International Star Shines at Fair Grounds

International Star scored in the Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
Lecomte Stakes winner International Star solidified his credentials for the Kentucky Derby with a visually impressive victory in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds.
The Fusaichi Pegasus colt slipped through a narrow opening along the rail at the top of the stretch and took control under jockey Miguel Mena. War Story closed willingly to challenge International Star, but he battled gamely to fend off that bid and prevail by a length.
Trained by Mike Maker for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, International Star entered the Risen Star off a 2 ½-length, breakout win in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 17 in his 2015 debut.
He had shown potential as a two-year-old by winning the Grade 3 Grey Stakes on the synthetic Polytrack surface at Woodbine, but the Lecomte showed he was just as talented on a dirt track and also stamped International Star a Kentucky Derby contender. The Risen Star served as a confirmation of International Star’s class.
“He was doing super and he ran as advertised,” Maker said.
He picked up 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and now leads all three-year-olds with 71 points. International Star completed the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star in 1:43.82 to improve to four wins and two seconds in eight career starts.
War Story rallied from seventh to finish second and bank 20 Derby points. War Story’s 24 total points in good for fifth on the leaderboard.
Keen Ice rallied from last of nine to nip pacesetter St. Joe Bay by a head for third.
The Ramseys purchased International Star for $85,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale.
Bred in New York by Katharine M. Voss and Robert T. Manfuso, International Star is one of three stakes winners produced by the winning French Deputy mare Parlez.
Maker said International Star will star in New Orleans and be pointed to the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 28 at Fair Grounds for his final Kentucky Derby prep race.
“Not going to change routes for him; he loves it [at Fair Grounds] and there’s no reason to change course,” Maker said.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Also on the card at Fair Grounds: I’m a Chatterbox drew away late to a 2 ½-length runaway win in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. The chestnut, three-year-old filly by Munnings entered the Rachel Alexandra off a win in the Silverbulleday Stakes on Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds and bolstered her résumé for the Kentucky Oaks with Saturday’s win.
Trained by Larry Jones for owners Fletcher and Carolyn Gray, I’m a Chatterbox has 61 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. She is tied with Condo Commando for first place.
“She overcame the outside post and it will kill you here,” Jones said of the Rachel Alexandra winner. “[I’m a Chatterbox] is awfully game. She has a world of talent.”
I'M A CHATTERBOX WINNING RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Photo by Lou Hodges/Fair Grounds