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 GRADEDÂ 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.
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