From my Derby Trail group on Yahoo..

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RISEN STAR LURES BEST FIELD EVER

The Risen Star has lured an especially competitive field for an 8.5f test that serves as a prep for next month's Gr. II Louisiana Derby. The race itself has only been a graded event for the past few years,
and with its increase in prestige, and potential for graded stakes earnings, has lured better and better fields. Saturday's group of 11 features 5 locals, 4 CA-based runners and 2 colts in from Florida. All but three have experience in stakes of some kind.

The Fair Grounds is a notoriously difficult "ship in" oval, though recent Risen Star and LA Derby winners Badge of Silver (2003) and Wimbledon (2004) made successful visits to New Orleans from FL and
CA respectively. But Louisiana-based Gradepoint (2004 Risen Star) and Repent (2002 Star and LA Derby) are more typical victors in the annually-featured sophomore stakes at the charming plant on Gentilly
Boulevard.

REMEMBERING RISEN STAR

The race honors the mercurial Risen Star, 11/8-2-1 ($2,029,845) in two years of racing for one-time Fair Grounds owners Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III, who also trained the son of Secretariat. Risen Star, bred by Arthur Hancock III, was tabbed for Roussel at Ocala's 2 year old in training sale by Jimmy Nichols, the retired jockey with a knack for juveniles, who had piloted the likes of Susan's Girl and Graustark during his long riding career.

A wide trip under Eddie Delahoussaye cost Roussel's colt in the Derby where he finished a fast closing third to Winning Colors and Forty Niner. But in the Preakness, Risen Star recorded the fastest
winning time since his sire's record-breaker 15 years earlier, and at the same time became the first son of the great champion to win an American Classic event. A 15 length Belmont romp three weeks
later left little doubt as to the identity of 1988's top sophomore.

Risen Star was injured in that Test of the Champion and had to be retired, but still received the year's Eclipse as top three year old colt. He was on his way to a solid second career as a sire, but died
prematurely at 13 in 1998. Among his top get were millionaire Star Standard and European Champion filly Risen Raven. The Louisiana Derby Trial, which Risen Star won before the LA Derby, was renamed in the colts honor.

Trainer Roussel, who last year tried to re-acquire Fair Grounds, made headlines during Risen Star's campaign by donating 10% of the colts' winnings to the proverbial Little Sisters of the Poor. The contributions from the devout Roussel were in gratitude to the Roman Catholic church after his recovery from a bout with throat cancer.


The 33rd Running of the Risen Star (Gr. III), 8.5f, $150,000 (5:22pm EST)

1.) SMOOTH BID (Asmussen/B. Hernandez) 122/10-1: Rubiano roan colt shows steady improvement for powerhouse barn that culminated in solid Lecomte second to Storm Surge here four weeks back. Trip around circuit a big plus, as is return to irons by good young pilot that steered him to RP mile stake win last November. Can save ground stalking inside, but believe MD-bred a tad slow for best of this bunch.

2.) ELECTRIC LIGHT (Zito/L. Melancon) 119/12-1: Live Oak's 2nd Derby hope (along with High Fly) exits nice 7f Pasco score at Tampa to make graded, route debut today for Nick. Company wasn't what opened eyes on the Gold Coast; it was 6w move from 10 hole on notoriously sandy oval that impressed. Surface here very similar to TBD, so don't expect usual ship-in problems for son of Silver Ghost and Nijinsky mare. Can go or stalk under pilot that knows N'orleans, and distance suits. Provides exotic value.

3.) STORM SURGE (Stewart/Albarado) 122/5-1: Overbrook Storm Cat colt sports pair of local stakes wins since export from Churchill, and recent Lecomte score was just what Dallas was looking for. Needed
two weeks after that effort to return to work though, and is facing a lot more than 4 others here today. Another that appears able to go early or wait a while. ML third choice says local gentry uninspired, and we're siding with them as a bet against.

4.) BOLD LION (Broussard/Campbell) 114/20-1: Nice IL-bred gets thrown to the wolves off three sprints, but horses like this have long habit of making superfectas in the Big Easy. Morning efforts more than respectable, and stretchout angle from Broussard has produced a $30 horse. Last race Beyer better than half of this field. For deep tickets.

5.) ICED OUT (O'Neill/T. Baze) 114/8-1: First of the Cali contingent, CA-bred colt's sire won this race ahead of his LA Derby triumph in '98. Off the pace runner closed into speed favoring San Rafael last, nearly catching Spanish Chestnut. Same tactics just missed in Cal Breeders Challenge to good Uncle Denny before that. Price is right at 8-1 and shows steady gains, but worried that first trip out of state and tiring surface will make things difficult for him. Underneath again?

6.) SILENT BID (Lukas/Smith) 114/10-1: Grand Slam son makes third start off the break D. Wayne on heels of maiden breaker in 6th try. Beat Papi Chullo in that one (today's distance), and Chullo impressed last week chasing DWL's Going Wild in the Sham. Zipped 4f (:47.4) just 8 days later, and added two more sparklers since prepping for this. Is a "tank" according to HOF conditioner, and it could be he's one of those that will keep improving with added work. Dam is daughter of hearty English juvenile champ St. Jovite. Leaning towards inclusion despite all the speed that's signed on.

7.) BUZZARDS BAY (Mullins/Guidry) 122/10-1: Third of the four CA entrants that will start shoulder to shoulder. Marco Bay chestnut was dead game on the lead in GG Derby win over just two others as Guidry doled out his speed while battling every step of the way. Field's top figure (97) is no accident as addition of blinkers was the likely missing link. Showed in Calder diploma grabber that he doesn't have to be up front, and that may give pilot options in heat that looks pressure-packed. Worked like the real thing off San Fran score, and like his chances to win right back.

8.) SCIPION (Biancone/Stevens) 114/12-1: Mrs. Payson bought this one back at Saratoga in '03, and now may be the time he really begins to show what he's got. Cross out the Breeders Futurity fiasco when he
had no chance as #10 in a 10 horse field at KEE, and you'll see that he won from way back at first asking and has only been behind good ones otherwise. Figures are on the upswing, and we love sophomores who are faster in their seasonal debut than they were at any point in their juvenile campaign. Stevens worked him 7 and 5f prepping for today, gets in light, has top Tomy and 12-1 seals the deal.

9.) REAL DANDY (Asmussen/Meche) 114/10-1: Shares experience crown with Storm Surge, 8 starts each, coming into this, with 2/1-1-0 Fair Grounds mark and 3/2-0-0 tab at trip. Stalker should get a bon voyage if not hung out from vantage which gives N.O. pilot Meche good view of scene. Figs are competitive, and a forward move could mean board hit at fair number. Out of money only when wide, and other beats have come at the hands of well-regarded Biloxi Palace and Copy My Notes. Tough to leave out of gimmicks.

10.) HARLINGTON (Pletcher/Velasquez) 114/3-1: The one everyone can't wait to see got near worst of draw with this launch spot, but may yet impact in stakes and fast surface debut for Eclipse-winning J-T
team. Son of champions Unbridled and Serena's Song was super professional in GP ALW soph bow and juvy maiden wins circling fields; experience that will come in handy today if Johnny V. takes back. Long FG stretch (1300+") gives plenty of time for late charge, and it should surprise no one if he passes them all late. Hard to commit at 3-1 in great field when Pletcher has ultimate eyes on Louisville prize.

11.) RUSH BAY (Amoss/Razo) 114/9-2: ML second choice DID get worst of the pillbox landing widest for first try of the year. Amoss too smart to have Razo use this Derby-ticketed bay son of Cozzene hard today when much bigger targets lay ahead. Like neighbor to his left, KY JC (Gr. II) runner up could be just that good when they straighten for home. We'll go out on a limb here and say that this is more likely your LA Derby winner.

SELECTIONS

1. Buzzards Bay
2. Harlington
3. Scipion
4. Electric Light
5. Storm Surge



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