Money on the Horses will look into the Risen Star 2023 that will take place on February 23 at the Fair Grounds.
Money on the Horses- Risen Star 2023
Let’s take a look at the full field for the Risen Star race that will take place at the Fair Grounds on Saturday, Feb. 18th which is scheduled as race 13 of 13 with post time set for 7:14 p.m. EST.
The Entries
Gate 1- Quiet as Midnight is 50-1 odds to win and comes in from Louisiana Downs. He has raced three times and broke his maiden in his second start on a sloppy track last month. Not likely to be in the money.
Gate 2- Single Ruler is the son of Empire Maker and comes in at 30-1 odds. He broke his maiden on his fifth attempt at Fair Grounds last month. Not likely to be in the money.
Gate 3- Shaq Diesel is the son of Khozan and comes in from Tampa Bay Downs after seven starts. He race four times at Gulfstream Park and won a claimer race in his third attempt. Don’t put on money on this horse.
Gate 4- Determinedly is the son of Cairo Prince and trained by Mark Casse with 8-1 odds to win. In December he picked up three Derby points at Fair Grounds in the Gun Runner. Good odds but not a good horse to keep pace.
Gate 5- Harlocap is the son of Justify and is trained by Steve Asmussen with 8-1 odd to win. This horse was recently transferred to Asmussen from the barn of Bob Baffert. He broke his maiden in his third attempt for Baffert. His win last month at Santa Anita was even money favorite. Don’t look for this horse in the money.
Gate 6- Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox and is the son of Classic Empire. In his last race he finished second in the Smarty Jones behind his stablemate Victory Formation at Oaklawn. He received four Derby points. This horse could finish in the money but likely to win.
Gate 7- Sun Thunder is 15-1 odds to win and is trained by Ken McPeek. The horse is the son of Into Mischief. On December 31, he broke his maiden in his second start by more than eight lengths in a one-mile allowance at Oaklawn. This horse will be out of the money.
Gate 8- Tapit’s Conquest is the son of Tapit with 8-1 odds and is trained by Brad Cox. In his debut he received a second at Saratoga with 16-1 odds. He broke his maiden in October by more than three lengths. He is capable of pressing the pace but likely fades into late money winner at best.
Gate 9- Curly Jack is the son of Good Magic and is 18-1 odds. He won his maiden on his first try and moved into the stakes company. He has ran in them five times with a second at Ellis Park in the Juvenile and first in the Iroquois. He got second in the Kentucky Jockey Club behind Instant Coffee. He has picked up 17 Derby points to date. His trainer is Tom Amoss and he has been winning at a 31% rate at the Fair Grounds. Good choice to win.
Gate 10- Two Phil’s is 8-1 odds and is trained by Larry Rivelli. This horse is the son of Hard Spun. He battled in the G3 Lecomte before losing to Instant Coffee. Two Phil’s had a significant increase in speed figures in the Lecomte and earned 8 Derby points. Might be a “to show” horse.
Gate 11- Silver Heist is another Steve Asmussen trained horse also the son of Tapit.He enters at 2-1 odds to win the Risen Star. He won his maiden in December at the Fair Grounds in his first start He returned in an allowance going two turns and was third in the allowance with Determinedly and Tapit’s Conquest. He has a pair of works at the New Orleans track since that January start. Not a money winner in this race.
Gate 12- Crupi is the son of Curlin and is trained by Todd Pletcher and enters at 15-1 odds to win. He has not won yet but the five he has raced in have all had strong fields with top barns backing them. He has turned in the third highest speed figure in this field. a likable long shot.
Gate 13- Victory Formation is the son of Tapwrit and is trained by Brad Cox with 3-1 odds to win. This horse won his maiden at Keeneland in October and then took first on an allowance at Churchill then proceededd to win the Marty Jones and grb some Derby points. The favorite to win by concerned about the gate assignment. He will have Flavien Prat as his jockey.
Gate 14- Private Creed is the son of Jimmy Creed and another Steve Asmussen trained horse. He enters with 12-1 odds to win. He is the leading money winner of all in the race. In six starts he won the Juvenile Sprint ($500,00) at Kentucky Downs, and was third in the Juvenile Sprint and third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and then for the first time he went two turns in a January start at the Texas Turf Mile but lost by a head. Money winner, yes, but not in the top three in this race.
Money on the Horses Prediction
Post position may be an issue in this years Risen Star. Victory Formation is the best but in Gate 13 is a major blow to his chances. Everything must go well in his tactical speed approach.
Curly Jack had a great year in 2022. Look for him to run and run. Crupi is the long shot in this one . Todd Pletcher thinks he is ready. He is used to facing a strong field. Long shot worth the money.
Finish- Crupi- Victory Formation- Curly Jack (consider boxing them)
