International Star can be the King of New Orleans
Mitch Landrieu is the current Mayor of New Orleans, but if the Big Easy had a King, it would have to be International Star.
It’s not that the son of the Kentucky Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, hasn’t demonstrated ability outside of the friendly confines of Fair Grounds, but it's the New York-bred’s affinity for the historic oval that has pushed his career to the high rent district, where only millionaires reside. A quick scan of the Mike Maker trained colt’s past performances shows an uncanny preference for down home Cajun cookin’. International Star is 4-for-4 at Fair Grounds (all stakes), and 2-for-7 everywhere else.
It all began on the Bayou for International Star early last year, when the Ken & Sarah Ramsey runner visited Louisiana for the first time. The occasion was the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes. On that afternoon, a 9-1 shot found no room on the rail, but swung out wide under Miguel Mena to make his move. The explosive kick for home carried the winner to an impressive 2 ½ length score. That winner, of course, was International Star, and a good old fashioned love affair between horse and city was born.
Next came the Risen Star, and once again, the silks with the big red “R” would find their way to the Fair Grounds winner’s circle. International Star’s victory in the Grade 2 Derby prep may not have been flashy, but the one-length win came at the direct expense of War Story and Keen Ice, and verified him as the one to beat for Fair Grounds’ signature race.
International Star’s biggest career victory came in his third go round at Fair Grounds when he scored a popular victory in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby last March 28. The determined victory in the $750,000 event sent the streaking bay straight to Louisville for a run for the roses, but unfortunately, an injury kept him in the stall on the first Saturday in May. It would be a long eight months before the New Orleans Star would make it back to the races.
A return trip to New Orleans and Fair Grounds was all the four-year-old colt needed to kick start his career as an older horse. After tiring badly in his first race off the layoff in the Zia Park Derby, International Star looked like his old self again when registering a clear cut victory in the Louisiana Stakes on January 16. The win upped his record to perfect in four at his favorite racecourse.
Now tomorrow’s Mineshaft Handicap is set to be International Star’s fifth start at Fair Grounds. I don’t like to tout the chalk, but frankly, the horse for course looks like he has a wonderful chance to remain perfect in Louisiana start #5. Topping a small field of five in the Grade 3 affair, the new King of New Orleans looms a decided favorite, with the likely second choice, Eagle, having been vanquished by the Star last month. Penciled in as the fifth race on a stacked card, International Star is pegged as the 8-5 morning line favorite, with regular pilot Miguel Mena getting a leg up.
While a trip to Dubai for the $10 million World Cup was certainly considered, it now looks like the New Orleans Handicap will be next -- meaning, if all goes to plan tomorrow, next month I get to talk about International Star going for six in a row down on Gentilly Boulevard.