The road to the Kentucky Derby heats up February 21 at Fair Grounds with the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes as ten Triple Crown hopefuls are set to contest the mile and one sixteenth event on the main track.
Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will saddle the 7/2 favorite Imperia who was second, beaten just a head in his last start – the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes November 29 at Churchill. Imperia was making his first start on dirt in the Kentucky Jockey Club after opening his career with three turf races which included a victory in the Grade 3 Pilgrim Stakes September 28 at Belmont. The son of Medaglia d’Oro was flattered when KY Jockey Club winner El Kabeir returned to win a pair of stakes races in New York. Imperia has been idle since the KY Jockey Club, but has worked well for McLaughlin who connects at a 19% clip with runners returning from 61-180 day layoffs.
War Story (5/1) has posted two wins in three career starts for trainer Tom Amoss running second in the Grade 3 LeComte January 17 in his last start. The son of Northern Afleet has shown the ability to pass horses in the stretch and will receive a rider change with Kent Desormeaux taking over for James Graham who takes the mount on 8/1 shot Keen Ice.
International Star (9/2) was an impressive winner of the Lecomte, but moves from the rail to the far outside post. The Michael Maker trainee posted a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 90 in the LeComte victory.
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