Risen Star top three look headed to Louisiana Derby

They were first, second and third in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16 and one-two-three this past Saturday in the Risen Star, and Mandaloun, Proxy, and Midnight Bourbon stand a good chance of meeting again March 20 at Fair Grounds in the $1 million Louisiana Derby.

Mandaloun won Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star by 1 1/2 lengths over Proxy, who also had been second in the Lecomte. Midnight Bourbon won the Lecomte, going wire to wire, and after chasing Risen Star pacesetter Rightandjust finished third on Saturday.

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All three colts took their racing well, their trainers said Sunday. Mike Stidham, who trains Proxy for Godolphin, and Steve Asmussen, who trains Midnight Bourbon for Winchell Thoroughbreds, indicated the Louisiana Derby was the intended spot for their charges. Brad Cox, trainer of Mandaloun, a Juddmonte Farms homebred, was more circumspect, saying he’d discuss plans with the Juddmonte team, but indicated the Louisiana Derby is the leading contender for Mandaloun’s next race.

“It’s an option,” Cox said. “It’s probably the one that makes the most sense right now, but we’ll get him back to the track and make a decision later.”

Mandaloun, who stalked the pace three wide under Florent Geroux before taking the lead in midstretch, ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.39 and got a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He cooled out quick and jogged sound on the road last night,” Cox said Sunday afternoon. “He’s a happy, clean-legged horse.”

Mandaloun won a six-furlong maiden race and a seven-furlong allowance race in Kentucky before coming up short in the 1 1/16-mile Lecomte. Cox, who believes Mandaloun can handle 1 1/4 miles, added blinkers for the Risen Star, and Geroux said after the race he rode a much more focused horse Saturday than he had last month. Mandaloun responding immediately to Geroux’s request for more run at the quarter pole after racing somewhat one-paced last month.

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Now it is Proxy who likely will race next time with blinkers added, Stidham said. Proxy attained a very favorable inside stalking position around the first turn and down the backstretch before suddenly coming off the bit at the half-mile pole. Jockey John Velazquez, riding Proxy for the first time, had to urge Proxy to keep him in the race, but at top of the stretch, Proxy regained his focus and finished strongly.

“He sure acts like a horse who would benefit from [blinkers],” Stidham said. “He came out of it extremely well, improved off his last race, and I think he’s going to improve again.”

Midnight Bourbon finished almost six lengths in front of fourth-place O Besos and was a half-length behind Proxy for second, improving upon his Lecomte performance despite the defeat.

“I was really happy with his race and I think we’re still in the game,” Asmussen said. “To run 1:50 and one [fifth] with 3-year-olds this time of year, that’s pretty serious, and I think all three of these are serious horses.”