Amanda Hodges Weir/Hodges Photography
Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Eclipse Award finalists for breeders and owners of the year, were given an excuse to celebrate early on Eclipse Saturday when International Star delivered a big performance in the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes at the Fair Grounds, coming off the rail in the stretch to fly home victorious.
The win elevates the bay son of Fusaichi Pegasus to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby point standings, where, by virtue of his victory in the Grey Stakes at Woodbine (10 points), a third in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs (one point) and the LeComte victory at the Fair Grounds (10 points), he shares first place with El Kabeir who also has collected 21 points.
Settling in at the rail after breaking from the one-hole under Miguel Mena at odds of 9-1, International Star saved ground through both turns of the one mile and 70-yard tilt, while longshot Hero of Humor (173-1) set the majority of the early pace through fractions of 23.66, 47.07 and 1:13.35, destined to be challenged by Tiznow R J (4-1) and Another Lemon Drop (7-1).
Hemmed in at the rail in upper stretch, International Star shifted out with two athletic maneuvers, finally getting clear at the furlong marker. Taking the lead at the sixteenth-pole, after a stutter-step he charged to the wire a 2 1/2-length winner in a final time of 1:43.62. War Story, bested Tiznow R J by a head for the place. [VIDEO]
Mena said, “The plan was the save ground on both turns and then he came out at the three-sixteenths-pole and he came rolling. He was running hard but he kind of pulled himself up a little at the end when he found himself alone on the lead.”
Mike Maker, who trains the colt for the Ramseys, said, “He’s been training very well. We expected a big race – maybe not that big – but he was coming into the race great. We’ll bring him back to Florida and take a hard look at the Risen Star.”
Now a two-time graded stakes winner, International Star has earned $320,979 with three wins and two seconds from seven career starts.
Bred by Katharine M. Voss and Robert T. Manfuso and foaled at Berkshire Stud in Pine Plains, International Star was purchased by the Ramseys as a yearling for $85,000 out of the Fasig Tipton select yearling sale in September in Timonium. His dam is Parlez, a multiple winner by French Deputy who has produced five winners in all, including stakes winner Fools in Love by Not For Love.
