Enforceable, Anneadu d'Or Top Risen Star Divisions
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Photo: Hodges Photography/Amanda Hodges Weir
Enforceable wins the Lecome Stakes at Fair Grounds
The decision by Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots to spilt this year's renewal of the Feb.15 $400,000 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) will double the chances for connections of rising 3-year-olds hoping to earn coveted points towards a start on the first Saturday in May.
"In a very competitive marketplace, we are thrilled by the level of the response to the Risen Star from horsemen nationwide and are proud to be able to split the race into two divisions," said Fair Grounds' senior director of racing Jason Boulet. "In addition to the solid group of three-year-olds we already have here on the grounds, horses are shipping in from all across the country to participate. With the purse money and the Kentucky Derby points being offered, there's a lot on the line. Much credit to our racing office for putting this all together."
Each division will carry a $400,000 purse and award qualifying points towards the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) to the first four finishers (50-20-10-5). In addition, for the first time in its history, the Risen Star will be contested over 1 1/8 miles instead of the traditional 1 1/16 miles.
John C. Oxley's Enforceable, last seen closing from the back of the field to win the Jan. 18 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds for trainer Mark Casse, will headline the first division with a field of 11. The Lecomte win awarded the son of Tapit 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby which he added to his growing tally. The colt earned four points during his freshman campaign when running third in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland followed by one more point next out when he took fourth in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.
Video: Lecomte S. (G3)
Enforceable is currently ranked sixth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 13 points. He will break from post eight with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard.
"We couldn't be any happier with him," said Casse's assistant David Carroll. "He's a horse who trains himself. He loves going out in the mornings and doing his work. He does it very professionally every morning and well within himself. It was a nice and easy (half-mile) breeze Saturday morning (:49 3/5) and a nice gallop out. He has so much foundation that he doesn't need a whole lot of training at this point.
"There's no shortcut to the Derby, it's a long road to get there," Carroll continued. "You have to earn your way in. We just want to keep Enforceable sound. We're looking forward to the race and seeing where we stand."
Casse won last year's renewal of the Risen Star with Preakness Stakes (G1) victor War of Will.
By chance of the random draw, four horses that chased Enforceable in the Lecomte are facing him again in the first division. Winchell Thoroughbred and Willis Horton Racing's Silver State, runner-up in the Lecomte, will break from post 2 under Ricardo Santana Jr. Third-place finisher Mr. Monomoy, owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Doheny Racing will leave from post 9 under Florent Geroux. Joseph W. Sutton's Scabbard will depart from the far outside post 11 under Joel Rosario. And sixth-place Shashashakemeup, owned by Calumet Farm, is expected to flash speed from post 6 beneath James Graham
The second division of the Risen Star will mark the sophomore debut of Peter Redekop's California invader Anneau d'Or. The son of Medaglia d'Oro turned in close runner-up performances at 2 in both the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course, earning a total of 12 Kentucky Derby points. Trained by Blaine Wright, he is currently ranked seventh on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with the opportunity for up to 50 more points Saturday.
"That was probably the number one factor in our decision to come to Fair Grounds," Wright explained. "The spacing between the Risen Star and the (April 4) Santa Anita Derby (G1) is really nice. It allows us to travel across the country, come back and still get six weeks in between races. Those are the two races we've targeted, and hopefully the horse and I keep doing what it takes to get us where we want to go."
Joel Rosario will have the call on Anneau d'Or for the first time. The pair will break from post 8 and the colt will add blinkers.
"In my opinion, we were a head and a neck away from winning an Eclipse Award (as champion 2-year-old)," Wright said. "We have to find a way to get past horses. Joel Rosario flew up (to Northern California) and worked him last week and got to know him. Hopefully the changes will work out to our advantage."
Video: Los Alamitos Futurity (G2)
Joining Anneau d'Or will be HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud's Lynn's Map, who was rerouted to Oaklawn Park for the Smarty Jones Stakes after drawing post 14 in the Lecomte. The son of Liam's Map finished fifth over the Arkansas oval.
"We're throwing out that race at Oaklawn," said Carroll. "The track seemed to be very sticky that day and to me he never looked settled and comfortable. When Miguel (Mena, jockey) asked him to pick it up, Lynn's Map sort of lost his action and never looked happy in that race."
"He came out of the Smarty Jones really well and has done everything we've asked of him since," Carroll said. "Ideally we'd like to have another week or so with him between races but we don't want to ship him out again. We think as long as he's doing well, we will take a chance and let him show us what he can do."
Lynn's Map will partner with Corey Lanerie from post 9. Lanerie rode him to an allowance victory at Fair Grounds Dec. 21.
Other hopefuls looking to score in the second division of the Risen Star are Stonehedge homebred Liam's Lucky Charm, who enters off a win in the Jan. 18 Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, and Allied Racing Stable's Mailman Money who took a Jan. 12 allowance optional claiming race at Fair Grounds over a mile and 70 yards.
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 15, 2020, Race 12Entries: Risen Star S. presented by Lamarque Ford (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
Digital (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
122
W. Bret Calhoun
-
2
Silver State (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
-
3
Ready to Roll (KY)
Gabriel Saez
122
W. Bret Calhoun
-
4
Perfect Revenge (ON)
Shaun Bridgmohan
122
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
-
5
Moon Over Miami (KY)
Junior Alvarado
122
William I. Mott
-
6
Shashashakemeup (KY)
James Graham
122
J. Keith Desormeaux
-
7
Blackberry Wine (KY)
Adam Beschizza
122
Joe Sharp
-
8
Enforceable (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Mark E. Casse
-
9
Mr. Monomoy (KY)
Florent Geroux
122
Brad H. Cox
-
10
Farmington Road (KY)
Javier Castellano
122
Todd A. Pletcher
-
11
Scabbard (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
Eddie Kenneally
-
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, February 15, 2020, Race 13Entries: Risen Star S. presented by Lamarque Ford (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
Modernist (KY)
Junior Alvarado
122
William I. Mott
-
2
Truculent (KY)
Declan Carroll
122
Jack Sisterson
-
3
Mr. Big News (KY)
Robby Albarado
122
W. Bret Calhoun
-
4
Fame to Famous (KY)
Colby J. Hernandez
122
John P. Mc Allen
-
5
Liam's Lucky Charm (FL)
Edgard J. Zayas
122
Ralph E. Nicks
-
6
Excession (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Steven M. Asmussen
-
7
Major Fed (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Gregory D. Foley
-
8
Anneau d'Or (KY)
Joel Rosario
122
Blaine D. Wright
-
9
Lynn's Map (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
122
Mark E. Casse
-
10
Finnick the Fierce (KY)
Sonny Leon
122
Rey Hernandez
-
11
Mailman Money (KY)
Gabriel Saez
122
W. Bret Calhoun
-
12
Ny Traffic (NY)
Javier Castellano
122
Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
-