Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen teamed up back in 2016 to take the GII Louisiana Derby with future Horse of the Year Gun Runner and that team is back with a strong chance in this year's renewal with Epicenter (Not This Time). Graduating at second asking at Churchill Downs Nov. 13, the bay was an appropriate and dominant winner of the Gun Runner S. at this venue Dec. 26. Missing by a head to Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) in the GIII Lecomte S. here Jan. 22, the $260,000 KEESEP buy wired the GII Risen Star S. over this strip last out Feb. 19.
“It was important for [Epicenter] to start at the mile then progress like he has through the longer distances and now we get to this race and the mile and three-sixteenth could be a separator,” said Asmussen. “He has progressed well through each of these steps and his progress has been very encouraging up to this point and he will just have to prove it again on Saturday.”
Call Me Midnight took several tries to break his maiden, finally breaking through at fifth asking at Churchill Downs Nov. 13 and was well beaten in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 27. He returned to winning ways with a late-running score in the Lecomte last out. Also exiting the Risen Star is fourth-place finisher Pioneer of Medine (Pioneerof the Nile).
The Brad Cox-trainer Zozos (Munnings) puts his unbeaten record on the line and steps up in class in this event. A debut winner sprinting at this oval Jan. 23, the dark bay earned the 'TDN Rising Star' tag with a 10 1/4-length tour de force when extended to two turns at Oaklawn Feb. 11.
Rattle N Roll (Connect) looks to rebound in this event after finishing a non-factor sixth in Gulfstream's GII Fountain of Youth S. in his seasonal bow Mar. 5. Earning his diploma at third asking at Churchill Sept. 23, he closed resolutely for a dominant victory in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. Oct. 9.
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