Kentucky Derby Road: Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes

Risen Star Stakes: 1 1/8 Mile at Fairgrounds

From the far outside post Magnitude shot to the lead under Ben Curtis and romped by 9 3/4 lengths going away in the Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes at 43-1 odds. He led through splits of 23.42, 46.92, 1:10.95, 1:36.13 and finished in a strong 1:48.85. Chunk of Gold, who was also 43-1, was best of the rest with a late move in his first two-turn start. Built, prominent into the stretch, held on for third. Vasssimo salvaged fourth after losing a lot of ground to the winner. East Avenue finished 10th, beaten over 20 lengths as the 4-5 favorite. Steve Asmussen trains the winner for Winchell Thoroughbreds. Bred in KY by Ron Stolich. By Not This Time out of the Bernardini mare Rockadelic. The $2 exacta paid an extraordinary $2,629.40.

The winning time compared to 1:44.12 for 1 1/16 mile (and an 89 Equibase figure) registered by Godolphin trainee Good Cheer, who's now five-for-five, in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. Magnitude (106 Equibase figure) moved a bit faster than than the 1:42.89 (a 104 Equibase) run by 4-year-old Hall of Fame in the Mineshaft Stakes two and three races earlier, respectively. David Aragona posted Saturday night Magnitude got a 109 Beyer. That figure was revised to a 108. As for Hall of Fame, it was his third straight win since a 10th-place finish in the 2024 Louisiana Derby followed by nine months away from the races.

Twelve ran in the Risen Star, making it a crowded field if not necessarily a very competitive one. Kentucky Derby points: 50-25-15-10-5.

NOTE: The original post contained incorrect information about East Avenue. Our apology.

Winning jockey Ben Curtis: “It was fantastic. It is a pleasure to ride horses like that. The instructions were limited but they were let the horse do what he does and try to get forward. I had all the confidence going out there in the world. He pulled away very well in the stretch and he hit the line strong. Couldn't be happier with the horse, couldn't be happier with the trip.”

Winning trainer Steve Asmussen; “He needed to make the decision to get over. He took the initiative and was very positive with what he wanted to do and the horse responded for him. I think the (Kentucky Derby) foundation, the races, being here staying in the system and what you can develop–it’s why we’re here. The horse has not missed a single day, a single oat. Scott (Blasi, assistant trainer) has done a tremendous job with him. We always thought he was capable of more. We put him where he needed to be, played the bias of the racetrack and he took advantage of it.”

Jareth Loveberry, jockey of runner-up Chunk of Gold; “I’ve been with Ethan the last two mornings, watching the replays and talking about the horse. The trip went pretty good but there’s still a little greenness–he’s still learning and developing, but he knows how to finish.”

Ethan West, trainer of Chunk of Gold: “We are absolutely thrilled. He ran a massive race. We asked a lot of him shipping down here and trying dirt for the first time and he came with a massive run. Jareth rode him perfectly.”

 Luis Saez, jockey of third finisher Built: "He felt good the whole way. I thought we were going to win. Half a mile I thought we had. Came in at 3/8 he got pretty close, top of the stretch when I asked him he gave me a good turn of foot and when i got to the winner, he took off."

Wayne Catalano, trainer of Built; “I wasn't happy about getting nailed for second but I feel good about how he ran.”

Tyler Gaffalione, jockey of East Avenue (post-time favorite, finished 10th): “I felt like a winner every step until we got to the far turn, he switched leads and just kind of emptied out on me. I don't have an answer for it. Hopefully he comes back good and we’ll see what happens. It’s hard to tell (if he has the heart to pass other horses). He is still lightly raced, only four starts, so we still have some figuring out to do. Brendan (Walsh) does such a good job with his horses–he’ll figure it out.”