Rigney Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) breezed an easy five-eighths of a mile in 1:03 1/5 Monday morning at the Fair Grounds as he continues towards his seasonal comebacker in the GII Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 15.
“Mother Nature has dealt us a few different tracks (conditions-wise) the last couple of days so I was happy with the work,” trainer Phil Bauer said. “I wasn't too concerned about the final time. The gallop out was very good. We are still pointing to the Risen Star as our starting point this year.”
Named a 'Rising Star' off a 4 1/4-length debut success at Saratoga last August, the $290,000 Keeneland September yearling validated the decision with a front-running, 2 3/4-length score in the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Sept. 14. A mostly even seventh in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 1, the Ohio-bred most recently ran home nicely to round out the exacta underneath Godolphin's First Resort (Uncle Mo) in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30.
In the Risen Star, Jonathan's Way is likely to face another Godolphin runner, GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity hero and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro), who will make his first start since stumbling very badly at the start of the Juvenile and finishing ninth as the 9-5 favorite.
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