Owendale coming around just in time for Risen Star

Owendale on Feb. 2 had his first work since winning a first-level allowance race Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds – and his connections liked what they saw.

“He really breezed fantastic,” said Brad Cox, who trains Owendale for Rupp Racing.

Owendale makes his stakes debut Feb. 16 in the Risen Star, where he’ll face Lecomte Stakes winner War of Will, several other Fair Grounds-based horses, and – according to Fair Grounds racing officials – perhaps only one out-of-town shipper, a maiden from trainer Bill Mott, either Tacitus or Country House.

Owendale, by Into Mischief, showed moderate talent in his first four starts last year, took a solid step forward finishing second Dec. 22 in his first Fair Grounds race, and won comfortably Jan. 17 to earn his stakes debut. Physical characteristics aside, Owendale’s main challenge has been getting his head in the game.

“Going into the allowance race he was training really well, and since December he’s kind of stepped up his game,” Cox said. “I think he’s showed signs of maturing year.”

Meanwhile, Owendale’s very famous stablemate Monomoy Girl has settled back into Cox’s barn at Fair Grounds, where she spent several months last meet. Monomoy Girl, who returned to the track last week following time off in Florida, is on a steady galloping schedule, Cox said.