FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Joe Kristufek
Racing Analyst/Media Relations
ANNEAU D’ORO TO LAUNCH
SOPHOMORE CAMPAIGN IN RISEN STAR
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile & Los Alamitos
Futurity runner-up invades from California
New Orleans (February 7, 2020) – Forced to play catch up on last year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby with Anothertwistafate, who was eventually rerouted to the Preakness (G1), trainer Blaine Wright and owner Peter Redekop chose to plot a different course when blessed with another potential Triple Crown contender in Anneau D’or.
With runner-up performances in both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) as a two-year-old, the son of Medaglia D’Oro already has 12 points in the bank. With 50-20-10-5 points on the line in Saturday’s Risen Star (G2) presented by Lamarque Ford-Lincoln, a win, or possibly even a second would put him in a superior position for a spot in the 20-horse starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) presented by Woodford Reserve on May 2.
“That was probably the number one factor in our decision to come to Fair Grounds,” Wright explained. “Last year we were forced to ship all around the country to chase points. We decided we wanted to do our training at our home base (Golden Gate Fields in Northern California) and keep our group together if we could. The spacing between the Risen Star and the Santa Anita Derby (G1 on April 4) is really nice. It allows us to travel across the country, come back and still get six weeks in between races. Those are the two races we’ve targeted, and hopefully the horse and I keep doing what it takes to get us where we want to go.”
Anneau D’or is the first foal out of the Tapit mare Walk Close, who was a grade three winner on turf. He RNA’ed for $170,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, and the sold for $480,000 as an Ocala two-year-old in training in April.
“We knew right away that he was a pretty decent race horse,” Wright said. “You could see in his early workouts he didn’t really want any part of sprinting. He’s kind of a horse you really have to ride hard, one of those grinder types.”
Bet down to 6-5 favoritism in his career debut over a mile of Golden Gate turf on September 29, Anneau D’or responded with an eight-length romp.
“You never expect them to come out and win as easy as he did,” Wright admitted. That race was a key race. It produced four or five next winners, so that is always nice to see.”
But was it good enough to take a shot at the Breeders’ Cup?
“At that time we wanted to get into the Juvenile Turf (G1) but the way it played out, the Juvenile (G1) was going to have a smaller field. We figured if we can get into the dirt race, let’s just take a shot. Our horse was doing well and the race was in California. Here we are and hopefully we have a prospect to keep moving on with. It gave us a chance to find out early on.”
Dennis’ Moment, the 4-5 post time favorite, broke poorly and was never a factor and 3-2 second choice Eight Rings pressed the pace before faltering. Storm the Court won the Juvenile at 45-1, and Anneau D’or, at 28-1, was just a head back in second.
“As soon as I saw him get over the (Santa Anita) track the first day training there, his class, demeanor and the whole nine yards, there was no doubt in my mind he was going to out run his odds,” Wright said. “With the favorites running as poorly as they did, even Mr. Redekop and I had questions about the quality of the race, but I really had a good feeling about how he tried and pulled up clean. We got home, and after coming up short on Derby points last year with Anothertwistafate, we thought running back in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) was a good idea.”
Sent off as the 6-5 favorite against just three rivals, Anneau D’or would lose a narrow decision to the Bob Baffert-trained Thousand Words, who has since returned to win the Robert B. Lewis (G3).
“The track was a little weird that day,” Wright said of the Los Alamitos dirt surface. “They got a couple different rain storms and it (the track) was heavy and deep in spots and hard and fast in others. We got stuck on the inside, and a horse that is still undefeated (3 for 3) outran us.”
By the time he enters the starting gate for the Risen Star (G2), it will have been nine weeks since Anneau D’or last raced, but Wright is not concerned at all with the nine furlong test off the bench.
“This horse was probably already ready to go a mile and a quarter in his first start,” Wright said. “That’s just the way he trained. We think the synthetic track at Golden Gate is to our advantage. It’s a terrific surface. The same every day. It’s a deep, demanding track and horses come fit off of it. If I’ve done my job right then I hope I got him fit enough to run nine furlongs.”
For Saturday’s Risen Star, Anneau D’or will equipment and the rider.
“I think that we are going to add some blinkers to him.” Wright said. “In my opinion, we were a head and a neck away from winning an Eclipse Award. We have to find a way to get past horses. Joel Rosario is going to ride our horse. He flew up and worked him last week and got to know him. Hopefully the changes will work out to our advantage.”
A former assistant to Fair Grounds-based trainer Grant Forster years ago, Wright is looking forward to his first trip to New Orleans.
“I’m bringing my wife and daughter,” Wright said. “It is my daughter’s birthday and of course Valentine’s Day, so the timing works out well. We get in Tuesday and will stay almost a week so we can do a bit sightseeing on the days we’re not working. The horse will get in Wednesday afternoon and will stay in Grant’s barn (barn 14). Hopefully he’ll get a jog and a gallop over the racetrack and be ready to roll.”
The draw for the Risen Star (G2) and the rest of the “Louisiana Derby Preview Day” card (six stakes) will take place tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 8).
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About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots: Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, one of the nation’s oldest racetracks, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, LA, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global
Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 148th Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 107 th running of the Louisiana Derby – will run from November 28, 2019 through March 29, 2020. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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