Mr. Jester Tops Risen Star Field

(Edited from Fair Grounds reports)
After the defection of Tapit last week, graded stakes winner Mr. Jester will provide the star power for Sunday's $150,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds.

In his most recent start, Mr. Jester won the $1 million Delta Jackpot on Dec. 5 at Delta Downs, defeating Fire Slam, who came back to win the Lecomte Stakes (gr. III) last month.

The son of Silver Deputy also won the Pioneer Stakes at Louisiana Downs and the Kentucky Cup Juvenile (gr. III) at Turfway Park. The 3-year-old has four wins and two seconds from six starts with earnings of $730,800 for trainer Steve Wren.

Mr. Jester breezed five furlongs 1:01 4/5 Oaklawn Park on Friday. Regular rider Roman Chapa was aboard for the workout and will have the mount on Sunday.

"It was a good move," said Wren. "He galloped out in fifteen and change (for six furlongs). He's trained real good. Everything has been on key."

Mr. Jester is scheduled to van into New Orleans on Wednesday, and will gallop over the track on Thursday.

Wren selected the Risen Star as the colt's 3-year-old debut because of distance and timing of the race.

"He's already been a mile-and-a-sixteenth, so I didn't want to shorten up to a mile," said Wren of his options. "The farther he goes the better."

Fire Slam will skip the Risen Star and train up to the grade II Louisiana Derby on March 7. Probables for the Risen Star include: Black Gold winner Shiloh Bound, who is undeteated in three starts; Proper Prado, who finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) at Churchill Downs; Spellbinder, a recent allowance winner at Santa Anita; There Goes Rocket, winner of the Texas Stallion Stakes at Sam Houston in December; Oneverycoolcat, and Assault Commander.