Five members of BloodHorse’s Derby Dozen—Happy smile , Zandon , Epicenter , Slow down Andy and Pappacap – take out five other enemies in the $400,000 Risk Star Stake presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) on February 19 at Fair Grounds & Slots.
The 1/8 mile 1 1/8 dirt track offers 85 qualifying points for the May 7 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, distributed on a 50-20-10-5 scale for the top four finishers. Risen Star is the first 85-point qualifier in the Road to Kentucky Derby 2021-22 series after the previous installments offered 17 or 34 points.
In addition to the strength of out-of-town invaders, the Resurrection Star has attracted a number of talented local athletes, including the 2-3-4 finisher from Fair’s 3-year-old Derby prep. Grounds last month, Lecomte Stakes (G3). Call me at midnight who is skipping the Easter Stars, upsets that race with 28-1 odds, leading Epicenter in the 1/16-mile race, with Pappacap bidding internally in third and Trafalgar Wednesday.
Pappacap and Epicenter are the joint leaders of the Kentucky Derby with 14 points each, although Pappacap is ranked first through a tiebreaker, having higher unrestricted wager earnings.
Pappacap is a ranked winner at the age of 2 and twice runner-up behind the champion Corniche entered first grade last year. Internship Mark Casse first started at the age of 3 in Lecomte.
Tyler Gaffalione, who picked up the rack on the Pappacap towed by rail, will be tasked with mapping out a ride. Pappacap has raced inside in many of his recent warm-ups, including in Lecomte when he was a bit underwhelming in the final.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter, coached by Hall of Fame coach Steve Asmussen, led all but the final strides in Lecomte after setting demanding fractions.
Now for an even higher quality quiz in Easter Stars.
“But we like the people we have, and we like his chances,” Asmussen said.
Several participants cool off on Saturday in preparation for the Easter Stars, among them Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy, who wore five coats in 1:01.62 at Gulfstream Park for coach Kenny McPeek. Rustlewood Ranch’s Pappacap spawns half a mile away at: 48 2/5 at the Fair Grounds for the Hall of Famer Casse.
Epicenter is scheduled to appear on February 14 after covering five fur pads at 1:00 2/5 a week earlier on February 7.
“His work (February 7) is impressive. I think he’s a 3-year-old who’s improving,” Asmussen said.
The Easter Star was one of six stakes at the Fair Grounds on February 19, four of which were graded. The other three classified races include the $250,000 Mineshaft Stake (G3), the $150,000 Fair Grounds Stakes (G3T), and the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stake presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2), round type 85 points later on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
The Risen Star Card offers the second-best race day in New Orleans each year, outperformed only by the March 26 Louisiana Derby Day.
Out-of-town riders riding at the Fair Grounds on Easter Stars Day include Joel Rosario, Jose Ortiz, Luis Saez, Gaffalione and Mario Gutierrez.
