Risen Star Stakes goes to Scipion

By: SPORTS NETWORK

New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Scipion, ridden by Gary Stevens, came

 well off the pace to win Saturday's $150,000 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds.

 The Risen Star is a major prep race for the Louisiana Derby on March 12.

Eleven three-year-olds went to the starting gate for the 1 1/16 mile stakes race.

The 6-5 favorite was lightly raced Harlington, who was looking for his first

stakes win. Local runner Storm Surge was attempting to make it three stakes

 victories at the Fair Grounds.

Breaking sharply from the gate was Electric Light along with Storm Surge and

Silent Bid. Electric Light set the pace around the clubhouse turn and into the

 backstretch. Along side the leader was Silent Bid with Storm Surge and

 Bold Lion pressing the pace.

Around the final turn Silent Bid took a short lead over Electric Light. At the top

 of the stretch Storm Surge moved to the front and appeared to be on his way

 to victory. However, coming from the rear was Scipion.

Scipion powered past the leader and held on for a length win. Finishing second

was 40-1 long shot Real Dandy. Storm Surge held on for third and Electric Light

 faded to fourth. Harlington finished sixth after running seventh for most

of the race.

The time for the Risen Star Stakes was 1:44.54.

Scipion is trained by Patrick Biancone and owned by Virginia Kraft Payson.

The win was worth $90,000 to bring the colt's earnings to $143,240. This was

 Scipion's first stakes win and just his second overall in five starts. Stevens was

 riding the three-year-old for the first time.

Scipion returned $22.20, $11.20 and $7.40. Real Dandy paid $34.40 and

$15.20, and Storm Surge paid $5.40 for show.