The Risen Star Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses at a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the dirt run annually in February, usually during the President's Day weekend at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event currently offers a purse of $500,000.

History

The event was inaugurated 16 March 1973 as the Louisiana Derby Trial with handicap conditions over a distance of one mile and forty yards with the Indiana bred colt Navajo victorious by one length over Smooth Dancer with Assagai Jr. in third place. The time run by the winner was 1:40 flat. Navajo received free entry into the Louisiana Derby and finished second to Leo's Pisces. Later that year Navajo ran in the Kentucky Derby and finished seventh to Secretariat.

The event as a trial race immediately became a major prep for the Louisiana Derby.

In 1975 the event was increased to miles and was won by Master Derby. Master Derby followed up winning the Louisiana Derby. Later in his Triple Crown campaign, Master Derby was victorious in the Preakness.

The event was shortened back to its inaugural distance in 1988 of 1 mile and 40 yards. The event that year was won by Risen Star who went on to win the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and be voted the 1988 Eclipse Award for American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. The following year the track renamed the event in honor of Risen Star to the Risen Star Stakes.

In 1991 the distance of the event was increased to miles and in 2002 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the race to Grade III. The event was upgraded once more in 2010 to Grade II.

The Risen Star Stakes was run in two divisions in 1989, 1993, 1995 and 2020.

No winner of the Risen Star Stakes has gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. However, two runners who have run in the event have gone on to win the Run for the Roses. War Emblem finished sixth at Fair Grounds before winning at Churchill Downs in 2002. Country House was second in the Risen Star before crossing second in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, only to be promoted after first-place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified by Kentucky stewards for interference. The Risen Star also has produced two winners of the second leg of the American Triple Crown: Master Derby (1975) and War of Will (2019). It has also produced two winners of the Breeders' Cup Classic: Gun Runner and Mucho Macho Man.

The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Records Speed record: miles – 1:48.85 Magnitude (2025) miles – 1:42.80 Zarbs Magic (1996) 1 mile and 40 yards – 1:39.80 Heavy Mayonnaise (1974)

Margins: 10 lengths – Badge of Silver (2003)

Most wins by a jockey: 3 - Shane P. Romero (1988, 1989, 1992) 3 - Robby Albarado (2003, 2004, 2007) 3 - Florent Geroux (2016, 2020, 2021) 3 - Tyler Gaffalione (2019, 2024, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 4 - Steve Asmussen (2008, 2016, 2022, 2025)

Most wins by an owner: 4 - Winchell Thoroughbreds (2008, 2016, 2022, 2025)

Risen Star Stakes – Louisiana Derby double: Master Derby †(1975), Taylor's Special †(1984), Risen Star †(1988), Dispersal (1989), Line in the Sand (1992), Dixieland Heat (1993), Comic Strip (1998), Pyro (2008), Friesan Fire (2009), International Star (2015), Gun Runner (2016), Girvin (2017), Epicenter (2022)

Notes:

† Risen Star Stakes was known as the Louisiana Derby Trial.

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Fair Grounds – Risen Star Stakes2026PaladinTyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Peter Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine miles1:49.14$495,000II 2025MagnitudeBen Curtis Steven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:48.85$500,000II2024 Sierra LeoneTyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Westerburg, Brook T. Smith & Peter Brant miles1:52.13$400,000II2023Angel of Empire Luis SaezBrad H. CoxAlbaugh Family Stables miles1:51.47$400,000II2022EpicenterJoel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:49.03$400,000II2021MandalounFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxJuddmonte Farms miles1:50.39$400,000II2020Mr. MonomoyFlorent GerouxBrad H. CoxMadaket Stables, Michael Dubb & Doheny Racing miles1:50.43$400,000IIModernistJunior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottPam & Martin Wygod1:51.28$400,0002019War of WillTyler GaffalioneMark E. CasseGary Barber miles1:44.59$400,000II2018BravazoMiguel MenaD. Wayne LukasCalumet Farm miles1:42.95$400,000II2017GirvinBrian Hernandez Jr.Joe SharpBrad Grady miles1:43.08$400,000II2016 Gun RunnerFlorent GerouxSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds & Three Chimneys Farm miles1:43.94$400,000II2015International StarMiguel MenaMichael J. MakerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:43.82$400,000II2014Intense HolidayMike E. SmithTodd A. PletcherStarlight Racing miles1:43.86$400,000II2013Ive Struck a NerveJames GrahamJ. Keith DesormeauxBig Chief Racing miles1:44.52$400,000II2012El PadrinoJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherLet's Go Stable miles1:42.96$300,000II2011Mucho Macho ManRajiv MaraghKatherine RitvoReeves Thoroughbred Racing & Dream Team One Racing Stable miles1:43.98$300,000II2010Discreetly MineJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherE. Paul Robsham Stables miles1:44.88$300,000II2009Friesan FireGabriel SaezJ. Larry Jones Fox Hill Farms & Vinery Stables miles1:45.11$200,000III2008PyroShaun BridgmohanSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds miles1:44.68$300,000III2007NotionalRobby AlbaradoDoug F. O'NeillJ. Paul Reddam miles1:44.18$300,000IIIAt Louisiana Downs2006Lawyer RonJohn McKeeRobert E. HolthusJames T. Hines Jr. miles1:43.13$268,000IIIAt Fair Grounds2005ScipionGary L. StevensPatrick L. BianconeVirginia Kraft Payson miles1:44.54$150,000III2004GradepointRobby AlbaradoNeil J. HowardMt. Brilliant Stable & William S. Farish III miles1:45.36$150,000III2003Badge of SilverRobby AlbaradoRonny W. WernerKenneth & Sarah Ramsey miles1:42.99$150,000III2002RepentAnthony J. D'AmicoKenneth G. McPeekSelect Stable miles1:43.86$150,000III2001Dollar BillChris McCarronDallas StewartGary & Mary West Stables miles1:43.45$125,000 Listed 2000Exchange RateCorey NakataniD. Wayne LukasPadua Stables & Anne Sanan miles1:44.25$125,000 Listed 1999Ecton ParkShane SellersW. Elliott WaldenMark H. Stanley miles1:44.83$125,000 Listed 1998Comic StripShane SellersNeil J. HowardJames Elkins, William S. Farish III & G. Watts Humphrey Jr. miles1:44.20$125,000 Listed 1997Open ForumDonna M. BartonD. Wayne LukasRobert & Beverly Lewis miles1:44.20$100,000Listed 1996Zarb's MagicW. Bret ThomasFoxwood Plantation miles1:42.80$63,250Listed 1995KnockadoonWillie MartinezAnthony L. Reinstedler William K. Warren Jr. miles1:45.22$53,137Listed Beavers NoseKenneth BourqueEldridge Hebert Jr. R. W. Raymond & D. O. Philips1:45.44$52,9871994Fly CryRonald D. ArdoinThomas M. AmossAl Prats & Bryan Wagner miles1:43.02$51,923 Listed 1993Dixieland HeatRandy RomeroGerald J. RomeroLeland Cook miles1:43.20$26,800 Listed Dry BeanAaron GryderThomas K. BohannanLoblolly Stable1:43.80$26,8001992Line in the SandShane P. RomeroNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III miles1:45.00$32,725 1991Big CourageTammy Lee FoxWilliam I. Fox Sr.Mrs. Patsy Fox miles1:46.70$32,050 1990Genuine MeaningJohn HirdesRobert Asaro1:40.80$27,900 1989Nooo ProblemaShane P. RomeroDonald R. WinfreeMr. & Mrs. John H. Reed1:42.20$20,000 DispersalBobby J. Walker Jr.Bud DelpHarry & Tom Meyerhoff1:42.80$20,000Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes1988 Risen Star Shane P. Romero Louie J. Roussel IIILouie J. Roussel III1:40.00$20,0001987Authentic HeroLarry MelanconDonald R. WinfreeJames J. Devaney miles1:48.00$25,0001986Dr. Bee JayRicky FrazierTommie T. MorganJimmy Clary & Tommie T. Morgan miles1:45.40$30,0001985MischiefinmindRonald ArdoinGerald J. RomeroGerald J. Romero miles1:45.80$25,0001984Taylor's SpecialRandy RomeroWilliam I. MottWilliam F. Lucas miles1:43.00$25,0001983Explosive WagonCharlie MuellerGene C. NormanMrs. Peggy McReynolds miles1:43.80$25,0001982LinkageGreg SmithHenry S. ClarkMrs. Harry W. Lunger miles1:44.40$25,0001981Senate ChairmanEarlie FiresRonald G. WarrenRussell Micheal Jr. miles1:45.00$25,0001980WithholdingBryan FannRonald G. WarrenRussell Micheal Jr. miles1:46.80$25,0001979Incredible EaseJames D. NicholsBilly S. Borders Izzie Proler & Joseph R. Straus Jr. miles1:45.80$25,000 1978BatonnierWayne M. CatalanoHarry E. Trotsek Edward A. Seltzer miles1:44.20$25,0001977Run Dusty RunDarrel McHargueWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm miles1:44.60$25,0001976Eddie Delahoussaye Dewey P. Smith Dorothy Dorsett Brown miles1:45.00$25,0001975§ Master DerbyDarrel McHargueWilliam E. AdamsGolden Chance Farm miles1:44.40$25,0001974Heavy MayonnaiseCraig PerretDon KempferAlbert H. Stall & William E. Trotter1:39.80$25,0001973NavajoWeston SoirezJames O. KeeferJoe Stevenson & Ray Stump1:40.00$20,000

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links Ten Things You Should Know About the Risen Star Stakes at Hello Race Fans!

References