Correll’s Derby Watch: Risen Star Surprise

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

2/18/2023 – Angel Of Empire (left)mwith Luis Saez aboard outduels Tapit Conquest to win the 51st running of the Grade II Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Jamie Newell.

TRINITY, Fla. – A funny thing happened in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fairgrounds in New Orleans, none of the favorites showed up. Or maybe they weren’t supposed to be the favorites.

Angel of Empire, a son of Classic Empire, pulled of the upset at 13-1 and Sun Thunder, another shot, checked in second. Two Phils, who was the lukewarm second choice, was third. The winner was another Brad Cox trainee.

I saw nothing in the race that impressed me, although the mile-and-an-eighth race was run in a good time of 1:51.47. There will be no changes in this week’s list.

Arabian Knight (sire: Uncle Mo) tops the list after his impressive win in the Southwest Stakes (96 Beyer) at Oaklawn Park. This was a followup to his runaway performance in a maiden race on Breeders’ Cup weekend at Keeneland. Bob Baffert is loaded this year, but …

Forte (Violence) goes here off his win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His connections are awaiting his 2023 return.

Instant Coffee (Bolt d’Oro) has won the Kentucky Jockey Club at Louisville and the Lecomte at Fairgrounds in New Orleans. He’s Brad Cox’s top runner.

Faustin (Curlin) ran second in the one-turn San Vicente to his speedster stablemate Havameltdown. Faustin is a two-turn colt and didn’t embarrass himself in the San Vicente. Yep, he’s another Baffert.

Cave Rock (Arrogate) was flying high until he ran into Forte in the Juvenile (Baffert). The colt had his first work of 2023 recently and clocked a snappy four furlongs in 47.80.

Dubyuhnell (Good Magic) won the Remsen at Aqueduct, but I have never been a big fan of winter racing in New York.

Practical Move (Practical Joke) outran a trio of Baffert colts to win the Los Alamitos Futurity and that could be saying something.

Verifying (Justify) is one of the many colts Cox is training, but I think he’s a step behind stablemate Instant Coffee.

Reincarnate (Good Magic) won the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and comes from loaded Baffert barn.

Litigate (Candy Ride) is trained by Todd Pletcher and has room for improvement.

Others to keep an eye on: Victory Formation (Tapwrit) won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn. He’s another Cox colt. Gun Pilot, Newgate, Red Route One, Two Phils, National Treasure, Blazing Sevens and Angel of Empire.