Risen Star lacks a marquee horse

NEW ORLEANS – The Risen Star Stakes has taken a couple of body blows, the latest being the news this week that Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red won’t be coming from California because of a foot abscess.

Texas Red, who began his 2015 season with a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita, was being pointed to the Feb. 21 Risen Star at Fair Grounds by trainer Keith Desormeaux. Instead, he has sent the colt to a California farm for treatment, recovery, and swimming.

On Jan. 31, Sham Stakes winner Calculator, being pointed to the Risen Star by trainer Peter Miller, was injured in a workout at Santa Anita and knocked off the Triple Crown trail.

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“I’m just disappointed,” Fair Grounds stakes coordinator Scott Jones said. “I’m disappointed for Keith. Texas Red, I still think that he’ll be a real nice horse.”

Without a marquee horse, the 1 1/16-mile, Grade 2 Risen Star appears to be shaping up similarly to the Grade 3 Lecomte. As of Friday morning, Jones had eight 3-year-olds on his list of Risen Star probables, headed by International Star, who made a strong late run to win the Lecomte at a mile and 70 yards by 2 1/2 lengths over War Story on Jan. 17. Entries for the Feb. 21 card, which will include six stakes, four of them graded, will close Monday.

A Fusaichi Pegasus colt, International Star has two stakes victories and three wins overall in seven starts. In the Lecomte, his first race as a 3-year-old, International Star scored his first win on dirt. He won the Grade 3 Grey Stakes on Polytrack at Woodbine as a 2-year-old.

“It was a good, long year,” trainer Mike Maker said of the colt’s 2014 season. “He got freshened up. Hopefully, he’ll improve every race. That’s the plan.”

Others expected for the $400,000 Risen Star from the Lecomte are Tiznow R J, the third-place finisher (trainer Steve Asmussen); Another Lemon Drop, fourth (Phil Bauer); Hero of Humor, sixth (Gennadi Dorochenko); and Eagle, seventh (Neil Howard). Eagle, who finished third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in his final start as a 2-year-old, was the Lecomte favorite.

Another expected shipper from Florida for the race is Imperia, who is training at Palm Meadows under Kiaran McLaughlin. Imperia, who won the Grade 3 Pilgrim last year on turf at Belmont Park, hasn’t raced since finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club, a nose behind El Kabeir and three-quarters of a length in front of Eagle. Another local horse headed to the Risen Star is Bluff, who routed maidens Jan. 22 for trainer Larry Jones.

Miller will be sending a horse from California after all. On Thursday, Scott Jones said that Miller is supplementing St. Joe Bay to the Risen Star. St. Joe Bay finished second against first-level optional $80,000 claiming company at Santa Anita in his last start and was fourth in the Sham Stakes two starts back.

On Friday afternoon trainer Tom Amoss said that War Story, who was scheduled to go in the Southwest on Monday at Oaklawn Park, was entered and will run in the Risen Star. "The forecast of a wet racetrack and a post position that is difficult to win from" caused the change in plans, according to Amoss. War Story had drawn post 11 in the Southwest.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Risen Star three times since 2010, including last year with Intense Holiday. Pletcher, who nominated five horses to the Risen Star, said via text that it’s unlikely he will send a horse from Florida for the race but will make a final decision after workouts Sunday. Pletcher is planning to send Angela Renee for the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Red Rifle for the Mineshaft, and Pyrite Mountain for the Fair Grounds Handicap.

The Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra for 3-year-old fillies is the final prep for the Fair Grounds Oaks; the Grade 3 Mineshaft for 4-year-olds and up is the final prep for the New Orleans Handicap; and the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap for 4-year-olds and up on turf is the final prep for the Mervin Muniz Memorial Handicap.