Tag: Breeders’ Cup

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has been a part of many historic moments at Saratoga Race Course, including the memorable victory by Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Woodward (G1) to be become the first filly to win that event; and a record-setting win with Stellar Tap in August 2021 to break the all-time win record for North American trainers.

Asmussen added to his historical accomplishments when Kirk and Judy Robison's reigning champion male sprinter Jackie's Warrior became the first horse in history to post a Grade 1 victory in three consecutive years at the Spa as he dazzled with an easy two-length score Saturday in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap under Joel Rosario.

“For him to be the first horse ever to have won a Grade 1 three years in a row at Saratoga, it's just putting him in a room of one,” said Asmussen outside his barn on Sunday morning. “We're just extremely proud of him and we're very fortunate to be a part of him. It's quite the legacy.”

Jackie's Warrior, whose other Grade 1 victories at Saratoga were the 2020 Hopeful and 2021 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, also boasts a perfect 5-for-5 record at the upstate New York racetrack, owning Grade 2 wins in the 2020 Saratoga Special and the 2021 Amsterdam. A win in the $600,000 Forego (G1) on August 27 would put him on even terms with Fourstardave, known as the “Sultan of Saratoga,” for the most stakes victories by a single horse at Saratoga, according to Equibase records, which date to 1976.

Asmussen said along with Jackie's Warrior's impressive speed, his mental capabilities have allowed him to reach the heights he has.\

“He's an extremely intelligent horse that understands what he's doing, enjoys it a great deal, and thrives doing it,” Asmussen said. “His demeanor pre-race, during the race, and after the race is so consistent and cooling out after the race, he was obviously very proud of himself, and I don't think they got to the bottom of him.”

The Vanderbilt was the first half of a graded stakes sweep on the day for Asmussen, who sent out Epicenter to a redemptive win in the Jim Dandy (G2) just one race later with Rosario tasked with the ride once again. The son of Not This Time trailed in last of 4 as Early Voting set moderate fractions up front but was full of run and strongly ran down his rivals to post a 1 1/2-length score over Zandon.

“They both came out very well and both horses are very pleased with themselves – bright and alert today,” said Asmussen. “It's a beautiful morning.

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Epicenter was runner-up in both the Kentucky Derby(G1)  and Preakness (G1) in May. In the Kentucky Derby, Epicenter closed into a blistering pace set by Summer Is Tomorrow and held off a challenge from Zandon at the top of the lane but was nailed a few strides before the wire by the rail-skimming Rich Strike.

The Preakness was another tough loss for the dark bay colt, who was squeezed at the start and faced traffic issues throughout before coming up 1 1/4 lengths shy of Early Voting. The Jim Dandy saw him get a much cleaner trip from off the pace that resulted in his strong victory, equaling a career-high 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The way in which he did it was extremely satisfying. I spoke with Ron [Winchell] last night and this morning, and you saw what we thought was a level of confidence and understanding of what all this racing is about,” Asmussen said of Epicenter's maturity. “It looks great going forward.”

Asmussen said Saturday was an emotional experience as he reflected on his trainees' strong performances in front of a buzzing crowd of 37,476 fans.

“It was quite the hour. It was as good as a day could get. The circumstances of yesterday with Jackie's Warrior being such a prohibitive favorite and with that record on the line was very nerve-racking,” said Asmussen, with a laugh. “You just wanted it for him so much. And then everyone has witnessed Epicenter's last two races, and for him to walk back in the winner's circle victorious was a wonderful feeling.”

Asmussen said the plan laid out for Epicenter to continue on to the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers(G1) on August 27 is still on track.

“We had planned on running him in the Jim Dandy as a prep for the Travers,” Asmussen said. “His summer goal has always been the Travers and continues to be.”

As for Jackie's Warrior, the next five months will be the last that he spends in Asmussen's barn before retiring to stud at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky. Asmussen said he is hopeful the son of Maclean's Music can score an elusive victory in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland after finishing an uncharacteristic sixth in last year's running at Del Mar.

“We're planning on running him back here in the Forego and he'll have two more races – the Forego and the Breeders' Cup Sprint,” Asmussen said. “We want to go into it fresh this year and we're fortunate that Kirk and Judy Robison allowed us to run him another year. We're trying to make it worth as much as we possibly can.”

The post ‘It Was As Good As A Day As Could Get’: Asmussen Relishes Spa Stakes Double With Jackie’s Warrior, Epicenter appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Trainer Chad Brown said both Zandon and Early Voting emerged from their respective second and fourth-place finishes in the Jim Dandy (G2) in good order and remain possible for the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers (G1) on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

Saturday's four-horse Jim Dandy saw Early Voting, exiting victory in the Preakness (G1), set a moderate tempo up front with stablemate Zandon 1 1/2 lengths back in second. Early Voting was under a drive from Jose Ortiz in upper stretch with Zandon rallying to his outside. But neither runner was able to stave off the turn of foot from Epicenter, who won by 1 1/2 lengths under Joel Rosario.

“They both came out of the race fine,” Brown said. “Everything looks good and I'm going to ease them back into training the next couple of days and take it from there.”

Jeff Drown's Zandon entered the Jim Dandy off a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), finishing 1 1/2 lengths in arrears of Rich Strike and Epicenter, who ran second as the favorite.

Never off the board in six lifetime starts, Zandon captured the Blue Grass (G1)at Keeneland four weeks before the Derby. Brown said the son of third crop sire Upstart would benefit from a late-closing running style in a larger field of horses.

“I prefer him a little bit farther back, but I don't want to make any excuses,” Brown said. “He was ahead of Epicenter and had every chance to kick on and go, but Epicenter was able to overtake him and win the race impressively. With Zandon, hopefully he gets something off his 12-week layoff. Hopefully, he got something out of that to improve. He's going to need to, going on to the next one.”

Brown offered no excuses for Early Voting, who finished last, beaten 3 3/4 lengths.

“He didn't show up yesterday and Epicenter ran an outstanding race,” Brown said. “I just have to regroup with him and go from there. I don't want to complain about the track. The day before I had a wonderful winner [Artorius] in the Curlin. Some horses are maybe going to be OK on it and others not.”

Brown could have as many as three horses in the Travers with Zandon and Early Voting, and Juddmonte's aforementioned Artorius also under consideration.

The post Zandon, Early Voting Still Possible For Travers appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Rustin Kretz's American Theorem swooped widest and fastest of all Saturday in the 77th edition of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar Saturday and outran eight rivals to the wire in 1:08.67 for the six-panel headliner.

The husky gray son of Triple Crown hero American Pharoah was a length and a half to the good at the finish under veteran Joe Bravo. The rider dropped his stick turning for home as he swung six wide, but it didn't matter to his charge who just kept rolling around a wall of horses on the turn.

Finishing second was Gary Barber's Get Her Number and third was Brown, Klein or Lebherz's Letsgetlucky. Race favorite Shaaz, owned by Michael Lund Petersen, checked in fourth.

American Theorem is trained by George Papaprodromou, who was recording his first career Grade 1 victory.

The Crosby was a “Win and You're In” race meaning American Theorem now has a guaranteed spot with all fees paid in the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint, which will be held at Keeneland in November.

The Crosby carried a value of $402,000 and earned American Theorem a first-place prize of $240,000, increasing his career winnings to $531,967.

The ridgling had won Santa Anita's Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes on May 29 in his most recent start.

American Theorem paid $17.60, $7.80 and $5.00 across the board. Get Her Number returned $7.20 and $5.00 and Letsgetlucky paid $5.80 to show.

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JOE BRAVO (American Theorem, winner) – “He just wanted to run. That's why I went. He was real comfortable on the backside, moving easy. And then when we came to the turn I didn't think I wanted to go six wide. But he just had his momentum up and we just kept on going. I got real nervous, though. I dropped my stick on the turn and that will make you nervous. But he didn't need it.”

GEORGE PAPAPRODROMOU (American Theorem, winner)– “The race turned out the way we planned and we made one run. We knew with the post we would have to go a little wide but it worked out perfect.”

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FRACTIONS:  :22.28  :44.99  :56.69  1:08.67

The stakes win was the first of the meet for rider Bravo and his first in the Bing Crosby. He now has seven stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for trainer Papaprodromou and his first in the Bing Crosby. It is his third stakes win at Del Mar.

The winning owner is Rustin Kretz of Las Vegas, Nev.

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Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter arrived at the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga Race Course with a vengeance following a frustrating run on the Triple Crown trail, finishing a close second as the favorite in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1). But on Saturday, he started the second half of the year off right, saving ground down the backstretch and making a wide sweeping move to capture the nine-furlong test by 1 1/2 lengths.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said the impressive score will springboard the son of leading third-crop stallion Not This Time to the 10-furlong, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers (G1) on August 27 at Saratoga. A total of 14 horses have swept the Jim Dandy-Travers double, including last year's winner Essential Quality.

“It's extremely rewarding off two tough races to bring him back in the winner's circle where we think he belongs,” Asmussen said. “[In] a four-horse field, it's always a lot of mobility. I was very happy with the solid, steady pace – I think that :48 and one, :12 for every eighth of a mile is what we're targeting. What I loved about it is the fact that [there is] another eighth in the Travers. It was his first race ever over Saratoga and we know what's on the menu next. We want to be as ready as we possibly can for it.”

Epicenter was second beaten three-quarters of a length in the Kentucky Derby, won by inside rallying 80-1 longshot Rich Strike, two weeks before making a late-closing inside rally in the Preakness but coming up 1 1/4 lengths short of victory to Jim Dandy rival Early Voting.

Epicenter secured a third graded stakes victory after capturing Fair Grounds Race Course's Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) en route to the Kentucky Derby.

The Jim Dandy win came on the heels of another graded stakes victory Saturday for jockey Joel Rosario and Asmussen, who teamed up one race earlier to score a history-making triumph in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) with Jackie's Warrior, who has now won a Grade 1 at the Spa for three straight years.

Epicenter broke from the inside post in the four-horse field and trailed as Early Voting set the tempo into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile in :24.22 with Zandon, third in the Kentucky Derby, just 1 1/2 lengths back in second and Tawny Port skimming the rail in third.

Positions remained unchanged through a half-mile in :48.28, but Tawny Port inched his way closer to even terms with Zandon while Epicenter continued to save ground a close fourth and last. As the field rounded the far turn through three-quarters in 1:12.26, Jose Ortiz began asking Early Voting for more as Zandon launched his bid under Flavien Prat. Epicenter, still in last, fanned four-wide under no urging from Rosario.

All four runners appeared to have a fighting chance nearing the three-sixteenths pole, but Epicenter's late kick proved superior, gaining command outside the furlong marker and was in-hand while clocking a final time of 1:48.99.

Zandon finished a hard fought second, a half-length in front of Tawny Port. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Early Voting. Western River was scratched.

Bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms, Epicenter was purchased for $260,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He returned $4.20 for a $2 win wager as the odds-on favorite, earning a fifth lifetime victory through a record of 9-5-3-0, while banking $330,000 in victory. His career earnings surpassed the $2-million mark and now stand at $2,270,639.

Rosario, aboard for all five of Epicenter's victories, said he can feel the horse beginning to blossom.

“Seeing the race he put in today, [sitting] behind and waiting for the right time to go on and he did,” said Rosario, who piloted Good Samaritan to victory in the 2017 Jim Dandy. “We broke and got to the rail, probably not exactly what he wanted but the race played that way and got inside there for a little while. He ran his race but sometimes [it takes] a lot to go that way. He looked relaxed and did everything when I asked, so we look forward for that [the Travers].”

Asmussen, who captured his third Jim Dandy victory, said he felt anxious seeing Epicenter in last down the backstretch.

“Once he eased him out of that spot, Epicenter was carrying Joel very comfortably the whole way down the backside,” Asmussen said. “I was a little concerned how far back he was, but they threw up the middle fraction, they stayed at :12 [for the next eighth of a mile] and didn't back it up in his face. He had a shot from there. When he eased him out at the head of the lane, he was traveling really pretty.

“The fact that this is his first run over Saratoga [is good],” Asmussen added. “I didn't expect it to offer him any problems whatsoever, but it's a great relief for him to run his race over this track.”

Chad Brown, trainer of Zandon and Early Voting, said he expected a more forward trip for Epicenter.

“We sort of inherited the lead and that's fine,” Brown said. “On paper, most tracks you'd say 12 and change is not too bad, but this track has been pretty tiring. Clearly, Early Voting just didn't handle this track. We'll see how he comes back.”

In finishing second, Zandon maintained a perfect in-the-money record, which now stands at 2-2-2 from six starts.

Brown said Zandon, who closed from last-of-11 to win the Blue Grass (G1)  in April at Keeneland, would benefit from a rallying trip.

“As far as Zandon goes, he was a little closer than he probably wants to run,” Brown said. “I don't think Flavien had any other option. I thought he rode the horse fine. Hopefully, in a bigger field, I can get the horse back. He did a little better running in the Blue Grass with a different strategy. Hats off to the winner – he didn't break that well and he still circled the field and won nicely. He was the best horse today.”

Prat said he expected to have more pace to chase.

“I didn't have that type of race in my mind. I thought there would be a bit more battle between Early Voting and Epicenter,” Prat said. “Unfortunately, it looked like Epicenter didn't jump well so I broke well and got myself there. It's probably not where he wants to be, but it was the natural thing.”

The post Epicenter Uncoils Late Kick From Last For Jim Dandy Win, Caps Graded Stakes Double For Asmussen, Rosario appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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