International Star On Target for Risen Star
Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s International Star had his first work back since taking the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 17 for trainer Mike Maker and is on target to return to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots on Feb. 21 for his connections.
“This was his first work back and he worked great,” Maker said. “All is well.”
Expected to be one of the favorites in a salty renewal of the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star, International Star worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Gulfstream Park. In seven starts, the son of Fusaichi Pegasus has three wins and two placings for $320,979 in earnings. He has two graded stakes wins and has now won on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces.
BLUFF HIGHLY REGARDED BY CONNECTIONS
This year’s Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes is shaping up as arguably the best Kentucky Derby prep thus far in 2015. Headlined by Erich Brehm, Keith Desormeaux et al’s 2014 Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red, the 42nd running of the final Louisiana Derby prep is also expected to draw Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s multiple graded stakes winner International Star, Godolphin Racing’s graded stakes-winning multi-surface specialist Imperia and William S. Farish’s beaten Grade III $200,000 Lecome Stakes favorite Eagle.
One colt flying under the radar but extremely well regarded is Fox Hill Farm’s Bluff. Trained by Larry Jones and ridden by his go-to rider Kerwin Clark, the son of Tapit out of a full-sister to Jockey Club Gold Cup and Pacific Classic winner Borrego has the looks, style and potential to upset the proverbial apple cart on Feb. 21. “Larry has been high on Bluff from the beginning,” said Rick Porter, principal of Fox Hill Farm. “He’s been disappointed that the horse had so many excuses (in his first two races). He ran a huge race last time and Larry thinks he deserves a shot at the Risen Star. He doesn’t have to win but he certainly has to be competitive to move forward. One thing about Larry is that if the horse has the talent, he is going to get it out of them.” In his debut on Dec. 11, the $250,000 yearling purchase was wide and used his energy catching up to loose-on-the-lead Tiznow R J, only to have that rival run away from the field by more than 13 lengths. Three weeks later, the chestnut broke poorly, was wide again and closed from the tail of the field to finish a one-paced eighth of 12.
Unfazed and still believing in their charge, the Bluff team marched on to try again three weeks later at the same mile and 70-yard course and distance, but this time he got a trip that allowed him to show his true colors. Rating well behind the leaders in fifth, the emblazoned chestnut pounced on them at the quarter-pole and sprinted clear by 5 ½ lengths by the eighth-pole. Eased in the final sixteenth, Bluff still won by nearly six lengths in a sharp 1:43.20.
Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots