St. Joe Bay Possible for Risen Star

Altamira Racing Stable and David Bernsen’s St. Joe Bay is possible to invade from California for the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, according to trainer Peter Miller. The dark bay son of Duncan F. Kenner Stakes winner Saint Anddan trains at San Luis Rey Downs, 30 miles north of Del Mar, and will work on Tuesday morning.

“He’s doing well,” Miller said. “I’m not going to make my final decision yet, but we’ll enter (Monday), he will work Tuesday and, if he goes, the flight leaves Wednesday morning.”

In six career starts, the Florida-bred $60,000 Ocala sale graduate has one win, one second and two thirds for $64,640 in earnings. In his last two races, he has competed against two well-regarded 3-year-olds in California. He was fourth in the Grade III $100,000 Sham Stakes behind runaway winner Calculator on Jan. 10 and second 20 days later in an allowance behind Prospect Park.

St. Joe Bay has proven to be quite versatile, as he was a good third on Polytrack in the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes at Del Mar and credible fourth in the Grade III $150,000 Cecil B. Demille Stakes on the grass – both in November – in addition to his aforementioned dirt performances. He broke his maiden going a two-turn dirt mile on Oct. 17 by 10½ lengths.

“He does a little bit of everything and does it all pretty good,” Miller said. “We’re still trying to figure him out. He ran well on grass, synthetic and dirt. He’s rate-able, but definitely has speed.”

Miller also confirmed that Gary and Cecil Barber’s Appealing Tale is under consideration for the Grade III $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap on the Risen Star undercard.

“It all depends on if an allowance we’re entering in today – for Friday – goes,” Miller confirmed. “If it doesn’t, we’re thinking about it.”

A multiple graded stakes-placed 5-year-old gelding, the son of Tale of the Cat was second last out in the Grade II $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes behind Hoppertunity on Jan. 10.

TOP DECILE WORKS, TO PASS ON RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Two-time Grade I-placed sophomore filly Top Decile worked very well on Sunday morning, zipping a half-mile in a swift :46.60 for trainer Al Stall, Jr., but will not be lining up in the gate on Saturday in the Grade III $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes. A disappointing sixth as the even-money favorite – beaten 19 lengths by I’m a Chatterbox – in the Listed $125,000 Silverbulletday Stakes on Jan. 17, the daughter of Congrats worked the second-fastest of 97 moves at the distance.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do with her yet but I'm not running her on Saturday,” Stall said. “I might shorten her up, but I’m not sure yet. When you run a race and you don't learn anything from it, it is frustrating. Right now we are just going to focus on getting her back on track.”

A runner-up in the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies two starts back, the Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence-owned chestnut charge last sprinted in her maiden victory at Saratoga on Aug. 17 going 6½ furlongs. In four career starts, she has earned $491,050.

HARBOUR ISLAND COULD LIVE UP TO PEDIGREE IN RACHEL ALEXANDRA

Spendthrift Farm’s Harbour Island, who has progressed nicely since commencing her career on Nov. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, will move up in trip and class next out in the Grade III $175,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on Feb. 21. Since that fourth-place finish, the daughter of My Pal Charlie has gone on to impressively take two six-furlong races – first breaking her maiden on Dec. 18 and then winning a conditioned allowance over Calumet Farm’s well-regarded White Clover on Jan. 12.

“I’m going to run Harbour Island in the Rachel Alexandra instead of (Top Decile),” trainer Al Stall, Jr. said. “Her half-brother won the Louisiana Derby and her sire was second in (the Louisiana Derby), so her family seems to do well going two turns at the Fair Grounds.”

My Pal Charlie, a Stall trainee as well, was second in the 2008 Louisiana Derby to Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pyro. He would go on to win the Super Derby, place in four other graded stakes and finish fourth in both the Met Mile and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. Harbour Island’s dam, the Vicar mare Vibrant, is also the dam of Vicar’s In Trouble, who won the Super Derby and Lecomte Stakes in addition to his victory in the 2014 Louisiana Derby.

WAGING WAR TO BLACK GOLD

Trainer Al Stall, Jr. confirmed Sunday morning that Columbine Stable’s Waging War will be kept in stakes company following his second-place finish in the $50,000 Allen’s Landing Stakes at Sam Houston on Jan. 24 behind Exodus.

“We’re aiming him to the ($60,000) Black Gold (Stakes on Feb. 28) on the grass going seven and a half (furlongs),” Stall said. “He’s doing very well.”

Waging War is unraced on the turf, but is bred to enjoy the grass. A son of War Front, the Claiborne Farm-bred colt is out of the Seeking the Gold mare Sidle – a half-sister to Grade I-winning turf runner Stroll. The $350,000 Keeneland September 2012 grad was an impressive allowance winner at Fair Grounds on Jan. 2 going six furlongs and has two wins from six starts for $75,681 in earnings. 

Source: Fair Grounds Barn Notes