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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OBS Grad Practical Move Looking for Roses

Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. has never been to the Kentucky Derby. Not even as a spectator. However, the 2023 renewal may very well change that fact after Practical Move (Practical Joke), who he owns in partnership with his wife Leslie and Roger Beasley, stamped himself a major Classic contender with a victory in last weekend's GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita.

“My wife and I were very emotional after the win,” said Pierre Amestoy. “It was phenomenal. It was exhilarating. We're just elated.”

“I guess we're heading to the Kentucky Derby!” he laughed.

Adding some dramatic flavor to the story, the Amestoy's trainer, Tim Yakteen, had just taken over several of Bob Baffert's Classic contenders, including three colts that would make it into the San Felipe lineup on race day.

Was Amestoy worried?

“It was all about the trip,” he said. “As long as we didn't get stopped, or bumped or fall down out of the gate. It was more about something silly happened rather than fearing any of the other horses.”

He added, “Tim told us that this horse has been maturing and coming along, getting stronger and better. We were really confident in our horse going into the race.”

“He will point him toward the Santa Anita Derby [Apr. 8], that is the right progression. Hopefully, everything goes good there and then on to the Kentucky Derby. And if we can get a good trip there and get up to the top third of the pack, then I think we have a real chance. I think our style has been working and I think it often works in the Kentucky Derby too.”

 

Coming up Aces in the First Sales Foray
Up until last year, the Amestoys bred their own state-foaled runners at their five-acre farm in Albuqurque, New Mexico. However, once they determined they wanted to dive into the 2-year-olds in training sales scene, and branch out beyond the New Mexico racing scene, it didn't take long to hit paydirt.

Teaming up with Beasley last spring at the OBS Spring Sale, the Amestoys extended to $230,000 for the son of Practical Joke, who was represented by his first 3-year-olds in 2022. The final price represented the second highest priced offspring by his sire at that venue. Offered as Hip 97 by Eisaman Equine, the late Apr. 30 foal covered an eighth of a mile in :10.1 during the breeze show.

“That was the only box we could not check,” said Amestoy of the late foaling date. “We much would have preferred to have had a Feb. 30 colt than an April foal. But physically, he didn't look behind. Yes, it was a concern at first, but Tim said, “let him take us there.” If we needed to, we were prepared to back off and wait. We let him tell us.”

Extolling the colt's virtues, he continued, “He was never undersized and we could see the maturity in him even at that point. He was big enough, he had enough bone and a great foot. He had the scope and the walk. Most importantly, he had the mentality. We went and saw him every day we were there. We watched him and we thought there would be room to improve being that he was young.”

Ack Naughty selling at the 2023 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale | Keeneland

Adding some nuance to the colt's page, New York-based Ack Naughty had amassed over $300,000 during her racing career while competing mainly on the turf for Sol Kumin and partners and trainer Chad Brown, who had Practical Joke in the barn at the same time. Later combining their resources when both sire and dam had retired, Brown and Kumin are registered as the colt's breeders

After producing a Complexity colt in 2022, Ack Naughty sold for $500,000 at this year's Keeneland January sale, however, the foal she was carrying at the time was stillborn. Practical Move is from the family of champion Vino Rosso.

“We liked his sire because he was a speed sire,” he said. “He was a good miler and a three-time Grade I winner and by one of the hottest horses in the world, Into Mischief. So the top side was strong. On the bottom, we liked that the mare was stakes placed and earned over $300,000. She is by Afleet Alex, so there was distance there. We were hoping that the top side would bring the speed and the bottom side the stamina. So this time, it looks like it worked out.”

Once hitting the racetrack, Practical Move showed talent early, finishing second behind the Bob Baffert-trained Cave Rock (Arrogate)–a subsequent dual Grade I winner–going 6 1/2 furlongs in his debut at Del Mar before finishing third next time over that same track and distance. Second under the wire but later promoted to first after the disqualification of Baffert trainee Fort Bragg (Tapit) while stretching to a mile at Santa Anita last October, he was third behind two more Baffert runners–Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) and Newgate (Into Mischief)–in the seven-panel GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar Nov. 20. Given one more start at two, the bay proved an easy winner of the 1 1/16-mile GII Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 17.

“After the Los Alamitos Futurity we gave him a little time off, and he actually blossomed over that time,” said Amestoy. “He put on 45 pounds and he kept it. He is all muscle and has turned into an absolute specimen.”

 

“We've always been Thoroughbred people”
Following their latest win, much has been made of the  Amestoy's involvement in Quarter Horse racing. Indeed, they have held a significant stake in the Quarter Horse industry over the past two decades, having campaigned the likes of champions First to Flash (2002) and First Moonflash (2009). However, Amestoy is quick to point out that Thoroughbreds was always the main attraction.

“Even when my wife trained in the 70s and 80s, she trained Thoroughbreds. And even today, we probably have 3 to 1 more Thoroughbreds than Quarter Horses,” said Amestoy.

He continued, “We have done very well in the Quarter Horse industry. We've had two champions, lots of graded and Grade I wins, but Thoroughbreds have always been our first play.”

Explaining the decision to venture into Quarter Horses over a decade ago, he explained, “When you race in New Mexico, there is a lot of Quarter Horse racing. So even though we were winning Thoroughbred races in New Mexico, there were still four to five races a day for Quarter Horses. So, we thought, 'Heck, why don't we play in there?' There are a lot of races and money we can be playing for and it's right at home.”

Practical Move's co-owner Pierre Amestoy, Jr. and jockey Ramon Vazquez | Benoit Photo

Following the Amestoy's marriage in 1988, the couple purchased a farm in Paris, Kentucky, Lobo Farm, while choosing to reside in New Mexico, where Pierre operated his construction and development company.

“We stood stallions, had broodmares and pinhooked yearlings, we just about did it all,” said Amestoy of his Kentucky-based operation.

Despite all their success with Quarter Horses, it was their Thoroughbred operation that yielded of the couple's biggest coups in either industry. In 2008, Irish Cherry (Irish Open) sold for $2.7 million at the Keeneland January sale. Sold in partnership with Mike Abraham, the then 14-year-old mare was best known for producing MGISW Spun Sugar and GSW Daaher.

“We bought Irish Cherry in foal to Storm Cat [for $800,000 at KEENOV in 2006] and we bred her back to Ghostzapper. We had a very nice pinhook there. We did very well at the sales. We also sold several high-dollar yearlings in Kentucky as well.”

After selling Lobo farm in 2011, the Amestoys opted to focus on their Quarter Horse operation as well as their small group New Mexico-based Thoroughbred mares, usually numbering about five to six. The resulting yearlings were sent to the Amestoy's training center next to Sunland Park, and from there, the youngsters would either go to the sales or the remain in training with the Amestoy's New Mexico-based trainer, Todd Fincher.

When asked why much of the post San Felipe news led with the narrative describing the Amestoys as 'Quarter Horse owners', he said, “We had the farm in Kentucky for 12 years. We bred there, we raced there. We've done it all there. We have a substantial background with Thoroughbreds. It's probably because this is the first time that we got to this level [in Thoroughbred racing]. But we've been doing this a long time and have been good at it.”

 

Sales Savvy
While all roads lead to Thoroughbreds, the Amestoy's most important Thoroughbred to date was derived through a connection made via their Quarter Horse dealings. And that important alliance spearheaded the decision to take a swing at the Thoroughbred sales in search of a Classic horse.

“After we sold our farm, we concentrated on racing in New Mexico because the purses were very good. That's when I met my current partner, Roger Beasley, through a mutual friend and we bought some Quarter Horses together. We did really well together. [Early last year, we were just talking and [Beasley] said, 'Pierre, why don't we get a couple of Thoroughbreds and let's try and go for the big races.' So I said, “I have the experience and I'll do the work.” There was a sale [OBS] coming up in Florida and Leslie and I said we would go down for a week and find a couple.”

And the venture proved fruitful.

“We went out there, and found Practical Move and we found another, Blessed Touch [Girvin], who ran third [in the GIII Santa Ysabel S.] last Sunday.”

The $140,000 OBS Spring buy, who won second time out at Santa Anita last October, subsequently finished runner up in the Desi Arnaz S., in November. Additionally, the partnership purchased a colt by Valiant Minister for $38,000 and, in conjunction with Mike Abraham, secured a $50,000 colt by Munnings, who had been slated to run on the San Felipe undercard and was scratched because of a minor issue but is expected to return.

“He appears to have some talent,” said Amestoy of the Munnings colt.

While breeding to race had been the Amestoy's M.O. for much of their past involvement in the Thoroughbred game, the sparkling success of their first foray into public sales last season makes it a safe bet that they will be returning to the well this year.

“Roger and I were just talking the other day and he asked, Partner, do you want to go back [to OBS]? In order to find another one we would have to go back!” he said with a laugh. “We might go back to OBS and sniff around and see what we can find.”

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Horseshoe Indianapolis Seeks Four-Date Thoroughbred Trim in ’23

Horseshoe Indianapolis is proposing a 2023 mixed-meet racing schedule of 123 dates that pares four dates from the Thoroughbred portion of the calendar, down to 117 from the 121 Thoroughbred dates that had been granted this year.

Pending approval at this Thursday's Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) meeting, the 2023 mixed meet will run Apr. 18-Nov. 17.

That's roughly the same template that Horseshoe Indianapolis used this past season, although next year's meet is scheduled to end on the Friday before Thanksgiving instead of running into the holiday week and closing the day before Thanksgiving, like it did this year.

“The 2023 mixed Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meet will begin and end at roughly the same time as the 2022 season but, in an attempt to adapt to the changing national racing calendar, there will be some movement of racing days to maximize handle and attendance,” Horseshoe Indianapolis stated in its application package to the IHRC.

For 2022, Horseshoe Indianapolis had been awarded 127 total days, with six of those dates dedicated exclusively to Quarter Horse cards. Although there will be some Quarter Horse racing mixed in on the Thoroughbred dates, which is standard for the track, there will again be six stand-alone Quarter Horse programs in 2023.

In order to meet the state's minimum requirement for unlimited simulcasting, Horseshoe Indianapolis must run at least 120 total Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse dates.

“The stakes schedules for both breeds will likely see some minor changes, but on the Thoroughbred side, our signature events–[the GIII] Indiana Derby and [the GIII] Indiana Oaks–will see a minor change as well,” the application stated.

“We feel there's an opportunity to make the event even bigger by turning it into a potential two-day, stakes-filled display of the best racing in Indiana. With that in mind we have added Friday, July 7, to the calendar and we'll keep the Indiana Derby on Saturday, July 8, as we try and follow up our remarkable success from 2022,” the application continued.

The 2022 running of the Indiana Derby marked the fourth straight year in which Horseshoe Indianapolis established a new track-record handle.

Four race dates in 2023 (from 12 to 16) will shift to Saturdays.

“Although it is proven the racing program captures more attention and more eyes with its Monday-through-Thursday racing schedule, it's also evident that weekends draw the best crowds,” the application stated.

Stabling will remain open through the winter again this year at Horseshoe Indianapolis, an amenity designed to bolster the horse population for when racing resumes next spring.

“Winter training continued to be an important tool for our [2022] early season racing program,” the application stated. “In all, nearly 400 horses took advantage of our racing surface and barn area being open year-round. The entries in April increased over 2021 and the new barn gives us the opportunity to have even more horses this upcoming winter. We believe it is likely that over the course of the next few months that almost 500 horses will use our facilities to stay fit and in training.”

Horseshoe Indianapolis also detailed in its application a 2023 spending strategy for capital investments.

“For 2023, there is a considerable sum ($813,708) set aside for rolling capital…more than we are likely going to need to use to sufficiently replace aging equipment,” the application stated. “Most of the maintenance capital plan calls for the replacement of harrows, floats and snow removal equipment. We will be doing a thorough inventory of our current equipment, and its condition, and coming to the IHRC with a request for substitute capital at the March 2023 meeting as there are other needs that could improve our facility and product.”

The application continued: “Due to the unplanned year-round use of our tractors, we are experiencing unexpected wear and tear. It is likely that we will need to plan for a phasing in of new tractors over a number of years.

“Additionally, Horseshoe Indianapolis continued its improvements with the Racing Capital Fund Appropriation Committee (RCFAC) capital,” the application stated. “The 2022 RCFAC items have been very productive for our racing program and we will have some equipment in 2023 that will not only bring value to horsemen and our facility, but for our customers as well.”

According to Horseshoe Indianapolis, among the RCFAC expenditures already approved for 2023 are an apron tent and awning structure ($650,000), the installation of a new turf rail and geolocation services ($150,000), Eurocizer material ($25,000), and sand for a turf course renovation ($25,000).

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Quarter Horse Racino Approved for Eastern Kentucky

By unanimous voice vote after zero public discussion among commissioners at a “special” meeting, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) on Tuesday quickly approved a license awarding a Quarter Horse racino license for a track to be constructed in the northeastern part of the state.

The license is the ninth and final of its kind to be awarded in Kentucky.

Although the focus of press releases announcing the deal accentuated the rebirth of Quarter Horse racing in a state better known as the nation's Thoroughbred epicenter, the real prize for applicant Revolutionary Racing will be the privilege of operating historical horse race (HHR) gaming at the facility and its satellite locations.

Although the July 26 KHRC meeting was short on details, the Daily Independent newspaper in the town of Ashland, where the racino will be located, has previously reported that the track will be built behind a mall there, with the 400 HHR machines to be installed in a vacant Sears department store.

In a press release, Revolutionary Racing stated that it envisioned a $55-million investment in the 177-acre property would transform the suburban site near the Ohio River into a “world-class facility.”

The 660-yard sprint track is projected to feature purses of $500,000, which would make the facility the kingpin of Quarter Horse racing east of the Mississippi River, where the breed gets only sporadic support from sanctioned racetracks.

No specific race dates or an opening date were discussed during the public portion of the KHRC meeting. The facility is projected to get year-round use for Quarter Horse shows and other equestrian competitions, and an adjacent entertainment complex is also part of the plan.

No existing Thoroughbred or Standardbred track licensees stated objections to the Quarter Horse racino. Its nearest in-state Thoroughbred competitor would be Keeneland, some 120 miles west.

Four years ago Revolutionary Racing was a partner in the $20-million purchase of then-dormant Colonial Downs in Virginia. Revolutionary Racing was eventually bought out of that deal, and Colonial Downs was subsequently sold in 2022 to the gaming corporation Churchill Downs Inc., for $2.5 billion.

According to the KHRC, in 2021 The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a resolution in support of the Quarter Horse industry in the commonwealth, recommending that at least one race track license be awarded or held explicitly for Quarter Horse racing.

According to the brief comments made prior to the vote, Revolutionary Racing needed to adhere to six conditions to achieve its licensure. But it was not publicly disclosed during the meeting what those conditions were.

One day prior to the meeting, TDN requested from the KHRC the portion of the public meeting packet that contained the license application and related materials. That query did not result in a reply from the KHRC prior to the Tuesday deadline for this story.

Two commissioners, William May and James Worley, abstained from the vote, citing interest conflicts.

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