Unreachable Star fits well in Gus Grissom

Unreachable Star, first or second in each of his last five races against Indiana-breds, will seek to maintain his sharp form when he faces eight other Indiana-bred and Indiana-registered colts and geldings in the $84,000 Gus Grissom at Hoosier Park on Sunday afternoon.

Trained by Tim Glyshaw, the 6-year-old Unreachable Star won the Brickyard prep on Aug. 8 by 1 1/2 lengths. He then came back Aug. 29 and defeated a full field to win the Brickyard in come-from-behind fashion, this time by a length. Unreachable Star won the A.J. Foyt prep at Indiana Downs on June 28, but then finished second in the 1 1/16-mile A.J. Foyt on July 14.

Although the same distance as the Gus Grissom, the A.J. Foyt was run on the turf. Unlike the Foyt, the Gus Grissom is on dirt and restricted to horses that were not only registered in Indiana, but the sire must also be Indiana-registered. Unreachable Star has won 6 of 13 over the Hoosier Park oval. Leandro Goncalves retains the mount.

Laz Has Risen has the best chance of upsetting Unreachable Star. Trained by Randy Klopp, Laz Has Risen finished second in the Gus Grissom last year, a head in front of Unreachable Star. The 7-year-old Laz Has Risen comes into the Gus Grissom off a win in a claiming event locally going 7 1/2 furlongs. Francisco Torres retains the mount.

Motown Boy is the only 3-year-old in the Gus Grissom and will probably attempt to wire the field under Rodney Prescott. Trained by Mike Nance, Motown Boy has led for at least the first half-mile in his last seven races. The big question will be the distance, as Motown Boy has only been two turns on the dirt once, finishing second May 26 going a mile and 70 yards at Indiana Downs in a third-level allowance for statebreds.