Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) put in his final work ahead of next week's GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong drill in 1:01.00 (3/6) at Churchill Downs Sunday. Over a muddy track, exercise rider Roberto Howell piloted the GII Louisiana Derby winner through splits of :12.60, :24.40, :36.20, :48.40 and he galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.80.
“Honestly I have so much confidence in Epicenter right now I don't think you could overdo it [with a horse like him],” trainer Steve Asmussen Sunday. “He has taken a lot of training extremely easy. And I thought he took the Louisiana Derby extremely easy, how he came back from the test barn and walked into the barn, and that's why his training and his works ever since have been faster, or stronger, than is the norm for me.”
Epicenter has been working in company with Gun It (Tapit), but his workmate Sunday was 4-year-old maiden winner Alejandro (Curlin).
“It felt perfect, knowing [Alejandro] and how he goes about what he is doing,” Asmussen said. “His previous workmate, Gun It, is a very strong, very physical horse…somewhat hard to manage, and that brings out a little extra in [Epicenter], especially getting to the pole, getting off, getting away from the pole and what you are getting out of it. And as you saw today, they were away from it a lot smoother, just a lot easier to the pole. Still strong, still very smooth. I think [Epicenter] is in a beautiful rhythm, and we are trying to create the circumstances and prepare for what we are expecting to happen in the races this week.”
Asmussen also sent out GI Kentucky Oaks contender Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) to work Sunday at Churchill. Last year's champion 2-year-old filly champion went four furlongs in :50.80 (33/42).
Echo Zulu ended 2021 with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and gritted out a win while making her 2022 debut in the Mar. 26 GII Fair Grounds Oaks.
“I thought she won the Fair Grounds Oaks with natural ability and class,” Asmussen said. “She has put in solid training for the Oaks, and then put in a huge move last Sunday. Galloped from there. [Today's work] went typical for her, an easy half mile. I want her razor sharp and fleet as she can be for next Friday.”
Asmussen will be hoping to win his first Kentucky Derby Saturday, but would not admit to feeling any nerves ahead of the race.
“I'm not running. I'm good,” he said. “I am unbelievably excited to be doing this well with this much on the line. I had a pretty anxious drive last night with rain and thunderstorms for most of it, and if it's meant to be, then it's meant to be, but everything seems to be working out perfectly. This year's Oaks and Derby are extremely exciting with how strong the races look and how well all the horses are doing going into it. It is going to be an extremely exciting five or six days.”
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