not this time | Horse Racing Free Tips

Epicenter Gives Asmussen, Rosario an Emphatic First Travers Victory

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–After leading the sophomore male division through the winter and early spring, Epicenter (Not This Time) ended up second as the favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Losing none of his luster in those defeats, the Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer rebounded with a decisive score in the GII Jim Dandy S. and had his connections feeling confident he could finally get the Grade I he was lacking, but certainly deserved.

Epicenter did just that Saturday with an emphatic score in the prestigious GI Runhappy Travers S. in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 49,672, the largest since American Pharoah finished second in the 2015 renewal. It was the first win in the Saratoga feature for both his trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosario.

Epicenter could not have had a better setting for his career high between the history of New York's most popular racing venue and the picture-perfect, sunny and 75-degree day. His connections weren't the only ones confident that Saturday was the colt's day and he was sent off the even-money favorite.

Away from stall six in good order, Epicenter established position in a joint third alongside Preakness winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) going into the first turn. He hugged the fence as GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) was pressed by longshot Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time) through early fractions of :23.32 and :47.63.

Shortly after three quarters went up in 1:11.43, Cyberknife jumped away from his foes and both Ain't Life Grand and Early Voting called it a day. The GI Arkansas Derby winner's clear lead didn't last long however as Epicenter rolled up on his outside full of run and the stage was set as the pair turned for home together.

Running three wide in the lane, Epicenter bounded clear with ease under a vigorous hand ride from Joel Rosario, who peaked over his right shoulder several times in the final eighth of a mile. He had nothing to worry about however. Cyberknife gave it everything he had, but was never threatening the winner, who hit the line 5 1/4 lengths clear. He determinedly held on for second, just a nose ahead of Jim Dandy runner-up Zandon (Upstart), who was a neck in front of Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice).

“It was really gratifying,” said Asmussen. “We walked over today with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse, but definitely remember we felt exactly that way walking over for this year's Derby. He was away cleanly and thought he was very comfortable and attending close enough to the pace, and just ran a very dominating performance against a very good group.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “Beforehand, there was a lot of concern about who was going to be on the lead. Early Voting appeared to have the most pace, but they definitely did not want to be on the lead this time. Off of that there was a concern how much pace there would be, but Joel [Rosario] handled Epicenter. He was away clean and in the rhythm he wants to be in and I thought he finished up the mile and a quarter very strong.”

As for winning his first Travers, Asmussen said, “It's really exciting at Saratoga, coming from a racing family. What Saratoga means to American racing, what the Travers means to Saratoga. I want to help paint the canoe. Saratoga is about tradition. Racing is about tradition. To have your name on that cup is very special.”

“As long as I can remember, the history of Saratoga and the horses my family has run over the years, the Travers is always the marquee race,” Ron Winchell said. “Coming here with Gun Runner and running third and Midnight Bourbon running second last year, it just makes you want to win it that much more. It makes this win in this race that much more special for myself and my family.”

The owner added, “One of the reasons Steve mentioned we came here is knowing we ran second in the Derby and the Preakness and one of the few horses–the favorite–and not having a Grade I. This was a very natural step of where we had to go. We had to beat some of the best in the class to obtain the championship and obtain one of our goals.”

“He broke very well. It was a good trip,” said Rosario. “I was just following those two horses on the lead. I was inside there and I just wanted to take my time with where he was. He looked like he was going one speed and then he kept building and building and building and I felt pretty good turning for home. I could see he was relaxing and looking around and I felt like I had plenty more, so it felt good.”

On winning his record 12th graded-stakes in a single season at Saratoga, Rosario said, “It's amazing. I have a great agent. Ron Anderson is amazing and I have to thank him and everyone for all the opportunities they've given me.”

As for the runner-up Cyberknife, trainer Brad Cox said, “I can't predict what anyone else is going to do but I know we're not going to take away anything that comes easy and we were doing it easy enough. We were the second best horse today. At a mile-and-a-quarter, I thought the horse really battled and battled for second, held and I'm very, very proud of our horse. I thought he trained well leading up and he ran a big race. When I saw three-quarters in eleven I thought wow, we're in a good spot here. Obviously, once I saw Joel ranging up, as easy as he was, I thought this was going to be [difficult], once they straightened up, I thought 'we got a shot here', but you could tell he was getting away from us a little bit. He's a very good horse. Hats off to the winners, they deserve it. We were second best and I'm very proud of our horse.”

The Makings of a Potentially Eclipse-Worthy Season…

Graduating at second asking going a mile at Churchill Nov. 13, Epicenter dominated the Gun Runner S. next out at Fair Grounds Dec. 26, an appropriate victory given the race was named for his connections Horse of the Year. Missing by a head after leading the way in the GII Lecomte S. at that venue Jan. 22, the $260,000 KEESEP buy wired the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 and followed suit with a decisive score in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26.

Sent off as the 4-1 favorite in the Run for the Roses, Epicenter took the lead with a half-mile left to run, but was run down late by 80-1 shot Rich Strike, settling for second by 3/4 of a length. Favored again in the May 21 Preakness, the bay produced a powerful rally, but could not catch Early Voting, finishing second once again. Skipping the GI Belmont S. with an eye on the Travers, Epicenter was next seen in the July 30 Jim Dandy, where he powered home to a good-looking score.

Pedigree Notes:

Providing his young sire Not This Time with his third Grade I winner, Epicenter is the first colt to win at the highest level for the Taylor Made stallion and first to achieve the feat around two turns. He is also one of eight graded winners and 19 black-type scorers for his sire. Epicenter is the sixth Grade I victory out of a daughter of Candy Ride. The winner's dam Silent Candy captured the Hatoof S. at Arlington and was Grade III-placed at that venue. She was purchased by Westwind Farms for $130,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale in foal to Scat Daddy. Epicenter was her most expensive foal sold at public auction and her best runner by far. She is also responsible for an unraced juvenile colt by Always Dreaming, who brought $140,000 from Carolyn Wilson at this year's OBS March Sale; a yearling filly by Tapiture; and a 2022 filly by Outwork. Silent Candy was bred back to Not This Time this term.

Saturday, Saratoga
RUNHAPPY TRAVERS S.-GI, $1,250,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 3yo, 1 1/4m, 2:00.72, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 126, 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)
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $670,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-3-0,
$2,940,639. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cyberknife, 126, c, 3, Gun Runner–Awesome Flower, by
Flower Alley. ($400,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Gold Square LLC;
B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $230,000.
3–Zandon, 126, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by
Creative Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown;
B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $125,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 1.00, 4.50, 6.20.
Also Ran: Rich Strike, Gilded Age, Artorius, Ain't Life Grand, Early Voting.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Background Check: Test

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is the GI Longines Test S., a prestigious 3-year old filly event on the Saratoga calendar for the past century.

Ah, the Test, the glorious Test. Remember the scintillating call–already 20 years ago–by Tom Durkin during the epic stretch battle between You and Carson Hollow? This race has been so good for so long. At seven furlongs since its second edition, it has delivered pulsating stretch drives year after year and a number of top fillies–both sprinters and routers–have won it. With a few years skipped since it was inaugurated in 1922 and multiple divisions other years, history has recorded 109 individual winners of the Test. How have they fared as broodmares?

Following are the most compelling Test winners in reverse chronological order. They are not reviewed here by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Cavorting (2012, Bernardini–Promenade Girl, by Carson City): Normally, we wouldn't have such a young mare with so few foals on this list, but the sky is clearly the limit for Cavorting. Her first foal is Stonestreet's MGISW Clairiere, who put herself atop the mares in the country in the July 24 GII Shuvee S. at the Spa and is headed next to the Aug. 27 GI Personal Ensign S. Cavorting is by the nation's current leading broodmare sire and her second foal, 3-year-old La Crete, was a stakes winner before suffering a condylar fracture in February. She's got one more waiting in the wings, a 2-year-old Curlin full-brother to Clairiere named Judge Miller. She was also bred back to Curlin for 2023.

Dream Rush (2004, Wild Rush–Turbo Dream, by Unbridled): This is another still-active Stonestreet mare who has done enough to merit a mention. Her first foal was 2012 GI Frizette S. winner Dreaming of Julia, who in turn produced last year's 3-year-old filly champion and MGISW Malathaat. Dream Rush has also added three more stakes performers to her tally, including MGSW Dream Pauline.

November Snow (1989, Storm Cat–Princess Alydar, by Alydar): Although she didn't produce a stakes winner herself, her daughters and granddaughters have already produced Irish champion Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), New Zealand champion Bounding (Aus), and U.S. GISWs Morning Line and Express Train.

Gold Beauty (1979, Mr. Prospector–Stick to Beauty, by Illustrious): From her four starters, Gold Beauty hit home runs with multiple European champion Dayjur and MGISW Maplejinsky. Among her descendants are champion Sky Beauty; MGISWs Tale of Ekati, Point of Entry, and Pine Island; Breeders' Cup winner Pleasant Home; and a number of other top-notch GSWs.

Blitey (1976, Riva Ridge–Lady Pitt, by Sword Dancer): Mares don't come grander than this Phipps matriarch. Among the top runners in her dynasty are champion Heavenly Prize; MGISWs Dancing Spree, Finder's Fee, Good Reward, and Flightline; and GISWs Furlong, Fantastic Find, Oh What a Windfall, Dancing Forever, Persistently, and Instilled Regard.

More Than Ready is a product of the 1977 Test winner's son | Louise Reinagel

Northern Sea (1974, Northern Dancer–Sea Saga, by Sea-Bird {Fr}): Although the Grade I winners tracing to her include General Challenge, Notable Career, and Evening Jewel, it's her MGISP son, Southern Halo, who is cemented in many pedigrees of today. The Argentinean sire sensation's biggest contribution to American and Australian racing is his own son, the eternally youthful WinStar stallion More Than Ready.

Ivory Wand (1973, Sir Ivor–Natashka, by Dedicate): If she had done nothing else than produce the unraced dam of 2004's leading U.S. sire Elusive Quality–in turn the sire of current leading U.S. sire Quality Road–she would have been a success. However, Ivory Wand also had other notable descendants including U.S. champion Anees, Irish champion Rossini, and MGISW Grand Couturier (GB).

Numbered Account (1969, Buckpasser–Intriguing, by Swaps): Like Blitey (above), Numbered Account will forever be labeled as a Phipps blue hen. Her foals included MGISW Private Account (also sire of Phipps champion and eventual Broodmare of the Year Personal Ensign) and GISW Dance Number (dam of champion Rhythm). Numbered Account's tail-female descendants include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and GISWs Imagining, Girolamo, Bluegrass Cat, Frost Giant, and Got Lucky. In addition to Private Account, sires tracing to her range from Maryland sensations Not for Love and Polish Numbers to Dramedy, sire of 2020 Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart.

Ta Wee (1966, Intentionally–Aspidistra, by Better Self): This stellar handicapper produced four stakes winners from her five named foals, including Great Above, most appreciated as sire of Horse of the Year Holy Bull, and Tweak, great-granddam of GSW Miss Macy Sue. The latter has produced four stakes winners from five foals to race, including runaway leading third-crop sire Not This Time and current top five fourth-crop sire Liam's Map.

Not This Time's dam traces to 1969 Test winner Ta Wee | Jon Siegel

Moccasin (1963, Nantallah–Rough Shod II {GB}, by Shimmer): Although she didn't launch quite the dynasty of her full-sister, Thong, without whom there would be no Sadler's Wells, Galileo (Ire), Frankel (GB), or even Nureyev, Moccasin was no slouch in the breeding shed. Her seven–yes, seven–stakes winners from eight starters included English and Irish champion Apalachee and Irish champion Belted Earl. Among the next generation out of her daughters and granddaughters are GISW Hail Atlantis, dam of sire Stormy Atlantic and granddam of GISW Bandini, and Australian G1SW and ill-fated young sire sensation Northern Meteor (Aus).

Discipline (1962, Princequillo {GB}–Lady Be Good, by Better Self): A slew of nice horses trace to this Wheatley Stable/Phipps mare, including champion Finest City, MGISWs Goodbye Halo and Val's Prince, and GISWs Squander and Burning Roma.

Glamour (1953, Nasrullah {GB}–Striking, by War Admiral): The matriarch Numbered Account (above) is a granddaughter of Glamour, as is Playmate, dam of Irish champion and influential sire Woodman. Her son, Poker, is best remembered as broodmare sire of both Horse of the Year/breed-shaping sire Seattle Slew and champion Silver Charm. A number of other top horses trace to her, including GISW Lady Shirl, who has started her own legacy in the last two decades with GISW descendants Lady Speightspeare (also a Canadian champion), Shakespeare, Perfect Shirl, and Shirl's Speight.

Blue Banner (1952, War Admiral–Risque Blue, by Blue Larkspur): Her daughter, Key Bridge, was Broodmare of the Year in 1980 after producing 1970 Horse of the Year Fort Marcy, 1972 champion and stellar stallion Key to the Mint, and two other stakes winners. Among those tracing to Blue Banner is current European sire phenomenon Wootton Bassett (GB).

Vulcania (1948, Some Chance–Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): It's partially her doing that Vagrancy (below) is regarded as a top-flight broodmare. Vulcania is responsible for a number of outstanding tail-female performers, in particular through her daughter, Legato, who was a heck of a producer. Tracing to her is Broodmare of the Year Banja Luka, Horse of the Year Ferdinand, Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller, and MGISWs Tallahto, Prince True, and Hidden Light.

Candy Ride's sire is inbred 4×3 to the 1948 Test winner | Lane's End

Alablue (1945, Blue Larkspur–Double Time, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): The dam of Spinaway winner Alanesian and Bernard Baruch winner Middle Brother, as well as great-granddam of champion Revidere, Alablue has a number of top-class stakes winners and highly influential sires among her descendants. They include Boldnesian (grandsire of Seattle Slew) and Cryptoclearance (grandsire of Candy Ride {Arg}). Candy Ride's sire, Ride the Rails, is actually inbred 4×3 to Alablue.

Miss Disco (1944, Discovery–Outdone, by Pompey): The 1958 Broodmare of the Year gave us a giant of the breed: Horse of the Year and eight-time leading sire Bold Ruler.

Vagrancy (1939, Sir Gallahad III {Fr}–Valkyr, by Man o' War): She is responsible for English champion Black Tarquin and important broodmare Vulcania (above); her daughters and granddaughters produced Broodmares of the Year Banja Luka and Natashka, as well as Ivory Wand (above); and champions Ferdinand, Distant Relative (Ire), and Questing, among others, all trace to her.

Imperatrice (1938, Caruso–Cinquepace, by Brown Bud): In addition to her six stakes winners, Imperatrice is the dam of Broodmare of the Year Somethingroyal, who produced two-time Horse of the Year Secretariat and excellent sire Sir Gaylord. She is also an influence in the Quarter Horse breed through her Coaching Club American Oaks-winning daughter, Scattered, whose great-grandson, Dash for Cash, is the Northern Dancer of racing Quarter Horses.

Speed Boat (1930, Man o' War–Friar's Carse, by Friar Rock): Take a look at this mare's pedigree if you'd like to see some really interesting inbreeding, which must have worked because the female lineage she left was responsible for Horse of the Year Sword Dancer (who sired not only Damascus, but also Lady Pitt, who was a big part of the Phipps breeding empire through her daughter, Blitey {above}), Belmont/Travers winner Hail to All, champion Level Best, and a number of other high-caliber winners.

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Epicenter Erupts Late in Jim Dandy

Epicenter (Not This Time), a too-good-to-be-second as the favorite in both the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S., stamped himself as the horse to beat in the 'Mid-Summer Derby' with a powerful, last-to-first victory in Saturday's GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga.

Zandon (Upstart), making his first start since a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was 1 1/2 lengths back in second after racing prominently. Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), a last out winner of the GIII Ohio Derby, was another half-length back in third. The GI Preakness S. winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) tired to finish a disappointing fourth after setting the pace.

“It's extremely rewarding off two tough races to bring him back in the winner's circle where we think he belongs,” winning Hall of Fame trainer Steve 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.”

Epicenter established himself as the favorite on the first Saturday in May following impressive victories in both the GII Risen Star S. and GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. He will have another chance at his first Grade I victory in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at the Spa Aug. 27.

“What I loved about it is the fact that [there is] another eighth in the Travers,” Asmussen said. “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.”

Drawn on the rail following a late scratch in the four-horse field, the even-money favorite surprisingly trailed the quartet as Early Voting led them into the clubhouse turn with his stablemate Zandon tracking from second. Still in fourth with positions unchanged through fractions of :24.22 and :48.28, Epicenter, a $260,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, began to make his move as Early Voting was ridden as they hit the quarter pole. Well out in the clear at the top of the stretch, the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC colorbearer launched down the center in eye-catching fashion to power past his three formidable rivals in style.

“He was very comfortable and with the scratch of the one horse [Western River], that put him in the one hole and he [Joel Rosario] made a decision early not to try to be squeezed up in there,” Asmussen said. “Once he eased him out of that spot, Epicenter was carrying Joel very comfortably the whole way down the backside. 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 travelling really pretty.”

Pedigree Notes:

Taylor Made's Not This Time continues to cement his spot atop the third-crop sire list, getting yet another graded win with Epicenter's Jim Dandy. With just over 9% stakes winners to foals in his first two crops, he is more than holding his own among the top 10 leading sires in North America for the year as well. His 19 black-type winners–eight graded–also include GISWs Just One Time and Princess Noor. Both Epicenter and this spring's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner/GI Curlin Florida Derby third-place finisher Simplification are out of mares by Candy Ride (Arg), a still-active top Lane's End stallion who has 31 stakes winners out of his daughters.

Winner of Arlington Park's 2010 Hatoof S. as well as third in that track's GIII Pucker Up S., Silent Candy was a $130,000 Keeneland November purchase by Westwind Farms in 2014. Her 2-year-old Always Dreaming colt went through the OBS March ring after working in :10.1, then brought $140,000 from Carolyn Wilson as a private sale. Silent Candy has a yearling Tapiture filly and an Outwork filly foaled Mar. 14. before being bred back to Not This Time.

Saturday, Saratoga
JIM DANDY S.-GII, $558,000, Saratoga, 7-30, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.99, 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.
$330,000. Lifetime Record: MGISP, 9-5-3-0, $2,270,639. Werk Nick
   Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zandon, 124, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by Creative
Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown; B-Brereton C.
Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $120,000.
3–Tawny Port, 120, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Livi Makenzie, by
Macho Uno. ($430,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peachtree Stable;
B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $72,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 1 3/4. Odds: 1.10, 2.70, 8.70.
Also Ran: Early Voting. Scratched: Western River. 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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Not This Time’s Up to the Mark Runs to the Money at Saratoga

1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 7-21, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:10.87, sy, 4 1/4 lengths.

UP TO THE MARK (c, 3, Not This Time–Belle's Finale, by Ghostzapper) tipped his hand with a well-touted local worktab, highlighted by a half-mile gate move over the training track in :48 flat (3/37) July 7, and was backed down to 9-10 favoritism. Tracking the pace from a three-wide third through a :22.44 quarter, the $450,000 Keeneland September grad drew in on the pacesetter alongside Be There (Medaglia d'Oro) passing a half in :45.83, and those two went on with it entering the lane. Soon edging to the front, Up to the Mark drifted out at the furlong grounds, but straightened out outside the sixteenth pole and finished strong for a 4 1/4-length triumph. Citizen Mack (Quality Road) ran on late to complete the exacta. The winner shares a second dam, 1996 GI Test S. heroine Capote Belle (Capote), with MGSWMGISP Catapult (Kitten's Joy). He has a juvenile Mendelssohn half-sister named Crumbling Cookie who most recently breezed a half-mile in :48 flat (4/38) July 15 at Monmouth, a yearling half-sister by West Coast and a McKinzie half-brother of this season. His unraced dam was bred to Maxfield for 2023. Sales History: $450,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable; B-Ramspring Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher.

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