Study Guide: 2025 Risen Star Stakes

Feb 11, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Saturday’s $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds is an important stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. It’s the first Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier of the year worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers, which virtually guarantees the winner a spot in the Derby starting gate.

There’s a lot at stake, which is one reason why 13 horses have entered. Let’s take a tour through the entries:

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American Promise

Start(s): 7
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: BC Stables
Breeder: Candy Meadows
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Keith Asmussen

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $134,874

Sire: Justify
Dam: Tapella
Color: Chestnut

A slow start and a midrace speed duel compromised American Promise in the Southwest (G3) last month. Still, he was beaten only 6 1/2 lengths while finishing sixth (disqualified to seventh for interference). He previously won a fast maiden race and is eligible to challenge with a better trip in the Risen Star.

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Jonathan’s Way

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Rigney Racing
Breeder: Susan L. Anderson Racing
Trainer: Philip Bauer
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (99) when finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $268,530

Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Female Drama
Color: Dark bay/brown

Jonathan’s Way performed well on the Road to the Kentucky Derby last year, winning the Iroquois (G3) and finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). But he hasn’t run since November, and the layoff is a question mark.

#10 Jonathan's Way backs up his debut win and grabs the first Kentucky Derby prep race in the G3 Iroquois at @churchilldowns for trainer Phil Bauer with @jrosariojockey aboard! 🏆

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/JAoC3UdYUe

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 14, 2024

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Vassimo

 

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Team Penney Racing
Breeder: Sierra Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $43,500

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Bsharpsonata
Color: Bay

Vassimo is unbeaten in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, but he’s faced easier competition so far and must improve upon his career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating to win his stakes debut.

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East Avenue

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Total Earnings: $410,645

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Dance Music
Color: Bay

A bad stumble at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) cost East Avenue any shot at victory. He’d previously won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by 5 1/4 lengths. If East Avenue can recapture that form in his first run of 2025, he’ll have a good chance to win the Risen Star.

East Avenue was much the best and picks up 10 #KentuckyDerby points in the G1 Breeders' Futurity! 🏆🌹 @Tyler_Gaff @brenpwalsh @godolphin

🎥#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/p53htmMtbs

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 5, 2024

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Chunk of Gold

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Terry L. Stephens
Breeder: Brereton C. Jones
Trainer: Ethan West
Jockey: Abel Cedillo

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a Turfway Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $48,818

Sire: Preservationist
Dam: Play for Gold
Color: Gray/roan

Chunk of Gold has competed exclusively over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park, most notably finishing second in the Leonatus S. From a Brisnet Speed rating perspective, he’ll need to improve in his dirt debut to challenge against tougher foes in the Risen Star.

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Seattle Road

Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Greenwell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Phoenix Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Tom Amoss
Jockey: Marcelino Pedroza Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing seventh in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $50,778

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Seattle Slang
Color: Bay

Seattle Road gained some ground to finish seventh in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds last month, beaten 3 3/4 lengths in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut. He’ll need a step forward to turn the tables on Lecomte runner-up Built.

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Septarian

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Resolute Bloodstock
Breeder: International Equities Holding
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a Laurel Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $59,916

Sire: Protonico
Dam: Amadeus Melody
Color: Bay

Septarian won his first two starts before finishing third in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park. The top two finishers from the Mucho Macho Man have subsequently disappointed in Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers, so Septarian will have to reverse that trend to challenge at Fair Grounds.

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Giocoso

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Rocker O Ranch
Breeder: Breed First
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning an Ellis Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $164,381

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Nutcracker Suite
Color: Dark bay/brown

Giocoso ran third by seven lengths to Jonathan’s Way in the Iroquois last year. Both of Giocoso’s wins have come on grass, so returning to dirt for the Risen Star looks like a tricky assignment.

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Built

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Wayne Catalano
Jockey: Luis Saez

Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $174,204

Sire: Hard Spun
Dam: Sea Garden
Color: Bay

Built enjoyed an uncontested lead when wiring the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds by 6 3/4 lengths. He then rallied tenaciously over a sloppy track to finish second by a neck in the Lecomte. Those fine Road to the Kentucky Derby performances stamp Built as a key win contender in the Risen Star.

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Render Judgment

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, and Rocket Ship Racing
Breeder: Green Lantern Stables
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $109,110

Sire: Blame
Dam: Barbara Gordon
Color: Bay

Render Judgment couldn’t keep pace with Built and Magnitude when finishing third by 9 1/2 lengths in the Gun Runner, his most recent race. The son of Blame will need a step forward to turn the tables.

 

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Jolly Samurai

Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Jake Brown
Breeder: David Cobb
Trainer: Danny Pish
Jockey: Rene Diaz

Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning the Kip Deville S. at Remington Park.
Total Earnings: $121,696

Sire: First Samurai
Dam: Jolly Good
Color: Chestnut

Jolly Samurai won his first three starts, including two stakes, but has since finished fifth in the Remington Springboard Mile S. and ninth in the Lecomte on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He’ll need better to challenge in the Risen Star.

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Vamos Carlitos

Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Bryan McCrea
Breeder: Robert V. LaPenta
Trainer: Gregory Foley
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing second in a Fair Grounds allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $76,344

Sire: Catholic Boy
Dam: Gabeira
Color: Bay

Vamos Carlitos rallied well against a slow pace to finish second in a $100,000 allowance optional claimer at Fair Grounds last month. This former claimer is progressing in the right direction, but his career-best 81 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against Saturday’s field.

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Magnitude

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Ron Stolich
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ben Curtis

Top Speed Rating: (86) when finishing second in the Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds.
Total Earnings: $146,165

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Rockadelic
Color: Bay

After finishing second to Built in the Gun Runner, Magnitude didn’t fare as well over sloppy footing in the Lecomte, racing in midfield on his way to sixth place. If he catches a fast track in the Risen Star, a rebound isn’t out of the question.