Asmussen Sends Out Pyro, Z Fortune in 12-horse Risen Star

Trainer Steve Asmussen will be well represented by Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up PYRO (Pulpit) and unbeaten Lecomte S. (G3) hero Z FORTUNE (Siphon [Brz]) in Saturday's $300,000 Risen Star S. (G3), but the highly rated Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects haven't scared off the competition. A full field of 12, including promising three-year-olds BLACKBERRY ROAD (Gone West), CHECK IT TWICE (Repent), SIGNATURE MOVE (Vindication) and VISIONAIRE (Grand Slam), will contest the 1 1/16-mile event at Fair Grounds.

Pyro earned only a maiden victory at two, but he placed behind unbeaten champion War Pass (Cherokee Run) in his last three starts, including a commendable, late-running second over a sloppy track at Monmouth Park in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. The dark bay colt finished 12 lengths clear of his stablemate, third-placer Kodiak Kowboy (Posse), that afternoon. Pyro has been training well in the mornings alongside Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike). Regular rider Shaun Bridgmohan will be in the saddle.

Z Fortune opened his racing career with maiden special weight and allowance wins over restricted company, but the New York-bred colt took his game to a new level when making his stakes bow against open rivals in the Lecomte, rallying boldly for a 2 3/4-length decision. The Zayat Stables colorbearer loses Bridgmohan to Pyro, but the gray colt will pick up an able replacement in Garrett Gomez.

Pyro is listed as the 3-1 favorite on the morning line, and Z Fortune is the 7-2 second choice.

Blackberry Road wrapped up his juvenile season with a third in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (G3) and a fast-closing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2), and the David Carroll-trained colt opened 2008 with an encouraging second in the Lecomte. Calvin Borel retains the mount. Check It Twice exits a good-looking victory in the What a Pleasure S. at Calder, and the bay colt will make his first start for Todd Pletcher on Saturday along with new jockey John Velazquez.

Signature Move will make his dirt and stakes debut following a pair of impressive wins on Cushion Track in California. The Eric Guillot runner broke his maiden by 1 1/4 lengths at Hollywood Park two starts back and rolled to a 2 1/4-length allowance tally at Santa Anita most recently. Both wins came at 8 1/2 furlongs, and Michael Baze will be along for the ride. Visionaire broke his maiden in good fashion at Laurel Park in late November, and the Michael Matz pupil recorded a 5 1/2-length allowance tally in his season opener at Gulfstream Park on January 4. He's make his stakes debut with Jose Lezcano.

Other contestants include UNBRIDLED VICAR (Vicar), runner-up by a head to Denis of Cork (Harlan's Holiday) in a recent Fair Grounds allowance; unbeaten PRINCE CORTEZ (Repent), who will make his graded debut for Tom Amoss following a two-length score in the Triple Sec S. at Delta Downs; Smarty Jones S. third-placer RICH YOUNG RULER (Victory Gallop); and the Mark Casse-trained BONANZA (Jump Start), who was last seen posting an allowance victory at Woodbine.

Check It Twice, who been installed at 12-1 on the morning line, will lead the post parade under a 122-pound impost. Next comes Blackberry Road, 116, 5-1; Visionaire, 118, 6-1; Bonanza, Patrick Husbands, 122, 15-1; Unbridled Vicar, Corey Lanerie, 116, 15-1; Rich Young Ruler, Fabio Arguello Jr., 116, 30-1; THE DARP (Proud Citizen), Robby Albarado, 116, 15-1; Pyro, 116; Signature Move, 120, 6-1; PETEADORIS (Smart Strike), James Graham, 118, 20-1; Z Fortune, 122; and Prince Cortez, Julien Leparoux, 120, 12-1.