5-1 shot Intense Holiday rallied powerfully down the Fair Grounds homestretch to edge pace-setting Albano by a nose in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) on February 22nd.
Ridden to victory by Mike Smith, Intense Holiday was content to race in mid-pack during the early stages of the 1 1/16th-mile race, about six lengths behind the early pace set by Albano. The latter got off to an excellent start and carved out fractions of :24.30, :48.14, and 1:13.00 while being tracked by Rise Up and Vigorish. Gold Hawk, Son of a Preacher, Flat Gone, and favored Vicar's in Trouble were next in line, followed by Intense Holiday, Hoppertunity, Xtra Luck, Commanding Curve, Quick Indian, Interchange, and Emmett Park.
As the field rounded the far turn, Rise Up began to tire, and Vicar's in Trouble unleashed a powerful rally on the far outside to draw within a length of the lead at the top of the homestretch. It appeared as though Vicar's in Trouble and Albano were set for exciting stretch duel, but Vicar's in Trouble could not maintain his charge, and Albano remained in command passing the eighth pole. Then Intense Holiday entered the picture, rallying widest of all and rapidly closing the gap between himself and Albano. The finish was very close, but Intense Holiday just got up in time to win by a nose, stopping the clock for 8.5 furlongs in a strong 1:43.86 seconds.
Albano ran very well in defeat, finishing 5 1/2 lengths clear of Vicar's in Trouble. Hoppertunity rallied to be fourth, while Gold Hawk, Commanding Curve, Rise Up, Flat Gone, Son of a Preacher, Quick Indian, Vigorish, Emmett Park, Interchange, and Xtra Luck completed the order of finish.
Intense Holiday is a son of Harlan's Holiday out of the Unbridled's Song mare Intensify. Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Starlight Racing, Intense Holiday earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualification points for his win in the Risen Star, bringing his point total to 53. His next start is expected to come in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds on March 29th.
-Keelerman
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