Tag: David Fiske

Travers Runner-Up Disarm Reloading for 2024

Disarm (c, 4, Gun Runner–Easy Tap, by Tapit), sidelined since finishing a closing second behind Arcangelo (Arrogate) in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 26, has returned to training with Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds.

A respectable fourth at 27-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby, last term's GIII Matt Winn S. winner and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby runner-up exited his second-place finish in the Travers with bone bruising, per David Fiske, longtime advisor to owner/breeder Ron Winchell.

“He was walking visibly off after the Travers,” Fiske said. “Got him back to the barn and whipped out the X-ray machine. We were all standing there looking at the X-rays and everybody looked at one another and went, 'Do you see anything? I don't see anything.' So, that was a big relief that it wasn't anything more serious. We got him down to Lexington and he was diagnosed with some bone bruising.”

He added, “We weren't gonna make any significant races at the end of the year, so we said, 'Let's just give him as much time off as he needs.'”

Following approximately nine weeks of recommended downtime, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan revealed that Disarm still “had some spots that lit up on him” and he was given an additional 30 days off before returning to training.

The 'TDN Rising Star' now has a pair of four-furlong breezes under his belt since returning to the worktab in New Orleans, stopping the clock in :53.80 (42/43) Jan. 8 and :50.80 (18/26) Jan. 18, respectively.

“We gave him some extra time and now he's back,” Fiske said. “He looks great, travels great and has always been a great-looking horse. Hopefully, we can make some noise with him this year.”

Disarm recorded four straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures last year, beginning with his aforementioned effort on the first Saturday in May. He earned a career-high 103 Beyer over a muddy surface in the Travers, his first career start racing with blinkers. The handsome chestnut has posted a record of 9-2-3-2 and career earnings of $1,000,200.

While acknowledging that it's still very early days, Fiske said that this summer's GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, a race won by his leading sire in 2017, could be in play for the Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred.

“Given the level at which he ran last year, if he can get back to that, then you'd expect to see him in some of the bigger or biggest races around,” Fiske said. “It would be kinda cool if we could get him cranked up for the Whitney, but that's a long way off. We're gonna need to get some more works. He's still pretty early stages.”

One of nine 'Rising Stars' for Gun Runner, Disarm is a half-brother to Venezuelan champion stayer Tap Daddy (Scat Daddy), who was also a stakes winner and graded-stakes placed on these shores. Disarm's dam Easy Tap, a $300,000 FTKJUL yearling purchase, won one of five career starts.

The Gun Runner over Tapit cross, two of the best to ever carry the maroon-and-white Winchell silks, is already off to a flying start via GI Cotillion S. heroine Society; MGSW and GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint third Wicked Halo; GSW & GISP Red Route One; and GSW & GISP Il Miracolo.

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Echo Zulu Has Another Good Day After Surgery

One day after fetlock arthrodesis surgery to repair broken sesamoids in her left front leg, Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) spent an uneventful day at Steve Asmussen's barn at Santa Anita, according to David Fiske, racing manager for co-owner Ron Winchell.

“No significant change from yesterday,” texted Fiske in response to a TDN request for an update.

“(She) splits her time between lying down and standing at her stall door eating hay. At this stage, that feels like a win. No news is good news.”

Echo Zulu was working in company with stablemate Gunite (Gun Runner) on Friday morning at Santa Anita when she suffered the injury. She was operated on Saturday by California veterinarian Dr. Ryan Carpenter.

“The surgery went very good,” said Carpenter on Saturday after the surgery. “She's up and headed back to the barn. From this point on, we take it day by day. These cases are not out of the woods for the next four to six weeks but every good day is a day closer to a successful outcome.”

In 2023, Echo Zulu won the GI Ballerina H., GII Honorable Miss H., GIII Winning Colors S. Her overall racing record was 11 starts, with nine wins and earnings of $2,640,375.

Fiske said it was too soon to determine what happens next for the four-year-old filly, trained by Steve Asmuseen.

“Too early to say,” he said. “Steve will go out sometime in the near future to better assess the situation. Then we can look at our options. A lot will depend on when she is deemed able to travel.”

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Fiske: Echo Zulu Surgery `Went As Well As Could Be Expected’

Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) had successful surgery today to repair her two broken sesamoids in her left front leg and the surgery “went as well as could be expected” said David Fiske, racing manager to co-owner Ron Winchell.

The surgery was performed at the Southern California Equine Foundation's hospital on the grounds of Santa Anita Park.

The 4-year-old filly suffered an injury Friday morning at Santa Anita, working in company with stablemate Gunite (Gun Runner) in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.

“She's out of surgery,” said Fiske. “Out of recovery. (It) went as well as could be expected. Prognosis guarded. A lot depends on sufficient blood supply to the surgery site and how well she can take care of herself.”

The surgery was performed by veterinarian Ryan Carpenter. “The surgery went very good,” said Carpenter. “She's up and headed back to the barn. From this point on, we take it day by day. These cases are not out of the woods for the next four to six weeks but every good day is a day closer to a successful outcome.”

In 2023, Echo Zulu won the GI Ballerina H., GII Honorable Miss H., GIII Winning Colors S. Her overall racing record was 11 starts, with nine wins and earnings of $2,640,375.

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West VA Derby Winner Red Route One Targets Dueling Grounds Derby

Sunday's GIII West Virginia Derby winner Red Route One (Gun Runner) is expected to make his next start in the National Thoroughbred League Dueling Grounds Derby Sept. 3 at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs.

The Steve Asmussen-trainee began his career with a victory over the Kentucky Downs grass last year and owner Ron Winchell is a co-managing partner with Marc Falcone in Kentucky Downs and its sister The Mint Gaming Hall properties.

“I think since he had been successful there last year, we have always had our eye on Kentucky Downs to bring him back and run him this year,” said David Fiske, the longtime racing and bloodstock manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds. “Because he was successful and because the purses are what they are. We were hoping to get him into the richest race that made sense, and after winning (the $500,000 West Virginia Derby), the Dueling Grounds Derby looks like a real possibility.”

“It seems like all year long, he's been dropping out the back and the makes a big run, which is kind of like how a lot of turf races are run,” Fiske continued. “Slow early and fast late. Sometimes if there is enough pace in front of you and you can get there and sometimes you don't.”

Another Asmussen-trained graded-stakes winner from last weekend also is likely headed to Kentucky Downs. GIII Troy S. winner Cogburn (Not This Time) is set to contest the GII Ainsworth Turf Sprint, a six-furlong race Sept. 9 whose winner earns a fees-paid spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

“I think obviously he has excelled on the turf, being undefeated, and gave me a great feel today,” Asmussen told Saratoga's publicity team after the Troy S. “I feel great to beat the field that we did and now we can think big. We hopefully have a Breeders' Cup horse. We have had one Turf Sprint winner in the past (2011 winner Regally Ready), so hopefully we have another one. We had planned on running here and then Kentucky Downs, but we'll see how we come out of this and figure out what we should do.”

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