Imperia Tries To Be Risen Star

Time/Date - 17.24hrs local time/Saturday, February 21, 2015 Racecourse/Country - Fair Grounds/USA
Surface/Distance - Dirt/1m 110y

Imperia makes his seasonal return in the Grade Two Risen Star Stakes over an extended mile on dirt at Fair Grounds, USA, on Saturday, February 21.

The three-year-old colt, representing Kiaran McLaughlin, ran on strongly to go down by a head to El Kabeir on his first start on dirt in the Grade Two Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes over the same distance at Churchill Downs on November 29.

He made three appearances on turf and was hampered in the home straight when 10th, beaten four lengths in total, in the mile Grade One Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita in October.

The son of Medaglia d'Oro was an easy winner of the Grade Three Pilgrim Stakes over an extended mile at Belmont Park in September and went down by a neck on his debut in a Saratoga maiden the previous month.

Mike Smith takes the ride on Imperia for the first time.

Kiaran McLaughlin said: "We discussed about the options for Imperia and decided to go for this race because you can make up ground at Fair Grounds. It's a long straight, similar to Churchill Downs, and a horse can come from off the pace.

"He is doing really well, we have Mike Smith riding and we hope that he likes the dirt of Fair Grounds as much as he liked the dirt at Churchill Downs.

"Provided he runs well here, we will look at the Louisiana Derby (March 28) as the next logical step, although we will seek other options if he doesn't run a good race.

"I am very happy with him at the moment."

Imperia, in stall five, lines up against nine other three-year-olds including International Star, War Story and Tiznow R J, who were first, second and third in the Grade Three Lecomte Stakes over the same course and distance.