Risen Star Stakes on Ria Antonia schedule

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Ria Antonia will be coming to Fair Grounds Race Course for the winter with her sights set on the boys.

Trained by Jeremiah Englehart for owners Christopher Dunn and Loooch Racing Stable, Ria Antonia will be arriving at Fair Grounds on Friday, Dec. 27 and train for a start in the $400,000 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday, Feb. 22.

"She'll be there to train up to a start (against males) in the Risen Star," co-owner Ron Paolucci said. "I doubt we'll get a race into her before then.

"Obviously, I plan to be there for the Risen Star, but I also might have a horse running in the ($75,000) Bonapaw (Dec.21) and be at Fair Grounds for that one, too."

The Risen Star is the last local prep for the $1 million Louisiana Derby on Saturday, March 29.

Ria Antonia, a 32-1 longshot, won the Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2 after She's A Tiger was disqualified from first and placed second in the 1 1/16-mile stakes.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Ria Antonia earned $1.1 million with the victory and notched her second win in five starts and has earnings of $1,156,140.

The filly had her first three starts at Woodbine in Toronto and was fourth at Belmont Park in the Frizette Stakes.