Jonathan’s Way Continues Risen Star Preparations — Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) runner-up breezes five furlongs on Monday morning at Fair Grounds

New Orleans, La (Jan. 20, 2025) – Richard Rigney’s Jonathan’s Way, who was last seen finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs on November 30, breezed an easy five furlongs on Monday morning at Fair Grounds.

              Working in company with the 5-year-old Kigali, the 3-year-old Ohio-bred son of Vekoma stopped the timer in 1:03 1/5. It was his third recorded work since the Jockey Club, all at Fair Grounds.

              “Mother Nature has dealt us a few different tracks (conditions-wise) the last couple of days so I was happy with the work,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “I wasn’t too concerned about the final time. The gallop out was very good. We are still pointing to the Risen Star as our starting point this year.”

              The $500,000 Risen Star (G2) will be the featured race on the “Louisiana Derby Preview Day” card on Saturday, February 15. Won last year by eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone, the Risen Star gives 3-year-olds an early nine furlong test. It is the first 50-25-15-10-5 points race on the Road to Kentucky Derby 151. That day’s $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2) will reward the same number of points for the Kentucky Oaks.

              Also eyeing the Risen Star for his 3-year-old debut is the Godolphin homebred East Avenue. Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner fired a 59 2/5 five furlong bullet on Friday at Fair Grounds.

              In Pool Three of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager which wrapped up Sunday evening, Jonathan’s Way closed at 49-1 while East Avenue landed at 15-1.

              Were he to win Kentucky Derby 151, Jonathan’s Way would become the second Ohio-bred to do so. Wintergreen won it in 1909.

 
By the numbers…..

·       Monday’s race five win aboard Furio for Joe Sharp marked the 50th of the season on day 37 of the 75-day meet for jockey Jose Ortiz. For context, Jose Guerrero won last season’s title 52-51 over Jareth Loveberry. The last jockey to win more than 100 races in a meet was four-time champion James Graham, who recorded 106 during the 2014-15 season.

·       After winning more than 1,000 races overseas, Ben Curtis moved his tack to New Orleans at the start of the 2023-24 season. In Monday’s fourth race at Fair Grounds, he scored his 100th win in North America, guiding Exclusive Star to the victory for trainer Eddie Kenneally. Curtis finished fourth in last season’s Fair Grounds’ standings with 43 wins and he began Monday in third with 23. In his first season at that track, Curtis won the summer riding title at Colonial Downs, edging Mikal Sanchez 24-23.

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