Correll’s Corner: Risen Star: Speed kills

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

TRINITY, Fla. – Magnitude upset the beignet cart in New Orleans on Feb. 15 when he stole the Risen Star at Fair Grounds in front-running fashion. The son of Not This Time was sent off at 43-1 by the betting public and jockey Ben Curtis sent the colt quickly to the front and said, “catch me if you can.” They couldn’t.

The winning time for the mile-and-an-eighth was 1:48.85 and it was the fastest since the race was increased to that distance in 2020. Magnitude received a 108 Beyer speed figure and Equibase gave him a 106 speed figure.

Magnitude picked up 50 points on the Kentucky Derby trail and a probable place in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs. Trainer Steve Asmussen said the plan was to go to the front because he thought the track was playing to a speed bias.

Also receiving points were Chunk of Gold, Built, Vassimo and American Promise. Race favorite East Avenue faded to 10th.

The Sunland Derby, the other points’ race held on Feb. 16 at Sunland Park in New Mexico, came down to a head bob as Getaway Car nosed out Caldera to take the win. Getaway Car is trained by Bob Baffert and Caldera by D. Wayne Lukas and the result was reminisce of the 1996 Kentucky Derby when the Lukas trained Grindstone edged Baffert’s Cavonnier to win. This time Baffert got the nod.

Getaway Car has 36 points and probably needs a few more points to be safely in the Derby field and Baffert has plenty of time to get them. Although the colt is by Curlin, I’m not putting him in my top group because I don’t think he wants to go that far.

This weeks top 3-year-olds:

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) won the Lewis.

Barnes (Into Mischief) won the San Vicente.

Rodriguez (Authetic) second in the Lewis.

John Hancock (Constitution) won the Sam F. Davis.

Magnitude (Not This Time) won the Risen Star.

Disco Time (Not This Time) won the Lecomte at Fair Grounds.

Coal Battle (Coal Front) won both the Springboard Mile at Remington Park and the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn Park. He is trained by Lonnie Briley.

Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) won Holy Bull.

First Resort (Uncle Mo) won the Kentucky Jockey Club. He is trained by Eoin Harty.

Journalism (Curlin) won the Los Alamitos Derby. He is trained by Michael McCarthy.

Captain Cook (Practical Joke) won the Withers.