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International Star breaks from outside in Risen Star

International Star was a decisive winner of the Lecomte in his last trip to New Orleans (Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography) International Star (Fusaichi Pegasus), an impressive come-from-behind winner of the Lecomte S. (G3) last month, returns to Fair Grounds on Saturday for the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) over 1 1/16 miles. The winner of the Risen Star, the final prep for the Louisiana Derby (G2), will be awarded 50 points towards Kentucky Derby (G1) eligibility as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The Risen Star is also the highlight of a blockbuster card that features six stakes in total, including a trio of Grade 3 events. International Star, who captured the Grey S. (G3) at Woodbine last fall, lived up to his moniker in the Lecomte, his second Grade 3 score in as many countries. Saving ground to the stretch but lacking room heading for home, the bay was shifted to the outside by jockey Miguel Mena and stormed home a 2 1/2-length winner.

Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker, International Star worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 1/5 at Gulfstream Park on February 14 in preparation for his return to New Orleans. Mena will be aboard again when the colt breaks from post 10.

War Story (Northern Afleet), second by a head over the returning Tiznow R J (Tiznow) in the Lecomte, is set for a rematch after posting a bullet half-mile work at Oaklawn last week. The gelding drew a bad post and was an early scratch from Monday's Southwest S. (G3) at Oaklawn, a race that was ultimately postponed due to inclement weather.

Imperia (Medaglia d'Oro), who captured the Pilgrim S. (G3) on turf and was a head second to El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) last time, makes his sophomore debut here for Godolphin and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The versatile colt will have Mike Smith in the irons on Saturday.

Also invading from Florida is J S Bach (Tale of the Cat), an impressive 8 1/2-length maiden winner at Gulfstream on January 17 for Todd Pletcher. It was the second career start for the bay, who finished second against Florida-breds in his debut December 19.

The lone shipper from California is the speedy St. Joe Bay (Saint Anddan), who is Grade 3-placed on grass and most recently a distant second against first-level allowance foes at Santa Anita.

The rest of the Risen Star field figure to go off at long odds. Keen Ice (Curlin), third in the Remsen S. (G2) last fall, was only fifth in last month's Holy Bull S. (G2) after a bad break. Allowance winners Hero of Humor (Sharp Humor) and Big Big Easy (Midshipman) have not fared well previously against stakes company, while Bluff (Tapit) enters off a 5 3/4-length maiden win at Fair Grounds.

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