Magnitude shocks in Risen Star romp; Good Cheer remains flawless in Rachel Alexandra

Feb 15, 2025 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Magnitude wins the Risen Star at Fair Grounds. (Photo by Hodges Photo)

Preps for the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Kentucky Oaks (G1) were won in authoritative fashion at Fair Grounds on Saturday. One was very much expected, the other very much not.

The shocker occurred in the $500,000 Risen Star (G2) for Derby-bound males, when Magnitude bolted out of the gate from post 12 and dominated on the lead en route to a 9 3/4-length score in the 1 1/8-mile test.

Among the 11 left in his wake was 4-5 favorite East Avenue, who was well placed in second behind Magnitude down the backside but essentially quit around the far turn. East Avenue wound up finishing in a dead heat for 10th with rank outsider Seattle Road.

Magnitude's success was a record fourth in the Risen Star for owner Ron Winchell and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, neither of whom have won the Kentucky Derby. Although Pyro (2008) did not fare well in the Derby, their other two Risen Star winners to contest the classic were very good. Gun Runner (2016) finished third in the Derby and was Horse of the Year at four, while Epicenter (2002) was outrun at Churchill Downs only by surprise winner Rich Strike but ultimately won the three-year-old championship.

Magnitude looked championship quality in the Risen Star, but few saw such a dominating effort forthcoming. Sent off at 43-1, he paid $88.40 after completing the fast-track test in a snappy 1:48.85 under Ben Curtis.

The Risen Star was the third win in seven starts for Magnitude, a son of Not This Time and the Bernardini mare Rockadelic, who was produced by multiple Grade 1 winner Octave. Magnitude broke his maiden second out going seven furlongs at Ellis Park last July, and two starts later, captured a 1 1/16-mile allowance at Churchill Downs. His three prior stakes efforts, however, left a little to be desired.

A retreating seventh in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series-opening Iroquois (G3), Magnitude later finished a distant second in the Dec. 21 Gun Runner S. at Fair Grounds after chasing a loose-on-the lead Built, who set a slow pace. Magnitude entered the Risen Star off a modest sixth place try in what was a slowly run edition of the Lecomte (G3) contested over a sloppy track.

The previously unheralded Magnitude boosted his Derby qualifying point total from five to 55, which in years past has been more than enough to safely make the final Derby field of 20. The others in the Risen Star, though, will need to secure more over the next couple months.

Rallying for second in the Risen Star was another 43-1 chance, Chunk of Gold, a Turfway Park shipper making his first career start on dirt. He earned 25 points by finishing a head in front of the aforementioned Built, the second choice in the Risen Star off his runner-up placing in the Lecomte. He earned 15 points Saturday and now has 35.

Vassimo earned 10 points with a fourth-place finish in his stakes debut for Todd Pletcher, while American Promise earned five points by finishing fifth.

The competitiveness of the $282,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2) for Oaks-bound fillies took a serious hit when several key scratches reduced the original field of seven down to four. Because of that, only half the advertised Oaks qualifying points were allotted.

With her main rivals withdrawn, the undefeated Good Cheer was sent off as the 1-20 favorite. Saving ground behind a pace that was neither contested nor particularly strong, Good Cheer nonetheless proved up to the task, bulling her way in between rivals to take the lead approaching the eighth pole and then drawing off to a 6 1/4-length triumph under Luis Saez.

Good Cheer completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.12 and paid $2.10. Gowells Delight, who set the pace, finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Bless the Broken, who edged Aledean for third by a neck in the final strides.

Good Cheer, a daughter of Medaglia d'Oro and multiple Grade 1 winner Wedding Toast, is a Godolphin homebred and is trained by Brad Cox. She has started her career with five consecutive wins by an average margin of around 7 3/4 lengths. She hasn't run up the score quite as much in stakes company, taking the Rags to Riches S. by 4 3/4 lengths and the Golden Rod (G2) by 2 1/2 lengths at Churchill Downs last fall before entering winter quarters.

Good Cheer earned 25 Oaks qualifying points by winning the Rachel Alexandra and now has 45. Gowells Delight earned 12.5 points, increasing her total to 16.5, while Bless the Broken added 7.5 points and has now secured 17.5. Aldean earned five points in the Rachel Alexandra.