By Christie DeBernardis
The top three finishers from the Feb. 17 GII Risen Star S. face off once again Saturday at the Fair Grounds in the GII Louisiana Derby. Calumet Farm homebred Bravazo (Awesome Again) made himself a GI Kentucky Derby contender when edging past the ultra game Snapper Sinclair (City Zip) to win the Risen Star by a nose at odds of 21-1. Runner-up in the GI Breeders' Futurity S. last term, he also participated in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. in November, which has proved to be quite a strong race, having produced the likes of GIII Gotham S. hero Enticed (Medaglia d'Oro), GII Fountain of Youth S. upsetter Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and GII Tampa Bay Derby hero Quip (Distorted Humor) among others. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee entered the Risen Star off an Oaklawn optional claimer win Jan. 13.
Previously campaigned on the turf, Snapper Sinclair has proved equally talented on dirt, finishing third when making his dirt debut in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 13 and led every step of the way in the Risen Star before being caught in the shadow of the wire. “TDN Rising Star” Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) was undefeated prior to his third-place finish in the Risen Star. A dominant debut winner going seven panels at Gulfstream Dec. 3, the bay passed his two-turn test in a Hallandale optional claimer Jan. 11 and adds blinkers for this return to NOLA.
My Boy Jack (Creative Cause) makes the trip in from California for trainer Keith Desormeaux. A stakes winner on turf last year, the dark bay checked in third in the GIII Sham S. Jan. 6 and made a powerful late bid to win the GIII Southwest S. by 4 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Feb. 19.
Retirement Fund (Eskendereya) failed to fire last time when seventh in the Southwest, but is two-for-two here at the Fair Grounds. Tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” after romping by 7 1/4 lengths in his NOLA unveiling, the bay followed suit with a front-running optional claimer win over this strip Jan. 20.
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