NEW ORLEANS (AP) -Friesan Fire showed he was a legitimate Kentucky Derby contender with an impressive victory at the Grade 3, $200,000 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday, the final prep for the Louisiana Derby.
Near the lead and avoiding trouble the entire way in a field of 13 with a smooth ride from jockey Gabriel Saez, Friesan Fire went ahead near the mile mark and won by two lengths in 1:45.11, outrunning Flying Pegasus down the stretch.
Friesan Fire, the second choice at post time, paid $7.60, $4.60 and $3.40. It was his second consecutive win and third consecutive top-two finish.
``This horse has been training here, he likes the track and he ran well,'' trainer Larry Jones said. ``Hopefully his best is still ahead of him. We're still not at our peak yet. Hopefully, he'll peak in the first week of May.''
Flying Pegasus was second in his first race since last September after having surgery for an injured hind ankle. He paid $8.80 and $6.20. Uno Mas took third with $7.20.
Giant Oak, the pre-race favorite, was boxed in early and never became a factor, rallying for fifth after entering the stretch in ninth place.
Friesan Fire is one of two strong Kentucky Derby possibilities for Jones, who chose not to start undefeated Old Fashioned even though the colt trained at the Fair Grounds leading up to the race. Old Fashioned will run at the Oaklawn Stakes in Arkansas on Feb. 16.
``We'll spread them out and hopefully cover all our bases,'' Jones said.
In the 3-year-old filly division, War Echo raced wide in the stretch, passed Four Gifts at the 16th poll and held on by 1 1/2 lengths with a time of 1:45.20 in the Grade 3, $150,000 Silverbulletday Stakes. She paid $11.20, $5.40 and $3.40. Pre-race favorite Just Jenda finished third, more than nine lengths behind War Echo. It was War Echo's first race since November.
Earlier, Honest Man won easily in the Grade 3, $125,000 Mineshaft Handicap for older horses. With Saez on board, Honest Man took over in the stretch and streaked to a 4 1/4-length victory in 1:44.16. Good and Lucky finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Brothers Nicholas. Honest Man paid $6.00, $4.00 and $3.40.
