By Joe Bianca
Top Triple Crown contender Mo Town (Uncle Mo) will take his first major step of 2017 toward the May 6 GI Kentucky Derby as he makes his sophomore debut in the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds. His much-anticipated return has not scared off the competition, however. Quite the contrary, as 13 other horses will line up to oppose him and attempt to make their own mark on the Derby trail.
Originally bought by Team D for $200,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Mo Town debuted with a runner-up effort on the GI Travers S. undercard Aug. 27 at Saratoga. The bay graduated by seven lengths stretching out to a mile Sept. 24 at Belmont, an effort that earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors and attracted the interest of the Coolmore connections, who subsequently bought into the horse. Making his stakes debut in the GII Remsen S. Nov. 26 at Aqueduct, Mo Town scored a convincing 2 1/2-length success and signaled himself as a factor for the first Saturday in May. He has drilled three straight five-furlong bullets at Payson Park in preparation for the Risen Star, most recently covering the distance in 1:01 2/5 (1/7) Feb. 17.
William S. Farish and Lora Jean Kilroy's Guest Suite (Quality Road) will try to pick up his second consecutive Louisiana prep event after annexing the GIII LeComte S. in the local mud Jan. 21. Finishing third to 'TDN Rising Star' and Derby frontrunner McCraken (Ghostzapper) in the Street Sense S. Oct. 30 at Churchill, the gelding romped in a Louisville optional claimer Nov. 26 before his LeComte score. The Neil Howard trainee has drilled sharply for this test, most notably going five furlongs Feb. 14 at Fair Grounds in a bullet :59 2/5 (1/8).
A pair of new shooters bring intrigue in Local Hero (Hard Spun) and Girvin (Tale of Ekati). Local Hero, a $500,000 Fasig-Tipton March purchase by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, was well-bet in a pair of runner-up finishes to start his career, and broke through with a dominant wire-to-wire romp to break his maiden here Jan. 26.
“He ran a tremendous race last time, albeit in a softer spot, but he was fast over the surface,” trainer Steve Asmussen told the Fair Grounds notes team. “He deserves a chance. It's a huge step up in competition, obviously, but he could not have been more impressive that day.
Brad Grady's Girvin, a first-out winner with a strong 87 Beyer sprinting on dirt in New Orleans Dec. 16, finished second on turf in the Keith Gee Memorial S. Feb. 4.
“I don't ever like the one-hole (Girvin's post), but with him it should be okay,” said trainer Joe Sharp. “It's better than 14 and he's quick enough to get out of there. (Jockey) Brian (Hernandez, Jr.) is comfortable with him and he's a gritty, game horse. I really like him.”
The two through five finishers from the LeComte will also re-oppose, including runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' Untrapped (Trappe Shot).
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