Risen Star (USA)
March 25, 1985 – March 13, 1998
Secretariat (USA) x Ribbon (USA), by His Majesty (USA)
Family 9-c*
March 25, 1985 – March 13, 1998
Secretariat (USA) x Ribbon (USA), by His Majesty (USA)
Family 9-c*
A very tall horse out of a decidedly stamina-oriented mare, Risen Star was atypical of Secretariat's best runners, who were generally produced from speedier mares and resembled their sire more closely in conformation. In talent, however, none of Secretariat's colts were closer to their father. Unlucky in getting a wide trip when third in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), Risen Star got that luck back in spades in the Preakness Stakes (USA-G1), taking the inside route to victory after Forty Niner carried Kentucky Derby victress Winning Colors wide. He needed no help from luck or anything else in the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), dominating the race by 14¾ lengths. Unfortunately, he was injured during his tour de force and was forced into retirement, and he proved an inconsistent sire who was unable to carry on Secretariat's male line.
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds,1 third, US$2,029,845
1987:
1988:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1987, 17 pounds below champion Forty Niner.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1988, 1 pound above Forty Niner.
As an individual
A powerfully built dark bay or brown horse who turned out on one forefoot, Risen Star stood close to 17.1 hands. He had a sharp turn of speed and was a light, fluid mover at all gaits. He was rather highly strung and was inclined to bite anyone who came near except owner/trainer Louie Roussel, with whom he had a trusting bond. He was plagued by splints in his forelegs. He injured his right front ankle during a pre-Belmont Stakes workout in May 28, 1988, when he ran off with exercise rider Jimmy Nichols, and aggravated the injury during the Belmont, forcing his retirement. He had problems with recurrent colic during his stud career.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Risen Star sired 201 winners (64.6%) and 14 stakes winners (4.5%) from 311 named foals.
Notable progeny
Risen Raven (USA), Star Standard (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Risen Star was bred by Arthur Hancock III and Leone J. Peters. He was purchased for $300,000 at the 1987 Calder sale of 2-year-olds in training by Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III; the latter man eventually became his trainer, following Rene Gebbia. The colt was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Eddie Delahoussaye. The partners sold a 50 percent interest in Risen Star to Walmac International for a reported US$7 million after the Belmont, and the colt entered stud in Kentucky in 1989 at Walmac. Risen Star died from complications of colic at the nearby Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary clinic in March 1998.
Pedigree notes
Risen Star is inbred 4x5 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. He is a half brother to Italian listed stakes winner Silk Braid (by Danzig), dam of Group 3-placed English listed stakes winner Beraysim (by Lion Cavern; dam of English listed stakes winner Zoowraa, by Azamour) and second dam of 2012 Spanish champion imported 3-year-old filly Belagua. He is also a half brother to French listed stakes winner Woven Braid (by Danzig).
Ribbon, the dam of Risen Star, won the 1980 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) and three other stakes races. She was produced from the stakes-placed Hail to Reason mare Break Through, whose Ribot half sister Foreign Strand produced Grade 2 winner Montagnet (by To the Quick). Break Through is also a half sister to Betsy Apple (by His Majesty), dam of Grade 3 winner Diane's Girl (by Relaunch; dam of stakes winner Last Intention, by End Sweep).
Break Through and her sisters were produced from the unplaced Olympia mare Quaheri, a half sister to English stakes winners Houmyra (by Stardust), Bibi Toori (by Owen Tudor) and Grounded II (by Migoli). The female line descends from 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, a foundation mare for the Aga Khan's breeding program and the ancestress of the important stallions Nasrullah, Royal Charger, and Mahmoud.
Books and media
Risen Star is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 9, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 8 wins, 2 seconds,1 third, US$2,029,845
1987:
- Won Minstrel Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Louisiana Downs)
- 2nd Sport of Kings Futurity (USA-L, 7FD, Louisiana Downs)
1988:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Coors Louisiana Derby (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Lexington Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Keeneland)
- Won Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 2nd Lecomte Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- 3rd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- Fair Grounds Hall of Fame (inducted in 1991)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (1988)
Assessments
Rated at 109 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1987, 17 pounds below champion Forty Niner.
Highweighted at 127 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1988, 1 pound above Forty Niner.
As an individual
A powerfully built dark bay or brown horse who turned out on one forefoot, Risen Star stood close to 17.1 hands. He had a sharp turn of speed and was a light, fluid mover at all gaits. He was rather highly strung and was inclined to bite anyone who came near except owner/trainer Louie Roussel, with whom he had a trusting bond. He was plagued by splints in his forelegs. He injured his right front ankle during a pre-Belmont Stakes workout in May 28, 1988, when he ran off with exercise rider Jimmy Nichols, and aggravated the injury during the Belmont, forcing his retirement. He had problems with recurrent colic during his stud career.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Risen Star sired 201 winners (64.6%) and 14 stakes winners (4.5%) from 311 named foals.
Notable progeny
Risen Raven (USA), Star Standard (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Risen Star was bred by Arthur Hancock III and Leone J. Peters. He was purchased for $300,000 at the 1987 Calder sale of 2-year-olds in training by Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel III; the latter man eventually became his trainer, following Rene Gebbia. The colt was ridden to his Classic triumphs by Eddie Delahoussaye. The partners sold a 50 percent interest in Risen Star to Walmac International for a reported US$7 million after the Belmont, and the colt entered stud in Kentucky in 1989 at Walmac. Risen Star died from complications of colic at the nearby Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary clinic in March 1998.
Pedigree notes
Risen Star is inbred 4x5 to the important broodmare Mumtaz Begum. He is a half brother to Italian listed stakes winner Silk Braid (by Danzig), dam of Group 3-placed English listed stakes winner Beraysim (by Lion Cavern; dam of English listed stakes winner Zoowraa, by Azamour) and second dam of 2012 Spanish champion imported 3-year-old filly Belagua. He is also a half brother to French listed stakes winner Woven Braid (by Danzig).
Ribbon, the dam of Risen Star, won the 1980 Pucker Up Stakes (USA-G3) and three other stakes races. She was produced from the stakes-placed Hail to Reason mare Break Through, whose Ribot half sister Foreign Strand produced Grade 2 winner Montagnet (by To the Quick). Break Through is also a half sister to Betsy Apple (by His Majesty), dam of Grade 3 winner Diane's Girl (by Relaunch; dam of stakes winner Last Intention, by End Sweep).
Break Through and her sisters were produced from the unplaced Olympia mare Quaheri, a half sister to English stakes winners Houmyra (by Stardust), Bibi Toori (by Owen Tudor) and Grounded II (by Migoli). The female line descends from 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal, a foundation mare for the Aga Khan's breeding program and the ancestress of the important stallions Nasrullah, Royal Charger, and Mahmoud.
Books and media
Risen Star is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Risen Star was named for the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Magi to the Christ child as recounted in the biblical book of Matthew. According to Louie Roussel, a devout Catholic, the name also alluded to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- 10 percent of Risen Star's earnings went to the New Orleans convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor, part of a Roman Catholic order of nuns, in thanks for Roussel's recovery from throat cancer. The nuns, in turn, prayed for the colt daily.
- Co-owner Ronnie Lamarque sometimes hot-walked Risen Star and would sing to the colt to help him relax.
- The Risen Star Stakes (which Risen Star won when it was run as the Louisiana Derby Trial Stakes) is contested annually as the middle race in the Fair Grounds' series of Kentucky Derby preps. A Grade 2 race as of 2020, it is staged over 8½ furlongs.
- The morning before the Louisiana Derby, Risen Star reared up during his morning bath and fell. He lay stunned for several minutes until Roussel pulled on his halter and urged him to get up. While the colt was able to rise, he was not walking properly. Roussel sensed that something still wasn't right and called in equine acupuncturist Dr. Marvin Cain, flying him in from Ohio. Following his treatment, Risen Star seemed completely normal and was given the green light to race the following day. He won.
- When Risen Star ran in the Kentucky Derby, co-owner Ronnie Lamarque brought thousands of sun visors emblazoned with the colt's name to give away. As bombastic and confident as Roussel was modest and retiring, Lamarque also made up songs in his colt's honor, setting them to the tunes of “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” and “New York, New York.”
- Like his sire, Risen Star raced best when given a sharp 3-furlong “pipe opener” the day before a race. His pre-Belmont speed drill went in :33-2/5, and the colt was so full of himself that he could not be pulled up until he had completed 6 furlongs in 1:11-2/5.
- Risen Star's Belmont Stakes time was 2:26-2/5, then the second-fastest time in the race's history behind his sire's world record 2:24. (It has since been surpassed by Easy Goer and A. P. Indy, who ran the race in 2:26 in 1989 and 1992, respectively.) The colt's margin of 14 ¾ lengths was the fourth-biggest behind Secretariat (31 lengths), Count Fleet (25 lengths) and Man o' War (20 lengths—made when the race was staged over 11 rather than 12 furlongs).
- Risen Star was the only Grade 1 winner trained by Louie Roussel, who at the time that Risen Star was racing was the majority owner of the Fair Grounds.
Last updated: May 9, 2024