Magnitude ran his way onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen by romping to a 9 ¾-length upset to win the $500,000 Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes Feb. 15 at Fair Grounds.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winds its way through Oaklawn Park this Saturday, for the $1.25 million, Grade 2 Rebel Stakes.
The Cajun Country of Louisiana has produced its fair share of great racehorses.
Yet Risen Star was different than any other.
He did more than just race in New Orleans. He raced for New Orleans, becoming the pride and joy of anyone who called the bayous home and making Louisiana the capital of the horse racing industry for a brief, yet unforgettable period of time.
Some upset victories are more stunning than others. Villanova beating Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA men’s basketball National Championship, well, that was almost unthinkable, while the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LII win over the New England Patriots in February 2018 was more along the lines of an eyebrow raiser.
The 2013 Risen Star Stakes – no doubt – falls into the former category.
