Howard leaning toward running Wilkinson in Risen Star

Trainer Neil Howard, in the midst of a banner winter season at Fair Grounds

where he is batting over .300 in trips to the winner's circle from a modest

number of starters, on Monday updated the status of his leading three-year-olds

regarding the February 19 Risen Star S. (G2).

WILKINSON (Lemon Drop Kid), hero of the January 22 Lecomte S. (G3) as the

first leg of Fair Grounds' sophomore series, is now being considered for a

return engagement in the Risen Star.

Named for the locally-owned 1988 Preakness S. (G1) and Belmont S.

(G1)-winning champion, the Risen Star is Fair Grounds' final major designed prep

for the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 26.

"Right now, I would say it is 60-40 that he'll run (in the Risen Star),"

Howard said, "with the 60 percent being that he will run."

In the days after the Lecomte win, Howard was considering bypassing the Risen

Star with Wilkinson and training him up to the Louisiana Derby, and that, of

course, remains an option.

MACHEN (Distorted Humor), another talented sophomore trained by Howard who

won his last start in high-level allowance company by five lengths here January

30, is also being pointed for the Risen Star.

PRIME CUT (Bernstein), also a prime three-year-old in Howard's barn who had

been considered for the Risen Star, is now not likely for that test. Prime Cut

breezed a half-mile Monday morning in :50 2/5.

"(Prime Cut) is entered 'main track only' in a race (the 7TH) on Friday,"

Howard said. "We don't want to push him up the ladder too fast, and we want to

get him going two turns for the first time in an easier spot."

Howard also indicated that 2008 Mineshaft H. (G3) winner GRASSHOPPER (Dixie

Union), although nominated to this year's renewal on February 19, would likely

not start. Grasshopper, who was also second by a neck in that year's New Orleans

H. (G2), has been unplaced in two starts this season at Fair Grounds after

returning from a 10-month layoff.