Risen Star Should Separate Contenders And Pretenders In Bayou
By: John Gaver III

(February 14, 2003) - A full gate of 12 colts and one gelding have been assembled for the 22nd running of the $150,000 Risen Star Stakes (GIII) at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, La. on Feb. 16, and the mile and a sixteenth event has attracted a deep lot hoping to distinguish themselves as contenders on the 2003 Visa Triple Crown trial.

Indicative of the depth of this year's renewal of the Risen Star, the well-regarded Florida invader Indy Dancer, who has the unfortunate post position of 13 and will be making his stakes debut, has been installed has the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite.

A late-running A.P. Indy colt that is a perfect two-for-two, winning both starts from off-the-pace in dramatic fashion, Indy Dancer shipped into Fair Grounds on Feb. 12 and was bedded down in the same stall that housed Balto Star, who won the Whirlaway Stakes (GIII) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 9 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Jockey John Velazquez will fly in from Gulfstream Park to pilot Indy Dancer, a stretch runner who will benefit from an honest early pace. Trainer Pletcher was toying with the idea of running Indy Dancer in the Feb. 15 Fountain Of Youth Stakes (GI) at Gulfstream Park, but opted for the Risen Star and Fair Grounds' longer stretch and its main track which is traditionally kind to closers.

"His running style is to come from way out of it," Pletcher said. "I think the long stretch at the Fair Grounds will suit him well. The track in the last couple of weeks has gotten fairly speed favoring at Gulfstream. And I didn't think that would be in his best interests."

William A. Carl's homebred colt Saintly Look will try to nail down his third straight stakes in New Orleans, as the son of Saint Ballado overcame a wide draw to win the Grade III Lecomte Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths, validating his three-quarter length win in the Super Bowl Handicap on Dec. 29.

"We think our colt is going to be ready," Saintly Look's trainer, Dallas Stewart said. "I think that Saintly Look is probably on about the same scale as Dollar Bill was a couple of years ago. I think this will be a good test for our colt to kind of see what we've got and where we're at."

Stewart sent out Dollar Bill to win the Risen Star in 2001.

Unlike his effort in the Lecomte, where he broke from post 11, Saintly Look will break from the rail in the Risen Star; Shane Sellers will be in the irons. The lightly raced, highly regarded colt Badge Of Silver will make his stakes and two-turn debut in the Risen Star and has been installed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line. The Ronny Werner-trained son of Silver Deputy won an entry-level allowance race at Fair Grounds on Jan. 23 by seven lengths in his first start off a nine-month layoff due to a cracked cannon bone. He covered six furlongs in a snappy 1:09 3/5 and is a colt who is bred top and bottom to relish the stretch out around two turns.

The thing that works against Badge Of Silver in the Risen Star, on paper, is his front-running style and wide post draw. He figures to be prominent early stretching out after making all the pace in sprint races, and the free-running Saintly Look breaks well to his inside. It will be up to jockey Robby Albarado to work out a trip.

"Right now, I think he could sit off the pace," Werner said of Badge Of Silver's ratability to Daily Racing Form's Marcus Hersh. "I think he could do it either way. We'll see in the race."

Stonerside Stable's homebred colt Seattle Hoofer, a son of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, carries a lofty reputation coming into the Risen Star, evidenced by his 5-1 morning line odds despite his appearance in a stakes race.

Seattle Hoofer broke his maiden at Fair Grounds going a mile and a sixteenth and came back to beat winners at first asking on Jan. 17, where he overcame a troubled trip to win off by 5 ¾-lengths. He will break from post four for trainer Michael Stidham and has the services of jockey Frank Lovato, Jr.

The sleeper in the Risen Star at morning line odds of 8-1 is Defrere's Vixen, who had a horrible trip in the Grade III Lecomte Stakes - his first start against winners - and rallied between rivals in deep stretch to finish fourth, 3 ¾-lengths off the win. The bay son of Defrere held his own as a 2-year-old against stakes-placed 3-year-olds Ten Cents A Shine and Great Notion and has been training well since his last start for trainer Steve Asmussen. He will break from post nine and will be ridden by Corey Lanerie.

Prince Alphie and Canaan Land, one-two finishers in the $75,000 Black Gold Stakes on turf at Fair Grounds are a pair of Risen Star entrants who have sharp turf form and main track pedigrees. In fact, both colts have performed well on dirt when entered on the surface; they could have a say in the outcome if able to transfer their positive form to a higher class level.

The field for the Grade III Risen Star Stakes, in post position order with riders, weights and morning line odds is Saintly Look, Sellers, 122, 9-2; Leo's Last Hurrahy, Gerard Melancon, 122, 30-1; Gohalo, Willie Martinez, 114, 30-1; Seattle Hoofer, Lovato, Jr., 114, 5-1; Prince Alphie, Larry Melancon, 122, 20-1; Lone Star Sky, Calvin Borel, 122, 8-1; Gentlemen J J, Elvis Perrodin, 114, 30-1; Crowned King, Kirk LeBlanc, 114, 20-1; Defrere's Vixen, Lanerie, 114, 10-1; Canaan Land, Eddie Martin, Jr., 114, 20-1; Badge Of Silver, Albarado, 114, 7-2; Deep Shadow, Mike Smith, 114, 30-1 and Indy Dancer, J. Velazquez, 117, 3-1.

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