In appearance, the leggy son bore no resemblance to his father Secretariat, but instead had the looks and color of grandsire Bold Ruler, while inheriting the athletic gifts of both. The progeny, Risen Star, would develop into a beautiful 17-hand dark bay colt, bred for the American classic races, where he would bring the fullness of his potential over the maximum range of these distances. Possessed of tremendous talent, great stamina, and the capacity to carry speed, he would climax his career in a manner that didn't merely defeat his opponents, but overwhelm them.
Promise of Youth
On September 24, 1987, Risen Star, with Bobby Walker aboard, made an auspicous debut, breaking his maiden in the 6 1/2 furlong Minstrel Stakes at Louisiana Downs. Well back through the first half mile, he came on with a strong late run a furlong out to beat Chadra by a length. The time on the fast track was 1:19. Three weeks later, in the venue's seven furlong Sport of Kings Futurity, in a field of six, the colt kept closer to the pace but couldn't sustain his run, finishing a distant second as Success Express ran off by fifteeen lengths. Success Express later went on to capture the Breeders Cup Juvenile in record time during one of the race's few editions contested at a mile. Risen Star had been soundly beaten but it was in a contest where the trip and shorter distance did not suit his style.
Surface Versatility
In addition to co-owning and training the colt, Louis Roussel III was also principal owner of the Fair Grounds racetrack where Risen Star made his next five starts under jockey Shane Romero. He had apparently been blessed with his sire's affinity for the lawn. On December 6, in his lone start on turf, Risen Star easily won a 7 1/2 furlong allowance by four lengths over eleven rivals. Well back after the start, and in mid-pack at a half mile, he moved around the far turn, then advanced with authority in the stretch, increasing his margin to the wire. His brief juvenile stint of three starts, two wins and a second, was over.
Preliminaries
Risen Star's three-year-old season began on January 2, 1988 in an allowance. Stretching out for the first time to 1 1/16 miles, he broke from post five in a field of seven, bid his time through four furlongs, assumed command around the far turn, then proceeded to run up the score by ten lengths as he crossed the wire in 1:47 3/5 on a good track.
In the February 6th, 1 1/16 mile Le Comte Handicap, Risen Star conceded ten to fourteen pounds to six other horses. Among the entries was the front running Pastourelles, ridden by Walker, Risen Star's first rider. At the break, Pastourelles was the first away and maintained his position, while Risen Star, who had drawn the outside post in a field of seven, raced wide in the backstretch. He attempted to engage Pastourelles aound the far turn, but when they arrived home, Risen Star was one and a quarter lengths shy, with Run Paul Run another three lengths back in third. Three weeks later, in the one mile, 40 yard Louisiana Derby Trial, Risen Star faced Pastourelles again. Another good runner entering the fray was Jim's Orbit, who had won or placed in eight of his ten previous starts, earned more than a quarter of a million dollars, and had faced some of the best runners as a two-year-old; but he hadn't raced in four months and would carry high weight of 122, giving two to thirteen pounds to eleven horses. Risen Star, breaking from post eleven in the twelve-horse field, was under 120. Longshot Lousiana Bred led through six furlongs in 1:12 2/5, before giving way to Pastourelles in the stretch. Risen Star had been well off the pace again, before making his powerful late bid, caught Pastourelles approaching the finish, and crossed the wire one length to the good in a sharp time of 1:40. Jim's Orbit didn't have the best trip and finished more than three lengths back in third.
Close Call
Risen Star would be the favorite going into the 63rd edition of Fair Grounds' signature race, the 1 1/16 mile Lousiana Derby. Run on Sunday, March 13, Risen Star would break from post position one in the field of seven, and because imposts were assigned based on earnings, he would carry three pounds less than four other runners, Jim's Orbit, Honest Roy, Never Force and the sprinter Dee Lance, who all topped out at 123. Pastourelles was also in, under 118, and would break next to Risen Star. In post five was a California invader named Word Pirate, just off a win in a one mile and forty yard allowance, and had finished fifth in the 1987 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Riding Word Pirate would be one of the preeminent jockeys in the sport but who currently did not have a horse for the Kentucky Derby: Eddie Delahoussye.
The day before the race, Risen Star had given his connections a scare. While being bathed, the colt reared and fell on one of his hocks and shoulder. Fortunately there were no broken bones, but none-the-less, he had been traumatized, and there was some uncertainty whether he would be ready to start. The mishap had been a close call, but on Sunday, Risen Star showed up ready to run.
Risen Star kept near the rail and bid his time in sixth. Dee Lance set solid but reasonable fractions of :24 1/5, :47 3/5, and 1:12, but having never traveled beyond six and a half furlongs, was all in at this point. Pastourelles inherited the lead but Risen Star was moving powerfully and surged between him and Dee Lance. He opened daylight and crossed the wire one and three-quarter lengths in front. Word Pirate was able to close for second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Pastourelles. Risen Star sped the distance in a rapid 1:43 1/5, that hovered near the track mark.
Meeting a Champion
Risen Star finally left his familiar Louisiana, and journeyed to Keeneland for the 1 1/16 mile Lexington Stakes on April 16, where he would meet the previous year's juvenile male champion Forty Niner, an extremely good colt, and worthy of an Eclipse title. Forty Niner, a son of Mr. Prospector out of the Tom Rolfe mare File, was trained by Woody Stephens, and had already made ten starts since his two-year-old season, capturing such prestigious races as the Sanford, Belmont Futurity, Champagne, and Breeders' Futurity, before continuing at age three to win the Fountain of Youth. He lost by a neck to Brian's Time in the Florida Derby, while giving the winner four pounds, but returned in early April to take Keeneland's seven furlong Lafayette Stakes. He had won or placed from six to nine furlongs, and could run on various surface conditions, but there was a question whether he'd want ten furlongs on the first Saturday in May.
This was Risen Star's last stop before his own appearance at Churchill Downs for America's most famous horse race, and he was facing his most formidible rival to date in Forty Niner, under jockey Pat Day, the nation's Eclipse Award jockey over the previous two years. Risen Star hadn't raced in over a month and would carry 118 pounds to Forty Niner's 121, the latter who was making his second start in eight days.
In the small field of five, Risen Star, under Jacinto Vasquez, was parked outside with Forty Niner next door. When the group was sent off, Buck Forbes took the group along, covering a quarter in :24, the half in :48, and six furlongs in 1:12 2/5. Forty Niner and Stalwars were stalking, while Risen Star was trailing the field. Exiting the far turn, Forty Niner went to the front. Risen Star was also advancing, drew even with the new leader, and managed to get his head in front at the wire, stopping the clock in 1:42 4/5.
In three weeks, the gallant Forty Niner would attempt to even the score with Risen Star as the two prepared to run in the biggest race of their lives. They would have a lot of company including a colt unbeaten in seven starts, and a front running gray/roan filly who had just destroyed her male rivals in California's premiere three-year-old race. But for Risen Star, the path taken was clearly the right one.
To be continued...
Sources
Associated Press. “Risen Star wins in LaDowns debut.” The Times-Picayune, September 25, 1987.
Fair Grounds charts. The Times-Picayune, December 7, 1987.
Fair Grounds charts. The Times-Picayune, January 3, 1988.
Bob Roesler. “Le Comte stirs up ambition.” The Times-Picayune, February 6, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Pastourelles edges Risen Star at FG.” The Times-Picayune, February 7, 1988.
Fair Grounds charts. The Times-Picayune, February 7, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Jim's Orbit to carry top weight in Trial.” The Times-Picayune, February 27, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Risen Star rallies from 9th to win.” The Times-Picayune, February 28, 1988.
Fair Grounds charts. The Times-Picayune, February 28, 1988.
Bob Roesler. “Delahoussaye eyeing mounts.” The Times-Picayune, March 12, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Risen Star favored on early derby line.” The Times-Picayune, March 12, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Risen Star's status for Derby uncertain.” The Times-Picayune. March 13, 1988.
Bob Fortus. “Risen Star powers down stretch, wins Derby.” The Times-Picayune, March 14, 1988.
Fair Grounds charts. The Times-Picayune, March 14, 1988.
Steven Crist. “Risen Star Edges Forty Niner.” The New York Times, April 17, 1988.
Associated Press. “Risen Star Edges Aiken-trained Forty Niner.” Aiken Standard, April 17, 1988.
Daily Racing Form, Champions: The Lives, Times, and Pas Performances of America's Greatest Thoroughbreds (New York: Daily Racing Form Press, 2005).
Copyright 2011, 2012, 2013 by John Califano
Excellent,John!!Love your writing!
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