NEW ORLEANS – What a difference a month can make.  In the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds, Epicenter dueled on a hot pace that cost him victory, losing to late-running Call Me Midnight, who picked up the pieces of the duel and won by a nose. In the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds, Epicenter glided along through moderate fractions, flying solo, going comfortably from the start. Joel Rosario threw his reins at Epicenter approaching the eighth pole and Epicenter burst to a 4 1/2-length lead, Rosario looked under his right shoulder, saw no competition, and geared down his mount to post a 2 1/2-length victory.  And what a difference 35 minutes can make. The race before the Risen Star, trainer Steve Asmussen had watched his filly La Crete fracture a foreleg at the half-mile pole, an injury he hopes won’t be life-threatening. A little more than a half-hour later, Asmussen – still subdued in the wake of La Crete’s injury – saw Epicenter guarantee himself a starting stall in the May 7 Kentucky Derby, earning 50 qualifying points through the Churchill Downs system that determines the 20-horse Derby field.  :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Epicenter, by Not This Time out of Silent Candy, by Candy Ride, was sixth in his debut last fall, won a one-turn Churchill maiden mile in his second start, and coasted to a 6 3/4-length score here Dec. 26 in the Gun Runner Stakes before his tough Lecomte second  “He got something out of it,” Asmussen said of the taxing Lecomte. “He’s a big, strong, and somewhat disrespectful horse, and it definitely got his attention.”   When Epicenter was afforded such an easy lead in the Risen Star, there was no catching him. Off splits of 23.79, 47.97, 1:12.25, and 1:36.58, Epicenter was timed in 1:49.03 for 1 1/8 miles. He paid $9 as the co-second choice with Pappacap.   “He took the Lecomte really well, and this was exactly where we need to be today,” Asmussen said. “We need to continue to get better and stronger and end up where we want to be.”   Asmussen’s longtime client Winchell Thoroughbreds owns Epicenter, who was bred by Westwind Farm. Asmussen said he appreciated the Derby preps at Fair Grounds being lengthened in 2020. The Risen Star was moved from 1 1/16 to 1 1/8 miles, the Louisiana Derby – presumably Epicenter’s next start – from 1 1/8 to 1 3/16 miles.  There was much to digest behind Epicenter, who got a preliminary 98 Beyer Speed Figure and was followed home by 2-1 favorite Smile Happy. Smile Happy was a half-length in front of Zandon, with Pioneer of Medina a head behind in fourth and followed by Tawny Port, Slow Down Andy, Trafalgar, Pappacap, Bodock, and Russian Tank.  Smile Happy, who got 20 Derby qualifying points, broke nearer the back of the field than the front and raced from eighth and seventh position around the first turn and down the backstretch. His trouble came around the far turn, where he was hemmed in behind the trio of Bodock, Slow Down Andy, and Russian Tank. Jockey Corey Lanerie chose to hold his position in the two path rather than coming wide, and only at the quarter pole did he find room to maneuver. Smile Happy came between horses at the eighth pole and rallied to earn the place.   :: Serious horseplayers use serious products. Get DRF's premium past performances, now free for the first time “Corey said he didn’t get out when he wanted to,” trainer Ken McPeek said. “I said if we were third or better, I was okay with it. He overcame a lot to run second, so I’m pleased with it.”   Zandon, racing for the first time since Dec. 4, leapt at the start, leaving him last of 10 for the first half of the Risen Star before he and jockey Jose Ortiz came with a long, wide run around the far turn. Zandon, who got 10 points, managed to sustain it most of the long Fair Grounds stretch in a good performance.   “He’s a horse that wants to be forward and he lost all chance to win out of the gate,” said trainer Chad Brown. “It was encouraging that he persevered and was able to pick up a piece of it, especially in his first race after a layoff.”  Pioneer of Medina got 5 points, helped by racing close to the moderate pace and holding fourth while making his stakes debut. Pappacap, whose Triple Crown chances surely ended Saturday, faded quickly through the final furlong after contending from post 1.