Risen Star Top Two Rematch in Louisiana Derby

The top two finishers in the Fair Grounds’ GII Risen Star, Intense Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday) and Albano (Istan), will face each other again Saturday in that venue’s GII Louisiana Derby. 
    The Risen Star was just the second career win for Starlight Racing’s Intense Holiday, despite several other attempts at black-type success. 
    “You could say he had some excuses in those races [GI Champagne S., GII Nashua S., GII Remsen S. and GII Holy Bull S.],” Starlight Racing’s Jack Wolf said. “Mike Smith gave him a fantastic ride in the Risen Star and we got fortunate enough to get up in the last jump. Good for [conditioner] Todd [Pletcher] for keeping confidence in the horse and keep putting him in these spots. I think he has experienced a good foundation and will be ready for this Saturday and hopefully the Saturday five weeks from now.” 
    Starlight Racing also campaigned the dark bay’s sire Harlan’s Holiday and Wolf believes his performance and pedigree suggest distance is not an issue. 
    “You would think from his pedigree and the way he has handled the two turns so far he would like distance,” Wolf commented. “I think this one has more potential to do the longer distance than [Eclipse champion and Starlight colorbearer] Shanghai Bobby (Harlan’s Holiday)” 
    Intense Holiday has been working well in preparation for this test, including a best-of-67 half-mile in :48 flat two works back at Palm Meadows Mar. 15. 
    “That [Mar. 15 bullet] was surprising to me, but a pleasant surprise,” Wolf remarked. “He worked Mar. 15 in company, where he did a bullet :48 and came back for a maintenance breeze last Saturday. He is carrying great flesh and all dappled up and we couldn’t ask for more from the way he is training or the way he looks.” 
    Trainer Larry Jones will saddle Risen Star runner-up Albano for Brereton C. Jones in this rematch and feels confident in his charge’s chances for redemption. 
    “He is a three-quarter brother to [fellow Jones runner] Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen), so we have the genetics to be at this level,” Jones said. “He is training very well. The distance should not be an issue for him. He has got a good turn of foot, so we should be able to avoid all kinds of traffic problems.” 
    Jones believes the bay’s versatility will be his greatest asset Saturday. 
    “Depending what post position we draw affects how we have to ride,” Jones said. “We are pretty fortunate with him that he can adapt to whatever. He has run from off the pace and on the pace.” 
    The Risen Star top two are likely to face a dozen competitors Saturday in what looks to be a full loaded affair.