Pyro circles the field in the stretch to win the Grade 3 Risen Star by 2 lengths.
Pyro, a three year old hopeful for th 2008 Kentucky Derby finally prevailed against winners on Saturday by winning the Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Steve Asmussen trained colt has had a buzz about him as a Derby hopeful since running 2nd behind War Pass in the Breeder’s Cup Classic last October. Prior to the Risen Star, Pyro’s only victory had been against maidens. Steve Asmussen has had Pyro training with Curlin, and that appears to have helped him develop the “killer instinct” we we’ve been looking for.
“He’s a tremendous horse,” Asmussen said. “How good is he? He’s good enough to do what we just watched. He accelerated home. Guess his workmate (Curlin) did the job, huh?”
Pyro had to put in a late run to win the Risen Star as he was dead last at the top of the stretch. Stablemate Z Fortune appeared to be best of the rest as he ran second behind Pyro by 2 lengths. Visionaire ran on for show honors. At the top of the stretch I thought the race looked like it would go to Z Fortune all the way. Pyro came charging on though late to grap top honors and win going away as clearly the best of the field.
With the win, Pyro has moved up a few notches in my “road to the Kentucky Derby” rankings.
In other racing action at Fair Grounds, Indian Blessing solidified her hold as the top 3 year old filly in the nation with a victory in the Silverbulletday. The race was a bit of a heart stopper for her connections as she had to chase long-shot Miss Missile for most of the race and then had to hold of a determined attack by Proud Spell in the stretch. Proud Spell was chewing up ground as they came to the wire, but the effort was good enough to remain undefeated for the Bob Baffert trained filly.
Indian Blessing hangs on against Proud Spell to win the Silverbulletday
Grasshopper was triumphant in the Mineshaft ofer Magna Graduate and Silver Lord, while Daytona took the Fair Grounds Handicap. Earlier in the day Euroears took the Colonel Powers while Graeme Six started off the pick 6 sequence by winning the Pan Zareta.
I played a $48 pick 6 ticket using the selections posted the day before. It was chalk heavy, but I’ll take $467.80 all day long, not to mention the immeasurable sense of satisfaction that comes with hitting a pick 6, even if the payout isn’t life changing. 
Just an FYI - I’ll be passing on Sunday racing action today. I’ve got a lot of errands to run and someone, I won’t mention any names, but someone made the unfortunate mistake of putting Guitar Hero 1 and 2 in my hands. Needless to say I’m a tad distracted at the moment.
Actually, the only major Stakes race to cover would be the San Vicente at Santa Anita, and while it looks competitive I’ll have to pass. Into Mischeif would be the captain obvious choice along with Massive Drama there.
Don’t play too much now….the BC boards will get rowdy without you. Or boring….
So, when you’ve put the damn video game down, explain to me what Curlin did in this race…was it a team thing? Like car racing?
LOL….I know I’ve been missing in action over there this weekend. I blame it all on Guitar Hero!
Curlin wasn’t in this race, but prior to the race he and Pyro were working out together side by side on the track. This was probably for a couple of reasons. For starters they have similar running styles, meaning that neither of them is an “early speed” type and they both prefer to plod along a bit before winding up for their big runs. Also, I like to think that trainer Steve Asmussen was trying to develop that “killer instinct” I keep mentioning. Some horses just know how to win, and Pyro had been running in 2nd behind the top horse in the 3 year old division, War Pass. I think working him next to Curlin may have rubbed off a bit. That was a very Curlin-esque stretch run.
The moment we watched it, my wife and I noticed some similarities between Pyro running down Z-Fortune, who looked like he was going to win, and when Curlin did the same thing to Street Sense last year in the Preakness.
Now the question will be has Pyro rounded into form or is he peaking too soon? Only time will tell, but the way Asmussen has been on fire lately with his horses, he’s probably simply got him in sharp form.
One thing is for sure, he’s moving up my rankings for now.
Kdawg68 thank for voting in the first round of my male actor tournament! I really appreciate it. The first round is over and there were a couple of surprises. Anyway thank you for voting on the first round. The second round will get harder, I hope you will vote again in Round 2. =)
Ah, you just reminded me. I need to do all I can to ensure a Christopher Walken victory so that the greatness that is Christopher Walken can be brought to the masses!
Wow, that was impressive. Pyro was MUCH the best, and it wasn’t like he was running by tired horses either. That was a slow pace.
I guess I was asking way too much from Signature Move. I thought his 1:42 at Santa Anita was fast, but I see some of the other 3 year olds have ran a mile and a sixteenth in 1:40 ‘n’ change there. Looks like I’ve got some things to learn about those synthetic surfaces and paying attention to Beyer figures!
I think we’ve all got something to learn about synthetics. The trouble is that poly tracks play differently and that actually each one has it’s own unique qualities.
That move by Pyro was very Curlin-esque in my opinion. It was very encouraging to see him gun down Z-Fortune, who looked like he was going to prevail.
The good news for Pyro is the added distance of the TC races should be to his liking. The bad news is that he may be peaking a tad too early. We’ll see how this plays out. He certainly announced himself as a legitimate contender and no one can say he hasn’t beat winners ever again.
He was ROLLING late in the Risen Star. Very impressive.
Here’s a link to an interesting Beyer article on Pyro… http://www.drf.com/drfNewsArticle.do?NID=92226&subs=0&arc=0
If peaking too soon was a concern, that slow final time was good for him. I think that represents the total amount of effort put into that race -which wasn’t much. It was a nice workout though and that turn of foot was brilliant. Curlin could have used that in the Belmont duel to the wire. War Pass would still smoke him at this point. He’s still got plenty of work to do to get ready for the Derby. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get beat in his next race. Reminds me of Monarchos whom I bet to win the Florida Derby. He made an incredible rally to win it in dominant fashion. It was a slow race just like the Risen Star however, and he got beat in his very next race in a fast time. That fast race prepped him well for the Derby though, and I bet him to win at 10-1. Only Secretariat ran the Derby faster. It will certainly be interesting to see how Pyro progresses.
That’s an interseting take, Jerry, thanks for sharing! I see that my friend Ron Correll at the State Journal-Register has listed Pyro atop his current rankings, and lord knows I respect that man’s opinion as gospel.
I just checked out Ron Correll’s blog. Sounds like he really knows his stuff. I like how he used the word “comedy” to describe the rediculously slow pace in last year’s Belmont. I echo that sentiment.
I found your blog while searching for photos of Curlin. I want to hang some nice ones in my billiards room. I live just five minutes from Laurel Race track. I used to go all the time when I was younger but now mainly just bet the Triple Crown and Breeders Cup. After reading your blog though, I’ve been inspired to follow the sport a little more closely. I download the free races of the week at drf.com and am handicapping the Derby preps now. It’s fun to hear from intelligent people that are truly passionate about the game. I had become disenchanted with it after being around the addicted gamblers with negative attitudes that frequent the track.
Wow, Jerry, I can’t tell you how much that means to me. The words you’ve just written are the entire reason why I spend hours each day blogging. Thank you so much for making it seem worthwhile. I live up in Hanover but will be trying to get to Laurel/Pimlico semi-frequently when the weather warms up.
Maybe we’ll have to make a trip of it sometime. I do tend to bet a little heavy when I get a chance to take in live racing, but I honestly enjoy handicapping even when I’m not betting. Following the major horses and major races is also a favorite past time of mine. I could just leave it on TVG or HRTV all day if my wife would let me, and sometimes she does!
As far as Ron goes, he’s really my idol and someone I look up to very much. I first heard of him when he was interviewed over the phone on TVG talking about Curlin about a week before the Derby. I had just given my wife a lecture a few days before on how I thought Curlin was the best horse I’d ever seen and how he was going to have a chance to make history. Ron basically said things that brought a huge grin to my face.
He’s an amazing handicappier that knows horses as good as anyone I’ve ever met, seen, heard, or read. He’s also a great teacher. It’s sort of a dream of mine to one day be able to spend a day at the track with him. To be able to hear that guy talk horses all day. I’d pay a million bucks for that!
Glad to have you reading, Jerry. It’s people like you that make this whole effort worthwhile!