International Star Shines in Lecomte

Racing

International Star dominated the competition on Saturday at Fair Grounds in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes. (Photo by Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography)

International Star utilized a powerful late surge to take command in the Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds and score an important victory in his season debut.

The 3-year-old Fusaichi Pegasus colt banked 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with the win and moved into a tie for first place with Jerome Stakes winner El Kabeir with 21 total points.

International Star earned 10 points when he won the Grade 3 Grey Stakes in October at Woodbine and the other point came in his previous start when fourth in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

Mike Maker trains the bay, New York-bred colt for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, who are finalists in both the outstanding owner and outstanding breeder categories at tonight’s Eclipse Awards at Gulfstream Park.

Ridden by Miguel Mena, International Star got off to a nice start but settled in about five lengths off pace while saving ground. Mena waited until the stretch to ask his mount to accelerate and International Star did not disappoint. He overhauled War Story and Tiznow R J with about a sixteenth of a mile to go and edged away to win by 2 ½ lengths

“The plan was the save ground on both turns and then he came out at the three-sixteenths-pole and he came rolling,” Mena said. “He was running hard but he kind of pulled himself up a little at the end when he found himself alone on the lead.”

International Star completed the one-mile and 70-yard Lecomte in 1:43.62 for his third victory in seven career starts.

“He’s been training very well. We expected a big race - maybe not that big - but he was coming into the race great,” Maker said. “We'll bring him back to Florida and take a hard look at the Risen Star.”

War Story outfinished Tiznow R J by a head for second with Another Lemon Drop another 2 ½ lengths back in fourth in the 11-horse field. Eagle, the 3.40-to-1 favorite, did not fire and finished seventh.

International Star returned $20.40 for a $2 win ticket as the seventh betting choice. Bloodstock agent EQB purchased International Star for $85,000 on behalf of the Ramseys at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic fall yearling sale.

International Star is out of the winning French Deputy mare Parlez, who also is the dam (mother) of stakes winners Fools in Love and D C Dancer.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

INTERNATIONAL STAR SCORES IN LECOMTE

Photo by Lou Hodges/Hodges Photography 

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