The Risen Star (G3) Saturday, 02-07-09

[thunderdan09]

The Derby trail really begins this Saturday with the Risen Star from Fair Grounds, Whirlaway from Aqueduct, and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes from Santa Anita.

ENTRIES FOR THE RISEN STAR:

Map of the World (C.Bourque/A.Stall) 4 starts, 1 win. Has not won since his maiden victory at Keeneland in October. Consistent Beyer's from 70-77 in all four starts. It is notable that Robby Albarado is getting off of this one to ride Flying Pegasus who is starting to the outside.

Indygo Mountain (J.Theriot/W.B.Calhoun) 3 starts, 1 win. Broken maiden at Churchill in November. Came back off layoff with a disappointing effort. I have heard a lot of news about this one. Day of the last race, my buddy is well within this one's circle and it was known he wasn't going to run a big one. I am going to dismiss the last dismal effort

Nowhere to Hide (C.Lanerie/N.Zito) 5 starts, 1 win. Broke maiden last time out at Calder against a pretty soft bunch. He has been close in basically every start since his 2nd. Faced some really solid company in late Summer at Saratoga and Belmont. Consistent Beyer's between 83-84 in last four starts. 2 month layoff. Should probably take a second look at this one in the paddock.

It Happened Again (T.Thompson/L.Jones) 4 starts, 2 wins. Won the TripleSec50k last time out at Delta Downs posting a 93 Beyer. Not sure how much that matters running around that bull ring. Has beaten some horses that have come back to win. Larry Jones seems to push the right buttons about this time of the year and this one might go off at some odds. It is notable that the horse ran dismal over this surface in December.

Uno Mas (BJ Hernandez/Asmussen) 6 starts, 2 wins. Has faced some of the class in this field and has faired okay. Seemed to like the stretchout after facing allowance company for the first time, but than really struggled to get going in the LeComte. It should be noted that Bridgmohan is getting off of this mount to ride Dumar.

Friesan Fire (G.Saez/L.Jones) 5 starts, 2 wins. I really don't know what to make of the winning effort in the LeComte. There was a significant track bias that day for front runners and I don't think Indygo Mountain was right that day. The connections have obviously thought a lot of this one since his first out win at Delaware in August. I am thinking this one could be significantly over bet in this affair.

Giant Oak (E.Prado/C.Block) 4 starts, 2 wins. I have been hearing a lot of rumbling about this one has his Derby Future odds have continued to fall on one web site I use. The back to back victories over the Turf and Poly at Arlington over the Summer were impressive, but this one earned my respect in the KyJC when he ran a strong 2nd to Beethoven. Edgar Prado getting back on would usually mean well for this one, but he has just not been riding great at Gulfstream. 10 week layoff

Dumar (S.Bridgmohan/S.Asmussen) 4 starts, 2 wins. They are thinking this one is going to continue to improve, but I really can't respect the victory at Hawthorne or the last victory off the layoff here at the Fair Grounds in a first level allowance race. I think this one could be way in over it's head today. You must note the 1/1 at FG and 1/1 at the distance.

Code of Honour (R.Toups/W.Bennett) 6 starts, 2 wins. Tried decent company one time against some of these and couldn't hang. Finished 22 lengths behind Uno Mas the one time they faced each other. Also, finished 5 1/2 behind It Happened Again last time out. This one will definitely be a bomber.

Soul Warrior (P.Valenzuela/S.Asmussen) 2 starts, 1 win. Started pretty late in the season for a two year old and ran relatively well against a multiple winner. Came back to break maiden over this surface against softer, but won comfortably. I like the breeding with this one for this type of race and distance. I think this one is a player even though he hasn't beating anybody worth noting.

Summer's Empire (J.Campbell/A.Mitchell) 6 starts, 3 straight wins. All wins come at Hawthorne running on their winter dirt. A trainer told me that running 1 1/16 mile at Hawthorne is the equivalentt of 1 1/8 at some other tracks. This one has some good breeding has shown some talent on the Chiacgo circuit. I don't know if that will translate well to the Fair Grounds, but I think this one has a decent chance to boost some of the exotics. I am interested to see what the morning line will be set at with this one.

Flying Pegasus (R.Albarado/R.Nicks) 3 starts, 2 wins. Has beaten some multiple winners and stretches out over a mile for the first time. Just missed in the G2 - Futurity at Celmont in September. The layoff was most likely well meant and the workout pattern and jockey give this one a good shot first back.

Au Moon (J.Leparoux/D.Caroll) 3 starts, 1 win. With the track bias that existed at FG early in January, I find it hard to believe that if this one could not hang on then that it will today. He got blown out of the water in his debut by Indygo Mountain and Kopitar. Has one victory at 1 1/8 mile, but it wasn't against anyone impressive enough to take any of my money in this race.