year, and regardless of whether or not you have a horse in this race, make sure to watch this one, because it could be a great one! The field itself is great, and even though it can seem a little premature to make this statement, could send several of its runners to the KYD. We still have a long way to go in this TC-prep season, but I have a feeling I will be referencing this race a lot over the next two months as it goes on. Last year, the race was won by Zombie City, for Pan Farms. He would be one of the top three year olds throughout the year, finishing 3rd in the KYD, winning the Dandy, and then finishing fourth in the BC Classic, among other good results. Enjoy the race!

#1- Beach Dandy (Joshua Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- On the rail, this gelding still has not done anything wrong. After losing his debut race, which is always forgiven, all he knows how to do is win. The first impressive win came at the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, and two months later, he was winning the BC Juvenile in just his fourth mile. After that, he came from behind to win the $400.000 RP Springboard Mile, and will make his 2019 debut here. I like how patient the trainer has been with him, and love the stretch desire that he has shown thus far. Now, his prep race season officially begins, and a win against this company can and should cement him as a favorite. Regular jockey J J Castellano will not be aboard, as preference goes to Velazquez here. Castellano will be on the trainers other entry.

#2- Clovis Point (Allinthegate, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- This will be a tough assignment as Clovis Point makes his graded debut here. That does not come easy, of course, considering the type of competition that he is facing here. It would be a good story, though, as it could prove that you do not need to spend hundreds on a contender. After all, it only took $10.000 to acquire him from Team 7 Illusions in private sales. That came after a win in a WV-bred stake, so the small price seems to imply that Team 7 felt he would not get much better. He took second in his lone race since, a $30.000 TUP stake. I think there are some very good private works at a mile on this one. Don’t rule him out!

#3- This Aint No Disco (YME Stable, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- The next two entries into the starting gate are coming into the race off the Sham Stakes, where they finished second and third. I am going to be very interested in watching how they stack up against this field, since I had the fourth place runner right behind them in that race who won in a dead heat in the San Vindeadheate. This Aint No Disco is lightly raced with just four starts, and that second place in the Sham followed up a second in the Grade 3 Hope Stakes. It’s been a while since he has publicly worked a mile, but his effort in the Sham certainly shows he knows how to bring it on race day.

#4- Mr Cat Summers (First Street Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- Finished in the same photo as did This Aint No Disco would in the Sham Stakes last month at SA, and would get credit for third. He’s been winning every other race, so if you like patterns, he’s due here. His last two victories were with the ON-bred condition, including a three length win at the Frost King. Earlier this month, he put together an excellent public mile work at WO which should get the trainer excited about his chances here. Won’t be the first choice here, but has upside and should not be overlooked.

#5- Opus Force (Mb Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- After being purchased for $300.000 from Drabfantasy unraced and after a lot of forum hype, Opus Force has actually lived up to those expectations. Now, it’s time to start exceeding them! He is three for three in his career, and he has gotten the job done right here in LA, each time. Wins include the $100.000 Legacy for LA-breds, and then the Grade 3 Lecomte last month. In the Lecomte win, he moved up from 10th at six furlongs and five lengths out, to get the win. So we know he has plenty of stretch desire, and he should only get better as the races get longer. Certainly, he is establishing himself as a major threat for the KYD crown. The showdown between him and Beach Dandy alone is worth the price of admission, though they still must contend with the other heavyweights!

#6- Final Verse (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Perhaps this should be my rooting interest, since way back when, I bred his dam. In six starts, Final Verse has been consistent, finishing in the money in all of his races, and winning half of them. None of those wins come in the three stakes that he has attempted thus far in his career, but that is not something to be concerned over. After all, he was just narrowly defeated in the $150.000 Smarty Jones just three weeks ago. Works are strong, and he’s not here just to play second fiddle to his stablemate.

#7- Cardinal Direction (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- Despite already having many good two year old prospects, D J C Racing Stables proved that one can never have enough when chasing the KYD dream. Two weeks ago, he acquired this gelding in private sales from Mb Stables for $300.000. His career highlight to this point is winning the Grade 3 Bashford Manor, and that helped get him into the BC Juvenile. In that race, he finished in the middle of the field. A month later, it was sixth again in the RP Springboard Mile. After winning an allowance, he’d get the big sale price. I’m not really seeing it right now as to why such a high tag went on him. He’s talented, but there seems to be better, right now. A great run here can prove the doubters wrong.

#8- Pure Authority (Joshua Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- The second of two entries in the field by Joshua Stables, this one has a long way to go before he can be considered as good as Beach Dandy. He comes into the race after a wire to wire win in a maiden race at GP and a good looking time at nine furlongs just three weeks ago. Worked quite well at PRX earlier this year. He’ll be running a different race, tactically, then his stablemate (probably), but he’s definitely not just here to help his stablemate. There’s potential here.

#9- Commanding Bee- Scratched

#10- Sport Guide (Estero Farms, ridden by F Pennington)- Landed with Estero Farms last September after a $400.000 private sale. Since acquiring him, the trainer has shown a lot of patience with him, and he has made just two starts. The first such start came at the Pharoah Stakes a couple weeks after the sale, where he closed well, but only got up for fifth. He was allowed to rest a bit, and returned for the muddy Remsen in December at AQU, and came away with the win. He has now had two and a half months of rest, and in that time, he has worked well at six furlongs, and put togethers a strong mile work, too. The best seems yet to come for this one, and he should be a factor here.

#11- Questionable- Scratched

Prediction: 5-1-10-3

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES