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

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

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