Magnitude Shocks in the Risen Star, Sets New Record

By Kevin Kilroy —-

2/15/2025 – Magnitude with Ben Curtis aboard wins the 53rd running of the Grade II $500,000 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Amanda Hodges Weir

New Orleans, La (Feb. 15, 2025) – Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude overcame long odds and a far outside post to wire a field of 12 3-year-olds and set a new record in the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the first race in the Championship Series of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Ben Curtis, Magnitude covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85, the fastest Risen Star final time since the race was extended to 9 panels in 2020. The previous record was held by Epicenter, who later ran second in Kentucky Derby 148 for the same connections as Magnitude.

Wasting no time, Curtis urged the 43-1 Magnitude from the gates, crossing over and clearing East Avenue by two lengths heading into the first turn. With post-time favorite East Avenue stalking to his outside, Magnitude clocked in opening fractions of :23.42 and :46.92. Setting up shop behind East Avenue, both Built and Vassimo bided their time, while behind them Chunk of Gold overcame early trouble to settle in 8th along the rail. As East Avenue failed to respond in the far turn and began backpedaling, Built made a strong move forward and set his sights on Magnitude. By the eighth pole, Magnitude had repelled his challenger and began pulling away from the field. Rallying up the rail, Chunk of Gold caught Built at the wire for second place. After dropping back in the far turn, Vassimo surged late to steal fourth from a fading American Promise.

On the local road to the 151st Kentucky Derby every stop thus far, Magnitude previously ran a troubled 6th in the Lecomte and 2nd in the Gun Runner, for which he earned 5 qualifying points. Together with the 50 he earned in the Risen Star, the Not This Time colt now ranks second behind Citizen Bull with 55 points.

The Ethan West trainee Chunk of Gold grabbed 25 points in his first Derby prep. Built added 15 points to the 20 he earned winning the Gun Runner and placing in the Lecomte, totaling 35 points for trainer Wayne Catalano. Vassimo scored his first 10 points; likewise for American Promise with 5.

Magnitude returned $88.40, $33, and $14.80. Chunk of Gold paid $32.20 and $12.80. Built returned $4 to show.

Winchell Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen have now teamed up for a record 4 Risen Star victories, including Epicenter (2022), Gun Runner (2016), and Pyro (2008).

A son of Not This Time out of the Bernardini mare Rockadelic, Magnitude improved his record to a 7-3-1-0, boosting his earnings to $446,165.

The Fasig-Tipton Risen Star serves as the local steppingstone to the $1 million Twinspirses.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on Saturday, March 22.

Risen Star Quotes:

Ben Curtis, jockey of Magnitude (winner)

“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.”

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Magnitude (winner)

“(Curtis) 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 foundation (of the Road to the Derby at Fair Grounds), 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 Chunk of Gold (2nd place)

“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 (2nd place)

“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 Built (3rd place)

“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 (3rd place)

“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.”

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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, La, Fair Grounds, which is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN), also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 15 off-track betting parlors throughout Southeast Louisiana. The 153rd Thoroughbred Racing Season–highlighted by the 112th running of the Louisiana Derby–will run from Nov. 22, 2024 through March 23, 2025. More information is available online at www.fgno.com.