108 Beyer Speed Figure.
That is the gaudy number earned by longshot MAGNITUDE (Not This Time) thanks to his front-running and stakes record score in the $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the first race in the Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Starting from post 12, Magnitude, trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds and sent hard out of the gate by Ben Curtis, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.85, the fastest Risen Star final time since the race was extended to nine panels in 2020. The previous record was held by Epicenter, who later ran second in Kentucky Derby 148 for the same connections as Magnitude.
Wasting no time, Curtis urged the 43-1 Magnitude from the gates, crossing over and clearing East Avenue by two lengths heading into the first turn. With post-time favorite East Avenue stalking to his outside, Magnitude clocked in opening fractions of :23.42 and :46.92. Setting up shop behind East Avenue, both Built and Vassimo bided their time, while behind them Chunk of Gold overcame early trouble to settle in eighth along the rail. As East Avenue failed to respond in the far turn and began backpedaling, Built made a strong move forward and set his sights on Magnitude. By the eighth pole, Magnitude had repelled his challenger and began pulling away from the field. Rallying up the rail, Chunk of Gold caught Built at the wire for second place. After dropping back in the far turn, Vassimo surged late to steal fourth from a fading American Promise.
On the local road to the 151st Kentucky Derby every stop thus far, Magnitude previously ran a troubled sixth in the Lecomte and second in the Gun Runner, for which he earned five qualifying points. Together with the 50 he earned in the Risen Star, the Not This Time colt now ranks second behind Citizen Bull with 55 points.
The Ethan West trainee Chunk of Gold grabbed 25 points in his first Derby prep. Built added 15 points to the 20 he earned winning the Gun Runner and placing in the Lecomte, totaling 35 points for trainer Wayne Catalano. Vassimo scored his first 10 points; likewise for American Promise with five.
Magnitude returned $88.40, $33, and $14.80. Chunk of Gold paid $32.20 and $12.80. Built returned $4 to show.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen have now teamed up for a record four Risen Star victories, including Epicenter (2022), Gun Runner (2016), and Pyro (2008).
Magnitude improved his record to 7-3-1-0, boosting his earnings to $446,165.
The Fasig-Tipton Risen Star serves as the local stepping-stone to the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) on Saturday, March 22.
PEDIGREE NOTES
A $310,000 weanling bred by Ron Stolich, Magnitude was re-sold at the 2023 Keeneland November sale for $45,000. He is the fourth named foal of Rockadelic, who was unplaced in one career start. Rockadelic’s three previous foals are all maidens.
Second dam Octave won the Grade 1 Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks and her half-siblings Belle Cherie, Be Mine Tonight and Unbridled Behavior are all stakes winners.
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