French Assault Works Five Furlongs Ahead of Risen Star Start

French Assault, preparing for his 3-year-old debut in Sunday's $150,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III), worked five furlongs at Fair Grounds Wednesday for trainer Keith Desormeaux. The son of French Deputy completed the breeze in 1:03 on a fast track.

French Assault has won two of eight career starts, including the listed El Joven Stakes. After that September win, he finished second to likely Risen Star starter Repent in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes (gr. III) and then sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). He capped his juvenile campaign in December, finishing second to Jeremiah Jack, another rival he'll likely face Sunday.

French Assault was purchased for $20,000 at the 2000 Keenleand September yearling sale, and then was RNA on a $40,000 bid as a March 2-year-old. The chestnut colt is out of the Wild Again mare Carly's Crown. His third dam is Six Crowns (by Secretariat), dam of champion Chief's Crown.

Others pointing for the 1 1/16-mile race put in works Tuesday.

The one-two finishers in the Lecomte Stakes put in half-mile works. Winner Easyfromthgitgo went in :49 4/5, while runner-up Sky Terrace went in a bullet (fastest of 23) :48 4/5 for trainer Vickie Foley.

Lemcomte third- and fourth-place finishers, meanwhile, went five furlongs ahead of the race. It'sallinthechase breezed the distance in 1:01 2/5. Fourth-place Jeremiah Jack went in 1:01, breezing.