Risen Star a proving ground for War of Will

NEW ORLEANS – The Lecomte Stakes often gets more hype than it merits. Taking place in mid-January, with the racing world eager to launch the Triple Crown season, it’s one of the first graded stakes for newly turned 3-year-olds going two turns on dirt. But only twice this millennium (International Star in 2015, Friesan Fire in 2009) has the Lecomte winner returned to capture the next race in Fair Grounds’ series of Kentucky Derby preps, the Risen Star.

Maybe this year is different. War of Will won the Lecomte on Jan. 16 by four lengths. He got a robust 94 Beyer Speed Figure, and despite stumbling slightly at the start, racing a little too keenly in the early and middle stages, and going wide on both turns, the colt dominated. War of Will began his career on turf and showed ample talent, but only in his last two starts has he raced on dirt, suggesting there could yet be more to come on the surface. How much more will become clearer a little after 6 p.m. Central on Saturday when War of Will races in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes.

The playing field got more level when War of Will drew post 14 for the Risen Star, which is contested at 1 1/16 miles and awards 85 Kentucky Derby qualifying points distributed 50-20-10-5 to the first four finishers. Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday he’s not sending Kingly for the race, which would mean War of Will breaks from post 13, provided the other 12 inside him start, and Gun It, the lone also-eligible, draws into the field. At press time, Manny Wah wasn’t a confirmed starter, but trainer Wayne Catalano said he was leaning toward starting him.

Manny Wah figures to show speed and could make the lead. War of Will, who will have Florida-based Tyler Gaffalione aboard, has pace and is certain to deploy it for position into the first turn. Mark Casse, who trains War of Will for Gary Barber, has remained upbeat about War of Will’s chances, saying the draw won’t matter if War of Will “is as good as we think he is.”

Casse’s brother Justin purchased War of Will from a 2-year-old sale in France, and the colt, by War Front out of Visions of Clarity, came into Casse’s New York string in March. He trained with aplomb on dirt, Casse said, but was aimed for the Summer Stakes on turf at Woodbine and wound up making his first four starts on grass before the surface switch.

War of Will, a dark bay with a big blaze and white socks, trains with verve and had a sharp work under jockey Declan Carroll last Saturday. Casse, who spends much of his winter in Florida, hadn’t seen War of Will in a few weeks when he arrived at Fair Grounds before the breeze and said the colt had “filled out” since the Lecomte.

“Most horses will have a bit of a nostril flare even after they gallop,” Casse said. “He has zero. It’s like the races maybe don’t take as much out of him as the normal horse.”

Back for the Risen Star are the second-, third-, fifth-, sixth- and seventh-place Lecomte finishers.

Lecomte runner-up Hog Creek Hustle does his best work late, and trainer Vickie Foley hopes for a solid early and middle tempo, though she said Hog Creek Hustle could stick closer to the front this time. Foley said she was satisfied with Hog Creek Hustle’s slow 51-second work last weekend.

Lecomte third-place finisher Manny Wah has trained well enough since his last start, but trainer Wayne Catalano wonders how far his horse wants to run.

Plus Que Parfait was fifth in the Lecomte but can do much better Saturday and is a Risen Star value play. Plus Que Parfait beat Holy Bull Stakes winner Harvey Wallbanger in a Keeneland maiden race, then rallied from far back to finish second by a neck to the good colt Signalman in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 24. Trainer Brendan Walsh said he didn’t train Plus Que Parfait for a peak performance in the Lecomte, and the colt lost most of his chance with a stumble at the start from post 11. Walsh said he also threw a hind shoe early in the race.

“If he’s in the first three or four into the first bend, I don’t think we’ll have any excuses,” Walsh said.

The local new players are Owendale, Frolic More, Gun It, and Mr. Money. Owendale beat Frolic More and Gun It in a Jan. 17 allowance prep for the Risen Star, has been improving all winter, and earned a competitive 91 Beyer Speed figure last out.

Mr. Money was scratched sick from the Lecomte, and a first-level allowance here last weekend came up too quickly for him, trainer Bret Calhoun said. He’ll probably need a race. Steve Asmussen said that Limonite, third in the KJC, also will improve from this start.

“Everything says he should get better with time,” said Asmussen, who also starts Gun It.

Henley’s Joy and Dunph come from Florida for trainer Mike Maker, with Henley’s Joy making his dirt debut. But the most interesting Florida shipper is last-start maiden winner Country House, who overcame a disastrous break to win going away Jan. 17 at Gulfstream.

“I think we need to see where he fits in with this group,” said trainer Bill Mott.

The Risen Star is the last of 12 races, including five other stakes, on a card that starts at 12:30. It’s immediately preceded by the Grade 2, $200,000 Rachel Alexandra, which follows a pair of Grade 3’s, the Mineshaft and the Fair Grounds Handicap.