Risen Star's top three will point to Louisiana Derby

NEW ORLEANS – It was a bunched finish at the Risen Star, and if you’re not totally certain who among the top finishers was the best horse in the race, tune in again March 26, when at least the top three home Saturday at Fair Grounds should be back for the $1 million Louisiana Derby

Gun Runner, first by a half-length over Forevamo, came out of the race “really well,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Sunday morning, and will be pointed for the Louisiana Derby.

“He ran hard to the wire, and absolutely, he blew after the race, but that’s to be expected from a horse that just ran in a $400,000 Grade 2,” Asmussen said. “He gave effort, and we were glad to see it.”

The Risen Start was Gun Runner’s first start since Nov. 28, and Asmussen is keenly aware that a horse putting forth such a strong performance in his comeback race (Gun Runner got a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure) can be susceptible to regression in his second race back.

“You’re always concerned, but what I do think is we had very good work in him before trying to give him foundation and prepare against that,” said Asmussen, who expects to give Gun Runner three workouts before the Louisiana Derby.

Runner-up Forevamo went off at odds of 40-1 but validated trainer Al Stall’s opinion that the colt has been improving the last several weeks. Gun Runner had finished second to Candy My Boy, a game fourth in the Risen Star after setting a taxing pace, in a Jan. 18 allowance race here, and that showing combined with energetic morning work encouraged Stall and the Brittlyn Stable to try the Risen Star.

“He looked good this morning. I didn’t see any changes in him,” said Stall. “Like all horses like that, he’ll be nominated to everything, but I don’t see why he wouldn’t run in the Louisiana Derby.”

Mo Tom had the Risen Star hard-luck story, getting stopped in midstretch by a tiring, drifting Bistraya, but picking himself up again and motoring home to finish a closing third. Mo Tom came back with blood on his right-front leg from a cut sustained during the race, but trainer Tom Amoss’s initial fear gave way to relief when the wound was found to be superficial.

“He looks perfect today. The cut’s not even worth talking about any more, and he’s not going to miss any training,” Amoss said.

Indeed, Mo Tom looked bright and alert in his stall chomping a half-dozen peppermints early Sunday morning. Mo Tom remains a rangy type colt, but his frame has filled out considerably this winter, and his coat still gleamed Sunday morning. Mo Tom warmed up with aplomb before the Risen Star, and, as he has done in all his races, was closing relentlessly before finding trouble. His connections believe – with merit, given Mo Tom’s racing and training – that longer distances, like the nine-furlong Louisiana Derby, will only help their horse.

While Mo Tom lost the Risen Star at odds of 5-2, Amoss won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra with the 74-1 shot Venus Valentine, who skimmed a golden rail and took advantage of a furious early pace to close from last and score an unlikely win.

“The race collapsed, plain and simple,” said Amoss.

Venus Valentine, who earned a 75 Beyer, obviously will be considered for the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks on March 26, but Amoss said owner-breeder Rosemont Farm “is looking, too, to see if possibly they could find a 1 1/8-mile race.”

Asmussen, meanwhile, said Stageplay had exited her fifth-place finish as the odds-on Rachel Alexandra favorite in good shape. Stageplay was caught very wide both turns on a racetrack that strongly favored rail runners.

“She was in the wrong spot the whole race,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen’s second horse in the race, Royal Obsession, also raced wide throughout, and finished fourth, more than four lengths in front of Stageplay. Immediate plans for both fillies are uncertain, Asmussen said.

Chocolate Ride, however, will try to win the Mervin Muniz Handicap for the second year in a row after repeating Saturday in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap, where he set a slow pace under Geroux and beat fast-closing Roman Approval by three-quarters of a length. Chocolate Ride got his last three furlongs in a fast 35.40 seconds and earned a 96 Beyer.

“It’ll be the Muniz if they don’t pack too much weight on him,” said trainer Brad Cox.

Cox also ran one-three in the Daisy Devine with Cash Control and Street of Gold. There are no set plans for Street of Gold, who is 6 and could be retired, while Cash Control is possible for a new $50,000 overnight turf-route stakes next month at Fair Grounds.

The top two from the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap, Majestic Harbor and Eagle, both came out of the race well and could run back in the New Orleans Handicap next month. The 8 -year-old Majestic Harbor got a 99 Beyer Speed Figure, his best number since August 2014, when he finished sixth in the Pacific Classic, while Eagle was among the few horses all afternoon to race outside and make up ground, losing by just a head.

Cinco Charlie, Asmussen’s second stakes winner of the card, took advantage of the inside bias and led all the way from post 1 in the Duncan Kenner Stakes, but bias or not, he looked sharp rebounding from a disappointing long-layoff comeback race last month at Oaklawn Park, and earned a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.