Risen Star Stakes

Risen Star Stakes Race Facts

  • Location: Fair Grounds, New Orleans, LA
  • Inaugural Race: 1973
  • Current Distance: 1 1/8th miles
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 2
  • 2024 Purse: $400,000
  • 2024 Race Date: Saturday, February 17th

2023 Risen Star Stakes Race Results

POST
HORSE
JOCKEY / TRAINER
WIN / PLACE / SHOW
6
Angel of Empire
Luis Saez / Brad H. Cox
$29.40 / $16.00 / $8.80
7
Sun Thunder
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. / Kenneth G. McPeek
$14.80 / $8.60
10
Two Phil's
Jareth Loveberry / Larry Rivelli
$4.60
8
Tapit's Conquest
Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox
2
Single Ruler
Jose Riquelme / J. Keith Desormeaux
5
Harlocap
John R. Velazquez / Steven M. Asmussen
12
Crupi
James Graham / Todd A. Pletcher
9
Curly Jack
Edgar Morales / Thomas M. Amoss
13
Victory Formation
Flavien Prat / Brad H. Cox
3
Shaq Diesel
Adam Beschizza / Renaldo Richards

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (6-7) Paid: $179.20
  • $0.50 Trifecta (6-7-10) Paid: $735.20
  • $0.10 Superfecta (6-7-10-8) Paid: $766.89

Watch the 2023 Risen Star Stakes

2023 Risen Star Stakes Entries

PPML OddsHorse JockeyTrainer
150-1Quiet as MidnightEmanuel NievesBenard Chatters
230-1Single RulerJose RiquelmeJ. Keith Desormeaux
330-1Shaq DieselAdam BeschizzaRenaldo Richards
48-1DeterminedlyReylu GutierrezMark E. Casse
58-1HarlocapJohn R. VelazquezSteven M. Asmussen
68-1Angel of EmpireLuis SaezBrad H. Cox
715-1Sun ThunderBrian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.Kenneth G. McPeek
86-1Tapit's ConquestFlorent GerouxBrad H. Cox
98-1Curly JackEdgar MoralesThomas M. Amoss
108-1Two Phil'sJareth LoveberryLarry Rivelli
1112-1Silver HeistCorey J. LanerieSteven M. Asmussen
1215-1CrupiJames GrahamTodd A. Pletcher
133-1Victory FormationFlavien PratBrad H. Cox
1412-1Private CreedTyler GaffalioneSteven M. Asmussen

History of the Risen Star Stakes

The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade II event for 3-year-olds run at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. The race is contested annually in February at a distance of 1 1/8 miles. The purse is currently $400,000 and the race is a major prep to the Louisiana Derby (G1), and one of many prep races on the ‘Road to the Kentucky Derby.’ The winner of the Risen Star receives 50 Derby points, and secures a spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby.

The race was renamed to honor locally-owned Risen Star, a son of Secretariat, who won the race in 1988 and went on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and be voted the 1988 Eclipse Award for American Champion Three-Year-Old Male horse. Risen Star finished 3rd in the Kentucky Derby, but is the only Risen Star Stakes winner to win two Triple Crown races.

The race earned its graded stakes status in 2002 and was upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2 in 2010. Epicenter currently holds the speed record at the current length when he turned in a time of 1:49.03 in 2022.

Twelve horses have won both the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby in the same year: Epicenter (2022), Girvin (2017),  Gun Runner (2016), International Star (2015), Friesian Fire (2009), Pyro (2008), Repent (2002), Comic Strip (1998), Line in the Sand (1992), Risen Star (1988), Taylor’s Special (1984) and Master Derby (1975).

The 1977 winner, Run Dusty Run, was also one of the best to race in the event. He went on to finish 2nd in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and was 3rd in the Preakness, each time finishing behind Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. Run Dusty Run had an impressive career filled with near misses that also included runner-up finishes in the Louisiana Derby, Blue Grass Stakes and Travers Stakes.

The record for most wins by a jockey is three, jointly held by Robby Albarado (2003, 2004, 2007), Shane Romero (1988, 1989, 1992) and Florent Geroux (2016, 2020, 2021). The record for most wins by a trainer is three, with 5 owners achieving the feat: D. Wayne Lukas, Neil J. Howard, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen, and Brad H. Cox.

Many notable horses have a Risen Star Stakes victory on their resume. A few of the more noteworthy and recognizable names include Risen Star (1988 Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes winner), Lawyer Ron (2007 American Champion Older Male Horse of the Year), Pyro (2008 Louisiana Derby winner), Friesan Fire (2009 Louisiana Derby winner), Mucho Macho Man (2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner), and Girvin (2017 Louisiana Derby winner), War of Will (2019 Preakness Stakes Winner), Mandaloun (2021 Kentucky Derby Winner), and Epicenter (2022 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse).

Risen Star Race History

Year
Winner
Jockey / Trainer
Distance / Time
2022
Epicenter
Joel Rosario / Steven M. Asmussen
1 1/8 miles / 1:49.03
2021
Mandaloun
Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox
​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.39
2020
Mr. Monomoy
Florent Geroux / Brad H. Cox
​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:50.43
Modernist
Junior Alvarado / William I. Mott
​1 1⁄8 miles / 1:51.28
2019
War of Will
Tyler Gaffalione / Mark E. Casse
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.59
2018
Bravazo
Miguel Mena / D. Wayne Lukas
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.95
2017
Girvin
Brian Hernandez Jr. / Joe Sharp
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.08
2016
Gun Runner
Florent Geroux / Steven M. Asmussen
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.94
2015
International Star
Miguel Mena / Michael J. Maker
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.82
2014
Intense Holiday
Mike E. Smith / Todd A. Pletcher
​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.86