NEWS
Pyro begins year without War Pass to chase in Risen Star
Posted: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 11:11 AM
PYRO
Patricia McQueen photo
by Jeff Lowe
Free from War Pass’s shadow, Pyro will pursue his first stakes victory on Saturday in the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds.
Pyro chased home War Pass in three consecutive races last year, finishing third in an entry-level optional-claiming race at Saratoga Race Course and second in both the Champagne Stakes (G1) and Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He also was a finalist behind War Pass in Eclipse Award voting for champion two-year-old male.
The Pulpit colt will seek his first trip to the winner’s circle since a debut victory on July 7 at Churchill Downs for owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds.
In preparing for his first start since the Juvenile on October 27, Pyro has been breezing in company with Horse of the Year Curlin at Fair Grounds for trainer Steve Asmussen, who also has Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Z Fortune in the field of 12 for the 1 1/16-mile Risen Star.
A New York-bred Siphon (Brz) colt, Z Fortune stepped up emphatically in the Lecomte after opening his career with two decisive wins in New York-bred company last fall for owner Ahmed Zayat.
Z Fortune made a strong move coming out of the far turn in the one-mile Lecomte and drove clear a 2 3/4-length victory under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, who will ride Pyro in the Risen Star. Garrett Gomez will be in town to ride Z Fortune in the Risen Star and Indian Blessing in the Silverbulletday Stakes (G3) on Saturday’s card, which features six stakes.
Z Fortune will spot six pounds to Pyro under the allowance conditions of the Risen Star.
Visionaire and Signature Move both enter off two straight victories.
Team Valor International purchased a majority interest in Visionaire after he scored by 5 1/2 lengths in a one-mile allowance race on January 4 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Michael Matz.
Signature Move ships in from Southern California off a 2 1/4-length win in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on January 4 at Santa Anita Park. Louisiana native Eric Guillot trains Signature Move for Mike Moreno’s Southern Equine Stable.
Jeff Lowe is staff writer of Thoroughbred Times
The field, in post-position order with (sire), jockey, weight and trainer:
1. Check It Twice (Repent), John R. Velazquez, 122, Todd A. Pletcher;
2. Blackberry Road (Gone West), Calvin H. Borel, 116, David M. Carroll;
3. Visionaire (Grand Slam), Jose Lezcano, 118, Michael R. Matz;
4. Bonanza (Jump Start), Patrick Husbands, 122, Mark E. Casse;
5. Unbridled Vicar (Vicar), Corey J. Lanerie, 116, Greg Geier;
6. Rich Young Ruler (Victory Gallop), Fabio A. Arguello, Jr., 116, Thomas Daughn;
7. The Darp (Proud Citizen), Robby Albarado, 116, Ronny W. Werner;
8. Pyro (Pulpit), Shaun Bridgmohan, 116, Steven M. Asmussen;
9. Signature Move (Vindication), Michael C. Baze, 120, Eric J. Guillot;
10. Peteadoris (Smart Strike), James Graham, 118, Thomas M. Amoss;
11. Z Fortune (Siphon [BRZ]), Garrett K. Gomez, 122, Steven M. Asmussen; and
12. Prince Cortez (Repent), Julien R. Leparoux, 120, Thomas M. Amoss.
