Bluff Possible for Risen Star
Fox Hill Farm’s Bluff – an impressive maiden winner in January – has set his gaze upon a possible run in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes for trainer Larry Jones. After two losses to kick off his career at a mile and 70 yards, the son $250,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase of 2013 finally got things right – and in a big way – on Jan. 22 when walloping nine other sophomores by a geared-down 5¾ lengths at the same distance.
“We’re not for sure yet, but we’re thinking about the Risen Star for him,” Jones confirmed. “We haven’t worked him since the race, but the way he’s going we have to put that on the radar. We’ve always liked him. We think we know what Bluff is – he just wasn't showing up in his first two races because of bad trips. We’re pretty happy with him right now.”
Bred in Kentucky by Double K, the son of 2014 champion sire Tapit is out of the El Prado mare Ermine Slippers – a full sister to multiple Grade I winner Borrego. A robust, long-winded type, Borrego would go on to post his two biggest triumphs – the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup and Grade I Pacific Classic – at the classic distance of 1¼ miles, thus ideally eliminating any stamina concerns for Bluff.
LA TIA BULLETS, SHIPS TO CALIFORNIA MONDAY FOR BUENA VISTA
Locally based Grade I-winning turf mare La Tia turned in a visibly impressive work on Sunday morning, going five furlongs in 1:00 flat at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots under jockey Florent Geroux for trainer Armando De La Cerda. Owned by Salvador Hernandez, the Illinois-bred daughter of City Place has not raced since annexing the Grade I $300,000 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar in November, but has been aimed toward the Grade II $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 16 since December.
“She worked in a minute flat and galloped out in 1:12,” De La Cerda said. “Florent said it was her best work. I told him to not go too fast, but she did it on her own. We leave (Monday) morning from the track at 10:30 a.m. and she will have two weeks to get comfortable at Santa Anita. We are going to the Mark Casse barn, like we did at Del Mar – I’ve known the assistant Randi (Melton) for a long time. (Joel) Rosario will be in to ride her in the race.”
Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes