Meet the Contenders: 2024 Risen Star
Gun Runner holds off Foreveamo (Photo by Fair Grounds)
February 13th, 2024
Meet the horses running in the 2024 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Tizzy Indy wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#1 Tizzy Indy *
Pro: Pedigree for distance seemingly the only positive attribute.
Con: No factor in Lecomte (G3) and ex-claimer looks similarly out of place here.
#4 Tizzy Indy graduates in R2 at Churchill Downs under David Cohen for trainer Keith Desormeaux! 🤩
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 8, 2023
A top #ExpertPick for @Scottshap34!
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/6uDbuPQEAG
Gun Runner holds off Foreveamo (Photo by Fair Grounds)
#2 Awesome Ruta *
Pro: Latest try was likely a bit on the short side; stakes-placed at two turns.
Con: Looks overmatched from a class perspective.
Honor Marie winning the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#3 Honor Marie ****
Pro: Impressive win last out in Kentucky Jockey Club (G2); extra distance figures to suit.
Con: Enters off longer layoff than main rivals; might peak later in the spring.
#2 Honor Marie comes from off the pace to win the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club S. at 8/1 at for trainer Whit Beckman with Rafael Bejarano in the irons! 🏆
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 25, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/cWQkYK8JEo
Sierra Leone at Aqueduct (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#4 Sierra Leone ****
Pro: Nearly overcame track bias to just miss in strong renewal of the Remsen (G2).
Con: Hung badly after taking a lead late in that Aqueduct feature; can’t do that again.
Dornoch and Sierra Leone had an epic battle in the Remsen at Aqudeuct last out and both are horses that @James_Scully111 has an eye on.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 31, 2024
Click the link below to add his 5️⃣ horses to follow from the NY Road to @KentuckyDerby 150!#NeverMissAWinner ⤵️ https://t.co/JYxtVbHifl pic.twitter.com/Qim3YQUXsz
Moonlight (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
#5 Moonlight ***
Pro: Fourth in key edition of Remsen where track profile was working against him.
Con: Cross-entered in an earlier allowance, which would be a more winnable spot.
#11 Moonlight gets blinkers and graduates in R5 at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher with @iradortiz in the irons! 🌙
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 28, 2023
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/lVcpYL92gk
Real Men Violin breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Photography)
#6 Real Men Violin ***
Pro: Second best in Kentucky Jockey Club but beat Track Phantom two back.
Con: Has settled for second four times in six starts.
#4 Real Men Violin gets the job done in the slop in R5 at Churchill Downs under @b_hernandezjr for trainer @kennymcpeek! 🎻
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 29, 2023
The 2-year-old colt went off at 7/1.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/L5AaWxq5Bt
Gun Runner holds off Foreveamo (Photo by Fair Grounds)
#7 Hall of Fame *****
Pro: Exploded to break maiden by more than 10 lengths; exciting prospect.
Con: Lacks the stakes experience the other main contenders have; likely underlay.
Could we see Hall of Fame in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame one day?
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 23, 2024
His maiden performance @fairgroundsnola on Saturday was telling.
Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts ⤵️ https://t.co/6YRMxRoYUt pic.twitter.com/9hEeiMhfgx
Catching Freedom winning the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Photography)
#8 Catching Freedom ****
Pro: Long-time backers should finally get value on this stakes-winning colt.
Con: Faces a far deeper cast in this first stab in graded company.
#6 Catching Freedom makes his debut a winning one in R4 under the Twin Spires for trainer @bradcoxracing with @flothejock aboard! 🎓
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 1, 2023
The 2-year-old colt is by @WinStarFarm stallion Constitution.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/BdxEZHaI0X
Cardinale (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Lauren King)
#9 Cardinale **
Pro: Just missed after dueling most of the way in Gulfstream allowance.
Con: Form of last race took a hit when winner trailed in Sam F. Davis (G3).
Resilience (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
#10 Resilience **
Pro: Dominated maiden foes at Gulfstream, appears to be getting better.
Con: This is a significant step up in class and he loses Lasix.
Track Phantom wins at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
#11 Track Phantom ****
Pro: On a four-race win streak, including the Gun Runner and Lecomte.
Con: Got away with a slow pace last time, stiffer challenge here.
Track Phantom was super impressive in his gate-to-wire victory in the Lecomte Stakes @fairgroundsnola Saturday.
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 22, 2024
Click the link below to add him to your TwinSpires Stable Alerts and get notified every time he runs on the Road to @KentuckyDerby 150 ⤵️ https://t.co/4dpTw8wGg2 pic.twitter.com/8Dno5jUJQU
Gun Runner holds off Foreveamo (Photo by Fair Grounds)
#12 Bee Dancer **
Pro: Exceeded expectations winning on debut at 9-1.
Con: Steps ups three furlongs and concedes a lot of experience to others.
ADVERTISEMENT
