- Home
- DRF Bets
- Handicapping & PPsHorsemen's ProductsReports
- The Wizard
- DRF Gameplan
- Quick Sheets
- DRF Picks
- Today's Racing Digest
- Key Race Report
- Positive ROI Report
- Moss Pace Figure Reports
- Debut Reports
- BreezeFigs
Access past performances- DRF EasyForm PPs
- DRF Classic PDF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF HarnessEye PPs
- DRF Daily Harness Program PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
Racing and Wagering InformationToolsHorse Racing Links- Race Tracks
- Casinos
- Account Wagering
- Breeding
- Racing and Charitable
- Contests/Games
- Regional/Free
- Radio Shows
Get the most out of
DRF's online PPs with
Learn more. - Entries
- Results
- NewsCategoriesTrack ReportsTriple Crown Special Events
Exclusive content available only with a DRF Plus Plan. See Plan Pricing. - Blogs
- Video
- Learn
- StorePast Performances
- Compare all DRF PPs
- DRF Formulator PPs
- DRF Classic PPs
- DRF EasyForm PPs
- Daily Racing Program PPs
- See all Pricing/Plans
REPORTS PICKS Harness PPs - Events
- Breeding
Email
Trainer Al Stall Jr. has confirmed both of his lightly raced 3-year-olds, Departing and Sunbean, for the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 23 at Fair Grounds.
“We need to see whether they fit,” Stall said this week from the New Orleans track. “Obviously, this will be a big test for both of them.”
Departing, bred and owned in partnership by Claiborne Farm, is an unbeaten son of War Front. He won a maiden sprint in December and an allowance route Feb. 1, both with ease and both over the Fair Grounds main track.
Sunbean is a Louisiana-bred owned by the Brittlynn Stable of Star Guitar fame. The colt is by Brahms and has won 2 of 3 starts, all in statebred company.
The Hernandez brothers, Brian Jr. and Colby, will have the mounts on Departing and Sunbean, respectively, when part of what is shaping up as a terrific field for the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star, with one of the Todd Pletcher arsenal, Palace Malice, being another notable. Other known prospects at this early juncture include Code West, Golden Soul, Mylute, Oxbow, Proud Strike, and maybe Normandy Invasion.
[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]
Palace Malice, owned by Dogwood Stable, will have leading jockey Rosie Napravnik aboard. Pletcher has won two of the last three runnings of the Risen Star, with Discreetly Mine in 2010 and El Padrino last year.
The Grade 2 Risen Star – worth 50 points to the winner in the new Kentucky Derby eligibility system – is the richest of six stakes on what is billed as the Louisiana Derby Preview Day program. Entries will be drawn Monday.
 |
if normandy invasion comes, this will be a really good field for the risen star. you dont see baffert bringing horses to the fairgrounds for a derby prep. is departing going to run on lasix ? maybe the point system has something to do with a baffert/pletcher battle this early in the year.
|
 |
There is a sweet single in there.
|
Best Bets
HOLY ACADEMY displayed respectable grass form last spring, before performing well on the Poly. She's stretching out off a third behind a runner-up who came back to finish second in the Ballade Stakes, and could be dangerous as the controlling speed in this optional claimer. QUEEN OF THE WAVES rallied wide from mid-pack to beat N1X allowance stock following a layoff when she last saw action March 29 at the Fair Grounds. She can obviously fire while fresh, and should be prominent under Da Silva, who broke her maiden.
