Mitch Dennison | Horse Racing Free Tips

Louisiana Downs Appoints Mitch Dennison to General Manager of Racing

Louisville's Mitch Dennison has been named general manager of racing at Louisiana Downs. Dennison will oversee racing, mutuels, facility projects, and sponsorships at the Bossier City racetrack and casino.

Dennison has served as an assistant to Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for the past 13 years, overseeing strings at Ellis Park and Louisiana Downs. He had also previously been affiliated with the D. Wayne Lukas barn. Despite his experience on the backside of the track, Dennison said he had an eye on racetrack management.

“I have been active in both Kentucky and Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) for many years,” said Dennison. “Understanding the concerns of horsemen is very important and should be vital to racetrack management. Kevin [Preston, owner of Louisiana Downs] is new to racing, but immediately recognized that. I have never been more excited about working in this industry!”

The Thoroughbred meet at Louisiana Downs kicks off on Kentucky Derby Day. The 84-day live racing season will run Saturdays through Tuesdays until Sept. 27.

“Mitch is extremely knowledgeable and shares my commitment to showing respect to each of the horsemen and their workers as well as ensuring the safety and integrity of our racing operation,” said Preston. “I like his energy and look forward to a very successful racing season.”

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Her World Wows In Tyro Win At Monmouth

Her World lived up to the hype – and then some.

Touted by trainer Wesley Ward as perhaps the best 2-year-old filly he has ever had at this stage of her career, Her World took on the daunting double task of her first career start coming against colts and in stakes company. She handled both with ease.

In a virtual gate-to-wire victory, Her World romped to a dazzling six-length victory in the 80th edition of Tyro Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. Ridden by Paco Lopez, the daughter of Caravaggio breezed the five furlongs over a firm turf course in :56.62, easily dispatching her seven male rivals in the $100,000 feature race.

“We're excited. She did exactly what we thought she would,” said Ward. “We don't have to change much after watching that race moving forward. We're going to bring her next to Keeneland, and then we plan on bringing her to the Breeders' Cup.

“With what she showed today winning in a stakes race against colts who had experience, it's encouraging. We're going to skip right along and continue from this. I look forward to her next couple of starts but I also look forward to her being a 3-year-old, and I think (co-owner) Dick Brodie and the rest of the owners have a special one with her.”

The race was marred by a spill that saw third-place finisher Roman Poet drift out at the quarter pole, causing Vodka N Water and jockey Gerardo Corrales to clip heels and go down.

Corrales was taken by ambulance to Monmouth Medical Center for X-rays on his right shoulder, said Dr. Angelo Chinnici, the track's medical director.

“He was alert and oriented,” Dr. Chinnici said. “He was unconscious for a brief period of time but now he is fine.”

Vodka N Water experienced only cuts to his legs but was otherwise fine, said Mitch Dennison, who oversees Steve Asmussen's division at Monmouth Park.

“The horse is up and running around and looks okay except for the cuts,” said Dennison.

Roman Poet, who finished third, was disqualified and placed last for causing the interference.

Her World, meanwhile, made her challenge look almost too easy, returning $3.80 to win as the heavy favorite in the field. Trust Our Journey was second, with Baytown Warrior elevated from fourth to third following the DQ of Roman Poet.

“She is obviously a very nice filly,” said Lopez. “Wesley told me she's the best filly he has now and maybe for many, many years at this stage of her career. She broke on top and was looking around a little, maybe trying to figure things out (in her first career start). She was very professional.

“I used her to get to the top right away because Wesley Ward told me she had that kind of speed. Sometimes you want to get out there second or third and relax but she wanted to go. I looked behind after a while for the other horses but no one was running at us. She was flying in the stretch.

“You have to be special to do something like this in your first start, a stakes race and a filly against boys. But Wesley was very confident. He told me he loves this filly and wants to take her to the Breeders' Cup. Now that I have ridden her I know she can do it.”

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Her World is owned by Andrew Farm, Susan Molton, For the People Racing Stable, and Windmill Manor Farm.

“Personally I was nervous going into the race, but I will tell you what, Wesley Ward had a lot of confidence in the horse and that's why she ended up in this race against the boys,” said co-owner Dick Brodie of Andrew Farm. “It's not up to me, but there have been conversations about running her the first weekend at Keeneland. My ownership partnership is with Charlie O'Connor and John Morgan.

“After today, I would definitely tell you this is one of, if not my favorite horse, we own right now. I am thrilled with what I saw.”

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Honey I’m Good Goes Wire To Wire In Regret Stakes At Monmouth

When Honey I'm Good finished a tiring sixth in the Politely Stakes in her season debut on May 30 – just the second time she had failed to hit the board in her first 12 career starts – her connections simply drew a line through the race.

Saturday, it was easy to see why.

Despite breaking through the gate prior to the start, Honey I'm Good sped her way to a gate-to-wire victory in the $75,000 Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., having just enough in reserve to hold off 2-5 favorite Bayerness by a neck.

For the 5-year-old daughter of Shackleford, it marked her sixth career victory and second lifetime stakes win. She flashed under the wire in a sharp 1:09.28 for the six furlongs over a muddy/sealed track.

“I don't think she cared for the track in her last start and she needed to settle in here a little bit to train,” said Mitch Dennison, who oversees Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's division at Monmouth Park. “She has been working well here, calm and quiet, and that's important with her because she can be a nervous filly – as we saw when she broke through the gate before the start today.

“She was a little more nervous than we'd like her to be but she settled in and handled the track well.”

Honey I'm Good was caught almost immediately after she broke through the gate and then showed why she was so eager to get going.

She took pressure early from Bronx Beauty, with Bayerness sitting off those two, through an opening quarter of :22.29 and a half mile in :44.94. Bayerness passed Bronx Beauty in mid-term and then set her sights on Honey I'm Good.

But Honey I'm Good was able to last, returning $14.40 to win. It was another five lengths back to Bronx Beauty.

“I was worried when she broke through the gate,” said jockey Gerardo Corrales. “I knew I needed to break on top. That's where she is at her best and it was the best way to beat (Bayerness). My horse was very comfortable. I saw (Bayerness) coming at us late but my filly had enough left.”

Owned by Almost Heaven Stables, Honey I'm Good now has a 6-2-3 line from 13 career starts.

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Asmussen Claims Trainer, Owner Title At Harrah’s Lousiana Downs; Joel Dominguez Leading Rider

The 2020 Thoroughbred racing season at Harrah's Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., which got underway one month late due to COVID-19, wrapped up on Saturday, Sept. 26. Eleven races were contested Saturday: three from Tuesday, Sept. 22 and eight races from the Wednesday, Sept. 23 card which were canceled due to heavy rain from Tropical Storm Beta.

Steve Asmussen Wins Both Leading Trainer and Owner Titles
It's been quite a summer for Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, who claimed both leading trainer and owner of the meet titles.

As a trainer, Asmussen started 124 runners, winning 41 races and adding 22 seconds and 23 thirds. He sent a combination of maidens, claimers and allowance entrants, doing well on both the main track and Franks Turf Course. Rue Lala, owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt in partnership with Spendthrift Farm LLC, broke her maiden here impressively on Sept. 5 and wheeled back in the $50,000 Louisiana Cup Juvenile Fillies, finishing a game second to multiple stakes winner Mirabeau.

“She is a very nice Louisiana-bred,” said Asmussen. “The Heiligbrodts were one of my first owners and their support means a great deal to me.”

Asmussen credited the racing officials at Louisiana Downs as well as the track surfaces.

“Louisiana Downs stepped up when other tracks were trying to figure out when they might be able to open,” stated Asmussen. “They have excellent track surfaces, which is one of the reasons we support Louisiana Downs and are proud of this accomplishment.”

For the second year in a row, Karl Broberg, finished second with 38 wins. However, Broberg did edge Asmussen in purses with his runners banking $448,275 over $423,440 earned by Asmussen's string. Shane Wilson who had not stabled at Louisiana Downs for the past eight years, won 32 races and 2019 leading conditioner Joey Foster rounded out the top four, saddling 24 winners.

Asmussen was able to top his fellow owners with 19 wins from 52 starts. His horses won 37% of their starts with earnings of $147,835.

Wayne T. Davis finished second in the owner standings with 17 wins. His horses earned $188,405 and are conditioned by Shane Wilson. End Zone Athletics, Inc. won 16 of their 75 starts with Tri-Star Racing LLC and M and M Racing finishing in a tie for fourth with nine victories each.

September has been not only successful, but historical for Asmussen as on Friday, Sept. 17, he won his 9,000th career victory with Troy Ounce at Remington Park. He is now second to Dale Baird, who holds the North American record for training wins with 9,445. Over the summer, Asmussen has won races at Saratoga, Churchill Downs, Ellis Park, Kentucky Downs, Lone Star Park, Remington Park and Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

“I believe I won one previous title at Louisiana Downs, but it might have been a year that the Fair Grounds meet was run in Shreveport,” he said.

Asmussen credits assistants Mitch Dennison, who coordinated the Louisiana Downs entries and other duties from his Kentucky base and Misty Drinkwater, who is in her second year of handling the day-to-day duties at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

“Misty deserves a great deal of credit,” added Asmussen. “She is extremely organized and does a fabulous job with our Louisiana runners.”

Joel Dominguez Wins His First Leading Rider Title
Jockey Joel Dominguez has made the most of his four-year tenure at Harrah's Louisiana Downs.

The 30-year-old native of Durango, Mexico, began in 2017 as an apprentice, winning 31 races that year and returning in 2018, losing his bug, but finishing third in the standings as he transitioned to the journeyman ranks. He improved to second last year, but powered to the lead early in the 2020 meet and built an unsurpassable lead over his fellow riders. Dominguez completed the meet with a record of 71 wins, 59 seconds, 50 thirds and $903,325 in purses.

He rode first call for Steve Asmussen this season, who he galloped for in Kentucky when he first came to the United States. His highlights this meet included winning four races on the July 25 card, which included three wins for Asmussen and one for trainer James “Sweet” Hodges.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, Dominguez won two of the six Louisiana Cup Stakes, coming from off the pace aboard Budro Talking for Keith Austin in the Turf Classic and finishing the card with an upset aboard Saltee Stark from the barn of Joe O. Duhon in the Louisiana Cup Sprint.

“I want to thank Steve and all the trainers who put me on mounts,” said Dominguez. “When I was in Kentucky, I worked for Steve and trainer Neil Howard. Steve began to trust me galloping some of his top horses; I remember the first time I worked Rachel Alexandra. That was very special and gave me so much confidence! Neil helped me get my license and we still stay in touch.”

Dominguez paid his dues in Kentucky and his work ethic is applauded by Asmussen.

“Joel is an excellent horseman and has turned into a great jockey,” he said.

Dominguez' agent is former jockey, Don Simington and the two have a strong bond.

“Don gives me great advice and feedback,” explained Dominguez. “I admire that he is the first one to arrive in the morning and the last to leave. Trainers know him well and he works hard to book me on good horses.”

Dominguez extended his gratitude to his wife Janet, and sons, Andy and Joel Jr. and expressed his thanks to others.

“I also want to thank the Louisiana Downs racing office staff for their hard work as well as my valet Oscar Lara,” added Dominguez. “Mitch and Misty have been great to work with and I appreciate the hard work of all the grooms, hot walkers and exercise riders. I would not have won this title without so many people helping me!”

Last year's top jockey Carlos Lozada finished with 40 wins, tying for second in the standings with Jose Andres Guerrero. Next was Jack Gilligan with 37 victories and Gerardo Mora, who won 35 races.

Dominguez will ride next at Delta Downs when their 2020-2021 Thoroughbred season gets underway.

“We thank each of our horsemen for their support since the live racing season began on June 6,” said David Heitzmann, Director of Racing at Harrah's Louisiana Downs. “This has been a very challenging year due to COVID-19 and a very volatile Hurricane season which has impacted so many people in our state. We look forward to a much better 2021 for our racing industry.”

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