William S. Farish and Lora Jean Kilroy's homebred gelding Guest Suite has exited his fourth-place finish in the Grade II $400,000 Risen Star Stakes in excellent shape and will move forward on what his connections hope is a Kentucky Derby trail for the talented son of Quality Road. A little farther back than usual last out, the bay charge rallied respectably to be fourth, while ultimately outpaced by winner Girvin – whom he moved alongside on the far turn – in the final eighth of a mile.
“I thought he ran great and I was very happy with him,” trainer Neil Howard said. “He was a little farther back and that didn't help him any, but that happens sometimes. A mile and an eighth should be a real benefit with him. That being said, I was very impressed with the winner.”
Prior to the Risen Star, Guest Suite was a sharp victor in the Grade III $200,000 Lecomte Stakes over the New Orleans oval – the first of three graded local preps for the Grade I $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby. The final leg, the Grade II $1,000,000 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, is possibly on the menu for the talented type.
“It's something we're looking at, but I want to discuss it with the owners, obviously,” Howard said. “Before I confirm anything, Mr. Farish and I will get together and see, but he is a horse who will enjoy that extra distance.”
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