International Star Possible for Risen Star

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s International Star is reportedly in great shape after his victory in Saturday’s Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.  The son of Fusaichi Pegasus was his owners’ second consecutive victory in the Lecomte after Vicar’s in Trouble in 2014.  Both International Star and Vicar’s in Trouble are trained by Mike Maker, who confirmed that all was well and that the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes is under serious consideration. 

With his victory, International Star acquired his second graded stakes and his third win on as many surfaces.  A New York-bred, the bay colt won a turf sprint maiden on debut at Belmont Park last summer before finishing a game second in the Grade II $200,000 With Anticipation Stakes at Saratoga two races later.  Next out, the bay colt won the Grade III $150,000 Grey Stakes over Woodbine’s synthetic Polytrack surface. 

International Star’s only other dirt tries prior to the Lecomte resulted in distant second- and fourth-place finishes in stakes where he seemed to flatten out toward the end.  Such was not the case on Saturday when he powerfully overtook a competitive field of 11 and firmly placed himself on the Kentucky Derby trail.  An $85,000 Fasig-Tipton purchase, International Star has now earned $320,979.

Source: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots