The Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes is in the final prep for the lucrative $750,000 Louisiana Derby. It was won by Friesan Fire in 2009. He would go on to be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby. This years field is competitive with 12 entrants and is lead by Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes winner Ron The Greek. Other notable entries include Stay Put, Drosselmeyer, Tempted to Tapit, and Discreetly Mine.

Ron The Greek will  be spotting the field 4 pounds after closing from far back to take the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in his last trip to the track. The son of Full Mandate is trained by Thomas Amoss and piloted by James Graham. He came from 16 lengths off the pace in the Lecomte. It may be wise for Graham to try and keep him closer this time around due to the fact that this is a much more competitive field. If he waits too long the other closers will get first run. He looks like a very solid colt with a huge shot at winning this race at odds of 3-1.

Bill Mott is leaning towards shipping Drosselmeyer in for this race after an impressive performance at Gulfstream Park where he stopped the clock in 1:49 2/5 for 9 furlongs. The Winstar Farm owned son of Distorted Humor will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux. He is a perfect 2 for 2 on dirt tracks. The colt looks very fast and if he improves off his last effort he is going to be very tough to hold off in the stretch. His morning line price is 4-1.

Tempted To Tapit turned many heads last out at Aqueduct where he splashed home in a maiden to win by 11 1/2 lengths going wire to wire in the mud. Before that race he was second to Laus Deo. Before that he was second to Schoolyard Dreams who would go on to finish second behind Rule in the Grade 3 Sam F Davis Stakes. The son of Tapit will have David Cohen in the irons. Steve Klesaris is trainer. His pedigree tells me he should run all day. He may stay at Gulfstream Park for the Fountain of Youth Stakes. It will be interesting to see how he performs at odds of 8-1.

He looked very fast running second in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at 2, but Discreetly Mine hasn’t lived up to his potential so far. The speedy son of Mineshaft was last seen finishing fourth in the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream Park. JJ Castellano is picking up the mount up for trainer Todd Pletcher. I expect an improved effort from him at odds of 5-1, but it is probably going to take a step forward for him to win.

Stay Put is a wild card for trainer Steve Margolis and jockey Jamie Theriot. He is a fast closing son of Broken Vow. He has won his last two races. I had the good fortune of betting him when he won last out at odds of 7-1. His pedigree tells me he can get this distance with ease. If he can win this race he will quickly find himself on the road towards the Run for the Roses.

Who do you like in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes?