Tag: keith asmussen

HISA Announces Next Generation Advisory Group Membership

Selected from a pool of almost 200 applicants, the Next Generation Advisory Group will consist of 16 new members who represent a broad range of views and experiences across the American horse racing community, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) announced Monday.

The group will start in April and will convene monthly to provide feedback on the implementation and evolution of HISA's various regulations, including racetrack safety and anti-doping and medication regulations. Among this group of 16 are horsemen, veterinarians, jockeys, horseplayers, representatives from horsemen's groups, racing offices and racing syndicates. They will serve in 18-36 month terms to stagger changes in group composition.

Those selected were: Waqas Ahmed, deputy executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KRHC); Keith Asmussen, rider and eldest son of Steve Asmussen; Joe Bianca, ownership advisor for West Point Thoroughbreds and former editor/podcast host at the TDN; Marc Broady, executive director of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority; Eric DeCoster, assistant racing secretary at Prairie Meadows and racing official at Oaklawn Park; Devon Dougherty, assistant trainer for Christophe Clement; Dr. Tatiana Fraguela, racetrack veterinarian based at Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park and jockey Tyler Gaffalione.

Also selected were Jeffrey A. Matty, Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association at Parx; Katie Miranda, co-owner of HorseOlogy and owner of White Lilac 2-year-old Consignment; Tyler Peeples, handicapper and owner; Courtney Reid, senior director of racing and industry relations for Breeders' Cup Limited; trainer Lindsay Schultz; Brianne Sharp, marketing and research coordinator for Godolphin; Sam Houston track announcer and handicapper Nick Tammaro; and Najja Thompson, executive director of New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. and a member on several various boards.

“Thank you to everyone who applied for the Next Generation Advisory Group,” said CEO Lisa Lazarus. “HISA remains dedicated to preserving our sport for generations to come, and the sheer number of applicants alone has been an incredible sign of support for a successful future. We are thrilled to have such diverse perspectives, vast experience and impressive qualifications across our industry advisory groups.”

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Lukas Relishing His Return to the Kentucky Derby

For a time, Wayne Lukas was as much a part of the GI Kentucky Derby as mint juleps and roses. From 1981, when he sent out his first Derby starter in Partez, to 2000, he had at least one starter in the race every year while running a total of 38 horses. Four of them–Winning Colors, Thunder Gulch, Grindstone and Charismatic–won.

But he hasn't had a starter since Bravazo (Awesome Again) in 2018 and hasn't had a winner since Charismatic in 1999. But the drought is over as the 88-year-old training legend has managed to accumulate enough points (65) with GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Just Steel (Justify) that the colt, barring injury, is guaranteed a spot in the Derby starting gate.

“I'm really excited about being back, but I don't want to be back without a legitimate chance,” Lukas said. “I've already heard 'My Old Kentucky Home' and seen our silks out there on the track. I don't need to go through that. I am interested in trying to get a good horse there.”

Just Steel was seventh, beaten 10 lengths, in the GII Rebel S. and looked to be in over his head that day facing some of the best in the division. But he ran a much-improved race in the Arkansas Derby, finishing second behind Muth (Good Magic) at odds of 32-1.

It was just the type of effort Lukas was looking for from his colt.

“I've been managing this horse a little bit and trying to get him really good,” he said. “He stands 17 hands and he weighs 1,300 pounds. He's a big growthy horse that I didn't want to push a lot in March and April. I wanted to have him good enough so that I could sneak in on the points. But I didn't want to push hard on him.”

With Lukas yet to fully tighten the screws, he is expecting a much-improved performance come Derby Day.

“I finally put a mile work into him to get him ready,” Lukas said. “He's got some quality about him. If I can use the next month to tighten on him a little bit I think he will keep the race honest. I think he will take a quantum leap forward. I could see him improving something like 10 points from the last race to this race. I expect him to jump forward quite a bit.”

That Lukas is back in the Derby isn't necessarily a surprise. For the first time in a few years he has deep-pocketed clients that are spending serious money at the sales. Just Steel runs for BC Stables LLC, the stable name for the partnership of John Bellinger and Brian Coelho.

“I'm very happy for those clients,” he said. “These are my new guys and they have really stepped up financially. They are our No. 1 clients. The yearlings they bought last year are outstanding. I'm more interested in getting them to the Derby than I am getting myself back there. I was really happy after the Arkansas Derby knowing we have gotten them into the Derby.”

Lukas is also holding out hope that Seize the Grey (Arrogate) will earn enough points in Saturday's GI Blue Grass S. to also make it into the Derby field. Owned by MyRacehorse, he was third last time out in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks.

“He's a solid horse. And he's got 600 owners, so if we can get him in we'll make a lot of people happy.”

While Lukas will be the oldest trainer taking part in this Derby, his 25-year-old jockey, Keith Asmussen, the son of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, will be among the youngest and the least experienced. But Lukas has taken a liking to him and is using him not only on Just Steel but his GI Kentucky Oaks candidate Lemon Muffin (Collected). Asmussen started his riding career in 2020 and this will be his first mount in a Triple Crown race.

“I go back a long way with his family,” Lukas said. “His grandfather and grandmother and I are very close friends. We went from South Dakota to Laredo, Texas together. We combined our stables. We've been close family friends forever. The young Keith has got such a good horse background and he is a really smart rider. He's got a master's degree, for crying out loud. He listens and he does what you want him to do. He makes very good decisions in the race. I understand experience-wise he is lacking but he's a real cool customer. He doesn't get all caught up in it. He is very solid. I will not be changing jockeys.”

Just Steel won't be one of the favorites, but Lukas has won plenty of big races with horses few people gave a chance to. He's won four Derbies but never lost the desire to win a fifth. It's just taken him a while to get back there, and he plans to make the most of the opportunity.

 

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Steve Asmussen to Run Quarter Horse Starter at Sandy Ridge at Red Mile

Steve Asmussen has indicated an interest in saddling a starter at the 2024 Sandy Ride at Red Mile Quarter Horse meet, according to stallionesearch.com.

The Hall of Famer did not have a set number of confirmed runners, stall applications were due Thursday, Feb. 29, but Sandy Ridge racing manager Terry Oliver was reportedly instrumental in getting Asmussen back to his roots in Quarter Horse racing. His family had been involved in the industry in the early 1970s, originating with parents Marilyn and Keith Asmussen. It would be his first such starter since 2014.

The 2024 meet, averaging daily purse totals of $200,000 per eight-race card, is set to go Mar. 17 to Mar. 26 at the Lexington track.

“Quarter Horse racing is and always has been extremely important to me and my family's origins in the sport of horse racing,” Asmussen told stallionesearch.com. “To have the opportunity to run Quarter Horses at the Red Mile is something that I am looking forward to doing, as I am all for supporting the industry.”

“Both Wayne [Lukas] and I do not forget where we came from, and we are both proud of our backgrounds in running Quarter Horses that has been so instrumental with making us the horsemen we are today.”

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Mitole’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Booth Makes a Splash On Seasonal Debut

3rd-Oaklawn, $140,000, Alw (NW1$X), Opt. Clm ($100,000), 2-11, 3yo, 6f, 1:10.81, sy, 4 1/4 lengths.
BOOTH (c, 3, Mitole–Sophia's Song {SW & GSP, $155,892}, by Bellamy Road) earned the 'TDN Rising Star' badge with a towering 5 1/4-length debut success at Keeneland Oct. 7, good for a 96 Beyer that was a few points faster than the one posted by Locked (Gun Runner) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity two races earlier, the different distances notwithstanding. The chestnut was accordingly sent off at 62 cents on the dollar to take the next step in the Nov. 25 Ed Brown S. at Churchill, but he dropped away in the final furlong to finish fifth behind Just Steel (Justify). The barn elected to send Booth to the Fair Grounds to train in an effort to avoid the wintry weather that plagued Hot Springs last month, but he was returning here as the 3-5 chalk with Lasix on for the first time. Booth was not the quickest away, but Keith Asmussen was content to take the trail on the back of the pacesetter into the turn. Momentarily short of room in upper stretch, he shifted across heels into the three path at the three-sixteenths and was in a race of his own from there. A half-brother to last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Bright Future (Curlin), $836,940; and to Musical Mischief (Into Mischief), $145,384, third in the 2023 GI American Oaks, Booth was a $120,000 KEESEP yearling and $225,000 OBS March breezer. Hailing from the deep female family of two-time Eclipse Award winner Housebuster (Mt. Livermore), Booth has a 2-year-old half-brother by Tiz the Law and a yearling half-brother by Maxfield. Sophia's Song was purchased by Shadai Farm for $1.35 million in foal to Jackie's Warrior at last year's Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Sales history: $120,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $225,000 2yo '23 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $147,942. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-L William & Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm & Whispering Oaks Farm LLC; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.

 

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