2/19 (FG): Risen Star (G2); Mineshaft, FG, Rachel Alexandra (G3's)
 

4th (1:40) Colonel Power S.

Abt. 5 1/2 Furlongs (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | Stakes | Purse: $60,000

1 Due Date T. Farina 118 Lbs S. Margolis - L
1a Cash Refund B. Hernandez, Jr. 116 Lbs S. Margolis - L
2 Delano J. Leparoux 116 Lbs W. Mott - L
3 Sweetsouthernmoon A. Napravnik 116 Lbs J. Marler, Jr. - L
4 Royal Express J. Graham 116 Lbs J. Broussard - L
5 Don't Shoot S. Bridgmohan 116 Lbs M. Lovell - L
6 Strike Impact C. Lanerie 116 Lbs M. Scherer - L
7 Southern Region M. Mena 118 Lbs R. Werner - L
8 Mambo Galliano J. Theriot 116 Lbs L. Roussel, III - L



5th (2:10) Pan Zareta S.

6 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up | Stakes | Purse: $60,000

1 Moontune Missy A. Napravnik 116 Lbs T. Amoss Blk-On L
2 Simplify S. Bridgmohan 116 Lbs S. Asmussen - L
3 Eagle Putt J. Graham 116 Lbs J. Thornbury - L
4 Smoky Belle C. Lanerie 116 Lbs D. Roberson - L
5 Greeley's Rocket J. Theriot 116 Lbs W. Calhoun - L
6 Wild About Marie R. Eramia 120 Lbs J. Thornbury - L
7 Hello Monday B. Hernandez, Jr. 116 Lbs S. Margolis - L
8 Beautician J. Leparoux 116 Lbs K. McPeek - L



7th (3:10) Rachel Alexandra S. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles | Fillies | 3 Year Olds | Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Gran Lioness J. Theriot 118 Lbs W. Calhoun - L
2 Chloe Kate C. Lanerie 118 Lbs N. Howard - L
3 Kathmanblu J. Leparoux 122 Lbs K. McPeek - L
4 Bouquet Booth S. Bridgmohan 122 Lbs S. Margolis - L
5 Inglorious C. Sutherland 120 Lbs J. Carroll - L
6 Tapit Dancer J. Graham 116 Lbs S. Asmussen - L
7 Lilacs and Lace M. Smith 120 Lbs J. Terranova, II - L



8th (3:42) Mineshaft H. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | Handicap | Purse: $125,000

1 Fast Alex S. Bridgmohan 114 Lbs G. Geier - L
1a Country Flavor S. Sellers 118 Lbs G. Geier - L
2 Demarcation A. Napravnik 119 Lbs P. McGee - L
3 Mission Impazible R. Maragh 118 Lbs T. Pletcher - L
4 Apart J. Campbell 120 Lbs A. Stall, Jr. - L
5 Le Grand Cru J. Theriot 115 Lbs R. Werner - L
6 Z Humor G. Melancon 115 Lbs S. Asmussen - L
7 Midnight Mischief J. Leparoux 113 Lbs W. Mott - L
8 Mad Flatter J. Graham 114 Lbs J. Thornbury - L



9th (4:15) Fair Grounds H. (G3)

Abt. 1 1/8 Miles (Turf)| Open | 4 Year Olds And Up | Handicap | Purse: $125,000

1 Dubious Miss C. Lanerie 117 Lbs P. McGee - L
2 Le Grand Cru J. Theriot 116 Lbs R. Werner - L
3 Telling M. Smith 122 Lbs S. Hobby - L
4 Gran Estreno (ARG) J. Graham 121 Lbs M. Stidham - L
5 Sleepless Knight J. Bravo 116 Lbs K. Breen - L
6 Midnight Mischief J. Leparoux 116 Lbs W. Mott - L
7 Joinem S. Bridgmohan 115 Lbs D. Carroll - L
8 Workin for Hops A. Napravnik 118 Lbs M. Stidham - L
9 Hidden Glance B. Hernandez, Jr. 115 Lbs N. Howard - L
10 Loup Breton (IRE) R. Maragh 120 Lbs T. Pletcher - L
11 Expansion G. Melancon 118 Lbs S. Asmussen - L
12 Skip a Smile E. Martin, Jr. 113 Lbs D. Pish - L



10th (4:50) Risen Star S. (G2)

1 1/16 Miles | Open | 3 Year Olds | Stakes | Purse: $300,000

1 Rogue Romance J. Leparoux 120 Lbs K. McPeek - L
2 Liondrive C. Sutherland 116 Lbs T. Ice - L
3 Decisive Moment K. Clark 120 Lbs J. Arias - L
4 Pants On Fire J. Bravo 116 Lbs K. Breen - L
5 Mucho Macho Man E. Coa 116 Lbs K. Ritvo Blk-Off L
6 Machen J. Theriot 116 Lbs N. Howard - L
7 Santiva M. Smith 122 Lbs E. Kenneally - L
8 Action Ready A. Napravnik 116 Lbs W. Calhoun - L
9 Justin Phillip S. Bridgmohan 116 Lbs S. Asmussen Blk-Off L
10 Sorgho E. Martin, Jr. 116 Lbs W. Bennett -

Risen Star looks pretty solid, but then I always seem to get sucked into the FG 3yo and wind up paying for it Derby day.

I hope Coa takes it easy on MMM this time, stalk the pace do not be on it


Very nice field tho-2 horses who are already set for the Derby

I agree...................I started last year discounting the 3yo's that exit the FG Derby preps...............

Looks like a lot of need-the-lead types in the Risen Star.

Machen will be ridiculously overbet based on his two local blowouts, but the race may set up nicely for him.

Howard is bringing him back really fast for Howard. Isnt his normal MO to wait at least a season in between starts?

Where'd you get that idea from?

He might take at least a season in between victories, but certainly not starts.

He is likely to be overbet, but looks much the best to me. The only horse IMO that can compete with him is Santiva and that one needs to take a few steps forward off of his 2yr old form.

You are confusing him with John Ward.

Machen is 6-1 on the M/L. :eek:
That's way off.
I would be shocked if he's any higher than 5-2.

Machen wins a maiden and Optional Claimer and he is being treated like the next coming. Winning against 50.3 and 115.3 while looking somewhat Green. Sorry I do not see it. I will be double fisting it in on Rogue Romance.

I don't usually pay a lot of attention to workout times because (as has been talked about many times before on this site) if you didn't see the work or even hear the trainer discuss it you can't really know much about the work. The raw times of the workouts don't usually reveal a lot.

That being said, I'm curious about how people look at works that appear unusual for a trainer's typical pattern. I ask here because Justin Phillip's last two works seem unusually quick for an Asmussen horse training for a route.

Do people think that means anything because it breaks with a trainer's typical approach? Do you consider that a good sign? Or maybe a bad one? Or....is it completely meaningless.

Just curious.

Nice post.

I'm going with Decisive Moment.

Without having seen it and just generalizing.
As long as the horse wasn't running off on the rider I look at it as a good sign. A Horse that is training faster than their trainers usual, makes me think he is sitting on a big effort. Unless of course it was a Funny Cide pre-Belmont type effort.

I'm going with Tapit Dancer in the Rachel Alexandra and Mucho Macho Man in the Risen Star.

Annual Update (20-1 ML) looks interesting in the 11th. Maker sends him out for his second start, and his debut was okay. Lanerie, who has been riding much better than normal, is aboard again. Annual Update is owned by Twin Creeks, which has Mission Impazible in the Mineshaft.

I'm thinking they must be considering Dubai for Mission Impazible. From his facebook page:

I Had an exciting return to the Fair Grounds. I was maybe a little too ready leaving the gates today and found myself on the lead. Once again I fought bravely unfortunately finished 2nd by a head. I believe I should be at my abesolute best next start and it most likely will be in a very big event! Thanks for all the well wishes!!!!

Aren't those Facebook pages run by fans though rather than the connections

Some, but not that one.

Shouldn't you be baking me the cookies you owe me?