scott blasi | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hot Rod Charlie on to Derby

Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) exited his win in Saturday's GII Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby in fine shape and will ship back to trainer Doug O'Neill's California base Tuesday to prepare for the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby.

“Charlie looked great this morning,” O'Neill said. “He flies back to California on Tuesday. I love the spacing [six weeks] leading up to the Kentucky Derby. It's ideal. He's proven to travel well. I'm very proud of my nephew Patrick [with co-owner Boat Racing]. He's a real good young man and I'm very excited for him and all of the owners.”

Hot Rod Charlie was second as a 94-1 longshot in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was beaten a neck when third behind Medina Spirit (Protonico) and Roman Centurian (Empire Maker) in the Jan. 30 GIII Robert B. Lewis S. before his front-running victory Saturday at Fair Grounds.

Louisiana Derby runner-up Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) will also be heading to Louisville.

“It was a big effort and he's another horse that's just going to continue to improve,” Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen said of the Winchell Thoroughbreds runner. “I don't think distance will be an issue with him and the timing back to the Derby off this series here, there will be plenty of time to freshen up and run his best race. We'll train here for a week and ship a week from Sunday [the 28th].”

Of O Besos (Orb)'s third-place effort Saturday, trainer Greg Foley said, “We all want to go forward after yesterday. The only question we had was the distance, and he answered that pretty good. He galloped out past the winner. We've got 25 [Derby qualifying] points. If we got second, we wouldn't have to think about it, but now we have to hope we get in. We just have to wait and see. I don't want to run him back [before the Derby]. I don't think it will affect our training. He's a dead-fit horse. We'll get him back home next week [to Churchill Downs] and we'll just wait and see. If it gets us in, great, if it doesn't, oh well, we'll go from there. I'd like to try and get in the big one and hopefully that will get it done. At least we're not wondering any more [about the distance].”

Favored Mandaloun (Into Mischief) was a lackluster sixth in the Louisiana Derby.

“We couldn't come up with any reasons for the dull performance,” trainer Brad Cox said of the beaten favorite. “We'll get him back to Kentucky, see how he trains, and then go from there. I've thought about it, but I think right now I'll probably nominate him to the [Apr. 10 GIII Stonestreet] Lexington [S. at Keeneland] and we'll see. He was done at the half-mile pole, so I don't think the distance was the reason. He ran out of horse fairly quickly. He handled everything in the paddock, so to show up and get beat by those horses we had run so well against, that was obviously disappointing.”

Cox was pleased with the effort of Travel Column (Frosted), winner of Saturday's GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks.

“She came out of it good, scoped good, looked good,” Cox said. “I was super happy with her. She's had two races and that was our plan all along, to come down here and run twice and have a horse who is the third race off the layoff [in the GI Kentucky Oaks].”

Travel Column has been exchanging blows with Clairiere (Curlin) all winter and that filly also heads into the Kentucky Oaks after her runner-up effort Saturday.

“I love Clairiere stretching out to a mile and an eighth,” Blasi said of the Asmussen trainee. “The pace yesterday was very moderate and it really didn't benefit her running style. I thought it was an A-effort considering everything and she should move forward a lot off of it. With her breeding and her running style, the distance at Churchill should really benefit her.”

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Fair Grounds: Midnight Bourbon, Mandaloun Expected To Point For Risen Star

Steve Asmussen's assistant trainer Scott Blasi reports that Saturday's Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Midnight Bourbon came out of the race in fine order. Asmussen indicated following the win that the Winchell Thoroughbreds' 3-year-old son of Tiznow would be pointed to the $400,000 Risen Star (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on February 13 at Fair Grounds In New Orleans, La. Midnight Bourbon earned 10 Kentucky Derby points for his Lecomte win and is currently third in the standings with 16 points.

According to trainer Chris Block, Lothenbach's Stables' Silverbulletday Stakes winner Charlie's Penny also exited her Kentucky Oaks points race is excellent shape.

“So far everything looks good,” Block said. “She ate up last night and this morning, walked real well and she seems bright and not too knocked out. The next logical plan would be to point towards the Rachel Alexandra (G2, $300,000 at 1 1/16 miles on February 13 at Fair Grounds). What has pushed her forward is her mind and her determination. She's not a very big filly, king of average in size and a little bit on the narrow side, but all that is relative to what she can do herself. Yesterday she was helped by the (slow) pace, but so was everybody else, or so I would have thought. She rose to the occasion, now it's time to see if she can take the next step forward. It was really nice to win this race at Fair Grounds. My family used to send horses here for the winter with (the late) Richie Scherer, and management has been very kind to us.”

For her win, the Minnesota-bred daughter of Race Day earned ten points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.

Trainer Brad Cox reports that his pair of beaten favorites – Sun Path (fourth in the Silverbulletday) and Mandaloun (third in the Lecomte) – exited their respective races in good order. Sun Path will be given some time to regroup, while Mandaloun will likely get an equipment change next time out.

“I was super disappointed with the outcome of the Silverbulletday,” Cox admitted. “We don't see any physical issue with Sun Path. She appears to have come out of it well as of now. Obviously, we will back up a little bit. We won't run back in four weeks. We'll just try to train up to either the Honeybee (G3, March 6 at Oaklawn Park) or the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2, March 20). They would really be our only options moving forward. We need a little more time between races. She's going to be a little bit of a question mark until we run her again. She was doing so well leading up to this race (Silverbulletday).

“We still think he (Mandaloun) is a very good horse,” Cox said. “He raced wide around both turns. I thought it was a good experience. He showed up. He ran his race. I think we are going to add blinkers. I talked it over with the Juddmonte team and Florent (jockey Geroux). We kind of thought that ever since his first race. He came out it (Lecomte) so far so good. We will definitely look at coming back in the Risen Star.

“Gagetown raced well for his first time around two turns (second in a first level allowance earlier in the card),” Cox said. “Thought it was a good effort. Run was a little spotty. He was a little unsure of what was going on. It looked like he was going to be third, maybe even fourth, but he re-rallied and was actually running at the winner. He's still trying to figure it out. I wanted to get two sprints into him since he broke his maiden first time. I don't really think he's a 6-furlong horse, but I'm not so certain he's like a mile-and-an-eighth horse either. He's somewhere there in the middle.”

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Midnight Bourbon on to Risen Star

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) came out of his wire-to-wire victory in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. in fine shape, Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, said Sunday. The Winchell Thoroughbreds runner is expected to start next in the Feb. 13 GII Risen Star S.

Mandaloun (Into Mischief), the beaten favorite when third in the Lecomte, may get a change of equipment for his next start, according to trainer Brad Cox.

“We still think he is a very good horse,” Cox said of the Juddmonte Farm homebred. “He raced wide around both turns. I thought it was a good experience. He showed up. He ran his race. I think we are going to add blinkers. I talked it over with the Juddmonte team and [jockey] Florent [Geroux]. We kind of thought that ever since his first race. He came out it [Lecomte], so far so good. We will definitely look at coming back in the Risen Star.”

Cox also saddled Sun Path (Munnings) to a fourth-place finish in Saturday's GIII Silverbulletday S.

“I was super disappointed with the outcome of the Silverbulletday,” Cox admitted. “We don't see any physical issue with Sun Path. She appears to have come out of it well as of now. Obviously, we will back up a little bit. We won't run back in four weeks. We'll just try to train up to either the [Mar. 6 GIII] Honeybee [at Oaklawn Park] or the [Mar. 20 GII] Fair Grounds Oaks. They would really be our only options moving forward. We need a little more time between races. She's going to be a little bit of a question mark until we run her again. She was doing so well leading up to this race [Silverbulletday].”

Silverbulletday winner Charlie's Penny (Race Day) will now likely target the Feb. 13 GII Rachel Alexandra S. at Fair Grounds.

“So far everything looks good,” trainer Chris Block said. “She ate up last night and this morning, walked real well and she seems bright and not too knocked out. The next logical plan would be to point towards the Rachel Alexandra. What has pushed her forward is her mind and her determination. She's not a very big filly, kind of average in size and a little bit on the narrow side, but all that is relative to what she can do herself. Yesterday she was helped by the [slow] pace, but so was everybody else, or so I would have thought. She rose to the occasion, now it's time to see if she can take the next step forward. It was really nice to win this race at Fair Grounds. My family used to send horses here for the winter with [the late] Richie Scherer, and management has been very kind to us.”

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Nine From Asmussen Stable Work; Nashville Status Undetermined

Trainer Steve Asmussen was pleased with the Sunday works by his nine pre-entrants to the Breeders' Cup World Championships Sunday on Friday and Saturday at Keeneland race course in Lexington, Ky.

Among them was J. Kirk and Judy Robison's undefeated two-time Grade 1 winner Jackie's Warrior, expected to be the favorite in Friday's $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Jackie's Warrior worked a half-mile over a track labeled fast in :48.80. It was his second work at Keeneland, where he covered five furlongs in 1:00.20 Oct. 25.

“He had a nice, easy half-mile,” Asmussen said. “Thought he moved well over the race track. The circumstances were excellent today. We're very excited about running him on Friday.”

After opening his career June 19 at Churchill Downs, Jackie's Warrior recorded a three-length win in the Aug. 7 Saratoga Special (G2) at six furlongs, a 21/4-length win in the Sept. 7 Hopeful (G1) at seven furlongs and a 51/2-length win in the Oct. 10 Champagne (G1) at 1 mile. The Juvenile is at 1 1/16 miles.

Asmussen is confident in the colt's ability at the Juvenile distance.

“I think what gave us the most confidence was his Champagne, two brilliant races at Saratoga and for him to carry that (talent) over to another surface – and he looked brilliant doing it,” he said. “This will be his first two-turn race. He is very speed-influenced in his pedigree but physically and mentally he is doing exceptional.”

Asmussen's other Juvenile contender, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Calibrate, also worked four furlongs in :48.80.

Asmussen's three pre-entrants to the $2-million Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) – Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon, L and N Racing's Echo Town and CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's Nashville – each turned in three-furlong works. Yaupon in :36.80, Echo Town in :37.40 and Nashville in :36.40.

The work was the fourth at Keeneland for Yaupon, who is undefeated in his four career starts this year.

“Got a very laid-back attitude with a tremendous amount of talent. (Assistant) Scott (Blasi) and I were talking about what were the odds of the Heiligbrodts replacing (last year's Sprint winner and champion) Mitole with Yaupon because they have a similar demeanor and both of them have tremendous ability.”

Nashville wore his Sprint towel Sunday. The colt also is pre-entered in the $2 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and is nominated to Saturday's Perryville on the Breeders' Cup undercard.

Elliott Walden, President/CEO and Racing Manager for WinStar, said no decision had been made regarding Nashville's next race.

“Everything's on the table.” Walden said. “He's an extreme talent. He's only 3. He's only run twice. It seems like a big ask to run against the accomplished sprinters that he would have to run against. Not that he wouldn't be capable.

“I think he'll go a mile. I think he'll use his speed to stretch out as well naturally. We'll see how it goes. Great problem to have. Blessed to have him. He's got a cool name: Nashville.”

Other Asmussen workers were Heider Family Stables' Thoughtfully (Juvenile Fillies), four furlongs in :49.40, and West Point Thoroughbreds, William Sandbrook and Anna Marie Shannon's County Final (Juvenile Turf Sprint) and Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Madaket Stables and Spendthrift Farm's Cowan (Juvenile Turf Sprint), three furlongs in :39.20 and 38.80, respectively.

Crawford Farms Racing's Archidust (Turf Sprint) worked three furlongs on the good turf course in :38.

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