A trio of runners from the barn of trainer Steve Asmussen began the Keeneland portion of their preparations for the 39th Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 4-5 by working easy half miles over a fast track early Sunday morning.
First was J. Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning champion male sprinter Jackie's Warrior, who covered the distance in :49.80 with exercise rider Wilson Fabian aboard. A five-time Grade 1 winner, the 4-yera-old Maclean's Music colt is considered the probable favorite for the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).
In Asmussen's next set, Fabian was aboard Winchell Thoroughbreds' Runhappy Travers (G1) winner Epicenter, who completed the half mile in :51. The Not This Time colt, one of the leading contenders for champion 3-year-old male honors, is being pointed to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
In the same set, Stonestreet Stables' two-time Grade 1 winner Clairiere worked a half mile in :49.80 with exercise rider Carmen Rosas aboard. One of the leading contenders for the Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female, the 4-year-old Curlin filly is being pointed to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1).
The three runners have accounted for 19 graded stakes victories – eight of them Grade 1s – in their careers for combined earnings of more than $7.6 million.
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