Month: March 2022

Epicenter Stalks and Draws Off in Louisiana Derby

Winchell-owned and Steve Asmussen-trained Epicenter (Not This Time) gave his connections a sweep of the day's 3-year-old features, scoring a good-looking victory in the GII Louisiana Derby just one race after his champion stablemate Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) took the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. The victory puts Epicenter back at the top of the GI Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

The even-money favorite established position on the rail, sitting in a close third as 'TDN Rising Star' Zozos (Munnings) carved out splits of :23.27 and :47.35 with Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile) in tow. Epicenter maintained his position with the leader well within his grasp on the backstretch run. Launching a two-wide move to take control in early stretch, Epicenter powered clear to a dominant win over Zozos in a new track record time.

In addition to Epicenter and Echo Zulu, winning pilot Joel Rosario and Asmussen also teamed up to win three maiden special weights: Belle Rebelle (Upstart) in the first, Mazuma (American Pharoah) in the second and 'TDN Rising Star' Marsalis (Curlin) in the seventh.

Graduating at second asking at Churchill Downs Nov. 13, Epicenter romped in the Gun Runner S. at this oval Dec. 26. Doing the dirty work in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 22 in NOLA, he was run down by Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) and forced to settled for second. He returned with a vengeance next out at Fair Grounds, going gate-to wire in the GII Risen Star S. to register a 2 3/4-length victory.

Pedigree Notes:

Epicenter is one of six graded winners and 17 black-type victors by his red-hot sire Not This Time. He is one of two colts on the Derby trail from the second crop that Taylor Made stallion with the other being GII Fountain of Youth S. winner Simplification. Not This Time's sire, the late, great Giant's Causeway, also has a Derby contender in his three-horse final crop in GII Tampa Bay Derby winner Classic Causeway. Epicenter's stakes-winning dam Silent Candy produced an Always Dreaming colt in 2020, a Tapiture filly in 2021 and an Outwork filly Mar. 14 of this year.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
TWINSPIRES.COM LOUISIANA DERBY-GII, $1,000,000, Fair Grounds, 3-26, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:54.38, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 122, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Silent Candy (SW & GSP, $182,208), by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: Silent Queen, by King of Kings (Ire)
3rd Dam: Soundproof (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $600,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GSP, 6-4-1-0, $1,010,639.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zozos, 122, c, 3, Munnings–Papa's Forest, by Forestry. 'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Barry and Joni Butzow; T-Brad H. Cox. $200,000.
3–Pioneer of Medina, 122, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Lights of Medina, by Eskendereya. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($485,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Sumaya U.S. Stable; B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $100,000.
Margins: 2HF, 2, 3HF. Odds: 1.00, 2.50, 15.70.
Also Ran: Rattle N Roll, Galt, Call Me Midnight, Kupuna, Curly Tail, Silent Power.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Epicenter Stalks and Draws Off in Louisiana Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Epicenter Storms To Track Record Win In Louisiana Derby

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter uncorked a torrid rally down the middle of the track and captured the $1 million Twinspires Louisiana Derby (G1) in track record time Saturday at Fair Grounds.

The win mark the fifth on card for trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosairo.

A 3-year-old Not This Time colt, Epicenter settled in third early then moved out and stormed down the lane, collaring pacesetter Zozos and shaking clear to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Epicenter was timed in a track-record lowering time 1:54.38 for 1 3/16 miles.

Pioneer of Medina finished third

The Louisiana Derby had 170 points up for grabs by way of a 100-40-20-10 dispersal to the top four finishers. Epicenter had already secured his spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby (G1) entering Fair Grounds' centerpiece event with 64 points and now tops the leaderboard with 164 points.

Updated Kentucky Derby/Oaks leaderboard

Epicenter has flourished at Fair Grounds over the winter, winning the Gun Runner Stakes on December 26 in his final start as a 2-year-old before finishing second in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) Jan. 22, then posting an easy front-running victory Feb. 16 in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) in his start prior to the Louisiana Derby.

Asmussen and Winchell have won two previous Louisiana Derbys together, scoring in 2008 with Pyro and again with Gun Runner in 2016. Asmussen's first of three Louisiana Derby wins came with Fifty Stars in 2001.

The post Epicenter Storms To Track Record Win In Louisiana Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Declaration of War Colt Sparkles in Texas Glitter

TEXAS GLITTER S., $75,000, Gulfstream, 3-26, 3yo, 5fT, :56.03, fm.
1–BIG INVASION, 118, c, 3, by Declaration of War
                1st Dam: Curls in Place, by Curlin
                2nd Dam: Pola's Place, by Out of Place
                3rd Dam: Pola, by Strawberry Road (Aus)
($72,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Reeves
Thoroughbred Racing; B-John O'Meara (KY); T-Christophe
Clement; J-Javier Castellano. $46,035. Lifetime Record:
3-2-1-0, $88,965.
2–Lucci, 120, c, 3, Not This Time–Lucky'stormwarning, by Lookin
At Lucky. ($290,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable LLC & Windmill
Manor Farm; B-Springhouse Farm & Ben McElroy (KY);
T-Wesley A. Ward. $14,850.
3-Brit's Candyman, 118, c, 3, Valiant Minister–British Event, by
Wild Event. ($27,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $21,000 Ylg '20
OBSOCT; $21,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Rick
Tattoli, Rabalac Racing Stable, Inc. & Rohan Crichton;
B-Christine Weiss (FL); T-Rohan Crichton. $7,425.
Margins: 3, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 0.80, 1.10, 32.00.
Also Ran: Trikitraki, Bueno Bueno, Barone Cesco. Scratched: High Front.
Big Invasion was making his third start over this course and trip, following his runner-up debut effort behind American Starlet (Twirling Candy)–who was second in the Melody of Colors S. earlier on Gulfstream's Saturday card–Jan. 7 with a 4 1/4-length maiden tally Feb. 19. Favored while facing five rivals in this stakes debut, the bay colt broke sharply, but was taken in hand to track even-money Lucci. He darted to the lead off the turn and bound clear to an authoritative victory.

“He's very special. He's always showed a tremendous amount of ability,” said Miguel Clement, assistant to his father, trainer Christophe Clement, said. “We were disappointed he got beat first time out, but in hindsight, the filly that beat him just ran second today in a stakes. His next start was impressive, and I think today he dazzled us once again.”

Big Invasion has a 2-year-old half-sister by Empire Maker and a yearling half-brother by Air Force Blue. His dam was bred back to War of Will last year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Declaration of War Colt Sparkles in Texas Glitter appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights