Sat Feb 9 20:05:05 2008

Comment | Email | Print

Pyro catches fire in Risen Star Stakes

---

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Pyro exploded down the stretch to capture Saturday's $300,000 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds. The odds-on favorite covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.68 on a fast track.

Making his 2008 debut after finishing second to War Pass in the Juvenile, Pyro came from far off the pace to win his first race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. This was his first victory since breaking his maiden in July.

Setting the pace in the Risen Star was Rich Young Ruler closely followed by Visionaire, The Darp and Signature Move. The favorite was last in the 11 horse field with six furlongs to run.

Entering the far turn Z Fortune, winner of the Lecomte Stakes, joined the leaders and took the lead entering the stretch. With a furlong to run jockey Shaun Bridgmohan took Pyro off the rail to the middle of the track.

Pyro charged down the stretch past the front runners and hit the wire two lengths ahead of Z Fortune. Visionaire held on for third with Unbridled Vicar getting up for fourth.

Rounding out the order of finish was Lecomte runner-up Blackberry Road, Rich Young Ruler, The Darp, Peteadoris, Bonanza, Signature Move and Prince Cortez. Scratched from the race was Check It Twice.

With Pyro and Z Fortune both trained by Steve Asmussen, the conditioner of Horse of the Year Curlin has two legitimate Kentucky Derby hopefuls. Both colts are on schedule to appear in the Louisiana Derby here on March 8.

Pyro, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, earned $180,000 with the Risen Star victory to bring his career bankroll to $696,718. The three-year-old has won two of five lifetime starts.

Pyro returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.20. Z Fortune paid $3.40 and $2.60, and Visionaire paid $3.60 to show.

Immediately before Pyro's win, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filly champ Indian Blessing went wire to wire to take the $200,000 Silverbulletday Stakes. The 2007 champion two-year-old defeated Proud Spell by a length in the 1 1/16 mile race.

Indian Blessing was ridden by Eclipse Award winner Garrett Gomez to a time of 1:43.75 from the outside post in the seven filly field.

Sent off as the 7-10 favorite, Indian Blessing paid $3.40, $2.20 and $2.10. Proud Spell returned $2.60 and $2.40, and Highest Class paid $3.00 to show,

Indian Blessing is trained by Bob Baffert for owners Patti and Hal Earnhardt. Saturday's win was worth $120,000 as the three-year-old remains perfect in five career starts. She has earned more than $1.5 million.