Mandaloun beats Risen Star, takes a step towards the Kentucky Derby

Photo: Photograph by Hodges / Jan Brubaker

Again, Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Proxy won the top three in a Kentucky Derby run at Fair Grounds. But this time, it was Mandaloun who came out on top and effectively won a spot in Derby.

Mandaloun, third behind the Midnight Bourbon and Proxy on January 16 at Lecomte (G3), prevailed on Saturday at Grade 2, $ 400,000 Risen star Piles. Proxy was 1 1/4 long behind in second, while Midnight Bourbon was third.

The Risen Star is the first 2021 Kentucky Derby prepared to award points for the first Saturday in May on a 50-20-10-5 basis. Fifty points were enough to enter the Derby field each year of the points era, which started in 2013, so the Risen Star is a preparatory victory race and you’re in.

If Mandaloun makes it to Churchill Downs’ starting gates, he will try to win over coach and Louisville native Brad Cox, his first Kentucky Derby win.

Mandaloun traveled 1 1/8 miles at Fair Grounds at 1: 50.39, returning $ 6.20 as a 2-1 favorite under jockey Florent Geroux.

“I think the blinders helped,” said Cox of an equipment change he made on Saturday in Mandaloun. “Florent immediately made a comment after the race. Much more focused on the post-show, more focused on your work.

“We don’t put a lot of cups in it, like a one-inch cup, but it seems to have worked to get him mentally to the top, mentally taking him where he needs to be.”

Fair Grounds winner Rightandjust, 31-1, led the Risen Star field by fractions of 23.65 and 48.45. Midnight Bourbon, who took Lecomte’s gate to make the rope, followed the pace and took the lead at the top of the line.

Mandaloun and Proxy became involved in the fight, and the Juddmonte Farms family advanced to victory. The 3-year-old Into Mischief foal has improved to 4: 3-0-1 in his career with more than $ 350,000 in earnings.

“Today we did the same kind of trip we did in Lecomte, but when I stepped on the gas today, he responded immediately,” said Geroux.

Mandaloun’s next prize is probably the $ 1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) over the same Fair Grounds range on March 20, Cox said. This event goes from 1 3/16 miles and rewards its winner with 100 points in Kentucky Derby.

“He has the physical constitution of a horse of a kilometer and a half, so we are optimistic that he will improve with more terrain,” said Cox.

With 52 points, Mandaloun is now at the top of the Kentucky Derby point standings in 2021. Stablemate Essential Quality, who will compete next Saturday at Oaklawn Park at the $ 750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), is second with 30 points, followed by Midnight Bourbon (26), Proxy (24) and Keepmeinmind (18).

Coach Michael Stidham said blinders may also be needed for Proxy, a 3-year-old Tapit foal. Under the command of jockey John Velazquez, he took a rival off the break and made a long trip, but he still had enough to spend the midnight Bourbon in the final meters.

“We will try the blinders in the morning and, if we think it is an additional improvement, we will try,” said Stidham. “The Louisiana Derby would be the next obvious place if he is healthy and ready to go. I asked Johnny and he thought the additional distance would continue to help him, instead of hurting him, and this is huge at this stage. “

As for the Midnight Bourbon, trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joe Talamo noted that the foal Tiznow faced more pressure on Saturday at Risen Star compared to Lecomte.

“I still believe that the further away the better with him,” said Talamo. “You will never get everything your way, but the other horse (Right and fair) was going too hard, and that didn’t help us. I wish I could have sat down a little bit, but that first eighth (of a mile) didn’t helped, but I was proud of it. ”

Finishing Wednesday to 11th at Risen Star were, in order, O Besos, Senor Buscador, Rightandjust, Santa Cruiser, Sermononthemount, Starrininmydreams, Carillo and Beep Beep.