9 Feb. USA. Risen Star S. G3. Fair Grounds. 8,5f. Dirt. 300.000 $
1.- PYRO (S.Bridgmohan)
2.- Z FORTUNE (G.Gomez)
3.- VISIONAIRE (J.Lezcano)


From the cavalry charge that entered the head of the lane for the $300,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 9. at Fair Grounds, a star emerged. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred Pyro smoked the competition, making a huge last-to-first move under jockey Shaun Bridgmohan.

Bridgmohan got some schooling in on the Steve Asmussen-trained runner, keeping him under tight wraps at the back of the 11-horse field as the pace was set by Thomas Daughn trainee Rich Young Ruler. The early fractions of :24.52 and :49.50 were pressed by Signature Move, Visionaire, and The Darp; but Asmussen’s other runner was also on the move, and Z Fortune soon passed The Darp to take fourth.

They went through three-quarters in 1:14.62 with Pyro still taken back and Z Fortune continuing his steady advance three wide. When they hit the turn the Zayat Stables colt grabbed a brief lead, and the field descended into the stretch in a virtual free-for-all.

They ran through the mile in 1:38.75 with Visionaire toughing it out and Blackberry Road seeking running room near the rail. That was when Bridgmohan swung Pyro to the middle of the track – and the colt responded with a powerful burst of acceleration, flying past his stablemate to win by an emphatic two lengths in a final time of 1:44.68.

“I did what I was told to do,” Bridgmohan said. “It worked out very well. I was just looking for some daylight, and when I got it, he gave it to me. I never hit him; I just tapped him on his shoulder.”

Earlier in the week, Asmussen expressed concern that the Pulpit colt’s latest work, a five furlong bullet done in 1:00.80 Feb. 5, had been too fast. But the bettors sent Pyro off as the 4-5 favorite, no doubt encouraged by his light 116-pound impost, and the trainer was more than happy with the race results.

“He’s a tremendous horse,” Asmussen said. “How good is he? He’s good enough to do what we just watched.”