Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen knew what needed to happen if his longshot Magnitude was to have a chance in the $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (G1) at Fair Grounds.
Jockey Ben Curtis followed instructions as Magnitude broke best of all from the outside 12 post and went gate-to-wire for a 9 ¾-length romp over fellow longshot Chunk of Gold on Saturday.
Magnitude. Coady Photo.
Asmussen charge scores big in Risen Star
The Risen Star is the first Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifier with 50 points going to the winner, clinching Magnitude’s spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses. The next four finishers picked up 25-15-10-5 points, respectively.
Asmussen said after sending out Yinzer to win a maiden race by going gate-to-wire along the rail earlier on the card, he hoped for the same from Magnitude.
“Watching the races today, with the post he had, he hit the ground running,’’ Asmussen said after his fourth Risen Star win. “I talked to Ben. There’s two ways to get over, either in front of them or behind them. He broke well. He took the initiative. The horse was moving beautifully. We just played to the bias of the racetrack.”
Magnitude was dismissed at 43-1 odds and returned $88.40 on a $2 win bet. Chunk of Gold, also 43-1, rallied for second and paid $32.20 on a $2 place bet. A $1 exacta of 13-5 returned $1,314.70.
East Avenue, the 4-5 favorite, sat just off Magnitude until the turn for home but faded to the back of the field and finished in a dead heat for 10th with Seattle Road.
Built, the Gun Runner Stakes winner and second in the Lecomte Stakes (G3), finished third, followed by Vassimo and American Promise. Septarian, Jolly Samurai, Render Judgment, Vamos Carlito, East Avenue/Seattle Road, and Giocoso completed the order of finish. Jonathan’s Way was scratched.
Winning time for the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star was 1:48.85 over a fast track.
Points Leaders
Magnitude moves into second place on the Derby leaderboard with 55 points (behind Citizen Bull), while Built picked up 15 points to total 35 for third, and Chunk of Gold has 25 points for fifth.
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