Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Nevin Sends Our Last Buck, My Boy Tate In John Morrissey

Trainer Michelle Nevin will send out stakes-winning veterans Our Last Buck and My Boy Tate in Thursday's $100,000 John Morrissey, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

My Boy Tate, bred, trained, and co-owned by Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing boasts a ledger of 24-9-5-2 with purse earnings of $584,988. The Boys At Tosconova gelding is a five-time stakes winner at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., including scores in the Hollie Hughes and Haynesfield earlier this year.

The hard-knocking 7-year-old has also enjoyed success at Saratoga, posting a perfect in-the-money record of 4-1-2-1, including a third-place finish in last year's Morrissey.

Last seen finishing fourth in an open allowance sprint at Parx in May, My Boy Tate has reeled off six weekly works dating to June 13, including a five-eighths effort in 1:01.54 on July 20 on the Saratoga main track.

“He's doing good. He had a little bit of a freshening and he's right on track,” Nevin said. “I would say Aqueduct is his favorite track, but Saratoga is a track he's shown an affinity for, too.”

Nevin said that My Boy Tate, who has finished no worse than fourth in his last nine starts dating back to running third in last year's Morrissey, continues to thrive.

“He seems like he's still the same old fella,” Nevin said. “He's definitely a barn favorite. He always tries. We've had him since he was two and he's seven now and is just a great horse to have.”

J and N Stables' Our Last Buck, a 7-year-old Courageous Cat gelding bred by Gerardus S. Jameson, enjoyed a productive 2020 campaign with a record of 8-4-2-0. The success continued into January with a first stakes score in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy last out at the Big A.

Our Last Buck has breezed weekly at Belmont dating back to June 3, including a five-eighths effort in 1:02.23 on the dirt training track on July 20.

Nevin said the lengthy freshening was by design.

“He had plenty of races last year and we were looking to give him a little break,” Nevin said. “After his big win, we decided to give him some time and he's been back on the track getting ready and we finally feel like we're ready to go.

“He got very good last year and was running very consistently,” Nevin continued. “He was showing up every time. He's definitely improved as he's gotten older.”

Manny Franco will guide My Boy Tate from post 3, while Our Last Buck will emerge from post 4 under Luis Saez.

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Charles Hallas' Morning Breez sports a ledger of 42-5-12-11 with purse earnings of $569,929, but has yet to secure an elusive first stakes win.

The 6-year-old Morning Line gelding, bred by Hart Farm and Rhapsody Farm, has flourished in his last three starts sprinting six furlongs in open allowance company, including a last-out half-length score on May 13 at Belmont that garnered an 87 Beyer.

Transferred to the care of trainer Pat Reynolds, Morning Breez will be piloted by returning rider Jose Lezcano from post 6.

Team Hanley's multiple stakes-winner Captain Bombastic, bred by Chester and Mary Broman, won a pair of stakes last season, including the seven-furlong Mike Lee at Belmont and the 6 1/2-furlong NYSSS Times Square in August at Saratoga for former conditioner Jeremiah Englehart.

Transferred to Chad Brown to launch his 4-year-old campaign, the Forty Tales chestnut finished off-the-board in a pair of state-bred stakes at Belmont and will now race for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen from post 2 under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Rounding out a competitive field are Wow Brown [post 1, Michael Davila, Jr.], Wudda U Think Now [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.], Foolish Ghost [post 7, Joel Rosario], Jemography [post 8, Dylan Davis] and Runningwscissors [post 9, Tyler Gaffalione].

The John Morrissey is slated as Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Bell’s The One Heads Field Of Nine For Honorable Miss At Saratoga

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One, a multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire, leads a talented field of nine in Wednesday's $200,000 Grade 2 Honorable Miss, a six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Trained by Neil Pessin, Bell's the One, who boasts a record of 18-8-3-2, captured the 2020 Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs by a nose over Serengeti Empress. Her graded stakes ledger also includes scores in the 2019 Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and last year's Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The 5-year-old Majesticperfection bay enters from a three-quarter length score in the Roxelana under returning rider Corey Lanerie on June 19 at Churchill.

“I'm really not scared of any sprint filly in the country right now, to be honest,” Pessin said. “It's just a question of if she runs her race. If she does, she's going to be tough to beat no matter who shows up. I respect them all, but I don't fear any of them. I'm very confident in my filly's abilities.”

Bell's the One rated closer to the pace last out in the 6 1/2-furlong Roxelana before popping outside rivals to secure the win.

“I'm trying to get her a little more that way, so we're not so pace dependent,” Pessin said. “In her last race, they didn't go fast early but we weren't far off of it. She was stuck in between horses – there were three across the track – and Corey let her suck back a little bit so she could get to the outside. When she turned for home, she just kicked on. She won by three-quarters, but it was a handy three-quarters.”

Bell's the One launched her current campaign with a narrow loss to Kimari in the Grade 1 Madison on April 3 at Keeneland ahead of a fourth-place finish in her title defense in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill in May.

“Kimari beat us at Keeneland and it was my mare's first out of the year,” Pessin said. “We also got stuck on the inside and didn't get to bounce outside. If we'd got outside, I think we'd have beat her that day.”

Bell's the One breezed a bullet half-mile in :47 flat on July 20 over the Arlington Park synthetic and will arrive in Saratoga on Sunday.

“It was an OK work. She went a little faster in the first part than what I wanted,” Pessin said. “She finished good and did it fairly handily. It didn't take a lot out of her. Fitness-wise, I don't have any issues. It's just a matter of if she handles the shipping and likes the track.”

Lanerie retains the mount from the outermost post 9.

“He knows her well and rode her excellent last time,” Pessin said.

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Godolphin homebred Lake Avenue enters in search of her first graded stakes win since the 2019 Grade 2 Demoiselle in the final start of her 2-year-old campaign.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 4-year-old Tapit chestnut was winless in four starts last year but has enjoyed a resurgence in 2021, posting wins in an optional claimer at Gulfstream in February ahead of a 6 3/4-length score in the Heavenly Prize Invitational in March at the Big A.

Last out, Lake Avenue made the lead at the stretch call of the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses but could not stave off Estilo Talentoso, who prevailed by a neck in the seven-furlong sprint on a sloppy Belmont main track on June 4.

Junior Alvarado will pilot Lake Avenue from post 4.

Dennis Narlinger's graded-stakes-placed Sadie Lady, a 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Freud, boasts a record of 20-8-1-3 with purse earnings of $406,322.

The speedy mare won the open-company Correction in her seasonal debut at Aqueduct in March ahead of a strong second in the Grade 3 Vagrancy on May 8 at Belmont. Last out, Sadie Lady went gate-to-wire in the six-furlong Dancin Renee for state-breds.

Trainer Rob Atras said Sadie Lady, who breezed a half-mile in :49.26 Friday on the Saratoga main track, may consider waiting for the state-bred Union Avenue Handicap on August 19.

“We breezed her this morning and she went really well. It was just an easy half with a nice little gallop out,” Atras said. “We're probable to run but there's also a New York-bred stake in just over three weeks, so we'll talk it over with the owner.”

Atras said Sadie Lady is at her best on the engine.

“She runs her top race when she can get out front and dictate it a little bit,” Atras said.

Jose Ortiz retains the mount from post 3.

Almost Heaven Stables' Honey I'm Good enters from a neck win in the Regret, contested at six furlongs over a muddy Monmouth Park main track on July 3.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 5-year-old Shackleford mare was a gate-to-wire winner of the six-furlong Harmony Lodge over muddy going at Belmont last June.

Honey I'm Good will emerge from post 7 under Ricardo Santana, Jr.

Truth Hurts, trained and co-owned by Chad Summers with J Stables, added blinkers and romped to a 5 3/4-length score last out under Luis Saez in the off-the-turf Perfect Sting at one mile over a sloppy and sealed Belmont main track on July 3.

The 4-year-old Ontario-bred daughter of Tonalist tried her luck at longer distances last season, including a third in the 1 1/16-mile Bison City at Woodbine.

Truth Hurts breezed a half-mile in :48.54 on July 20 on the Saratoga main track under Irad Ortiz, Jr. and Summers said he is cautiously optimistic after her last-out win.

“I think it was good for her. The first time with blinkers on she was more aggressive,” Summers said. “She came out of the gate good and sat a perfect trip. I'm proud of how she finished up and she galloped out strong. She came out of the race like nothing. I know we'll be a big price on the board, but she's doing so well. Irad came out and breezed her the other day. He liked her and it gives me a lot of confidence going into Wednesday.”

Truth Hurts, who graduated at first asking sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs in December 2019 at the Big A, will shorten up to six furlongs for the first time.

“I think seven [furlongs] is probably her game, but she can go six,” Summers said. “With Sadie Lady and a few of the others with speed in there, I'm hoping we can work out a good trip.”

Rounding out a competitive field are Ain't No Elmers [post 1, Adam Beschizza], Reagan's Edge [post 2, Jose Lezcano], Don't Call Me Mary [post 6, Saez], and Miss Mosaic [post 8, Manny Franco].

The Honorable Miss is slated as Race 9 on Wednesday's 10-race card. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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‘This Is What I’d Want To Do On Vacation’: Asmussen 11 Wins From All-Time Record

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was at Ellis Park for a few hours Friday morning to check on his horses stabled with assistant trainer Darren Fleming. Asmussen, who started the day with 9,434 victories, took time out to talk about closing in on the late Dale Baird's North American record of 9,445 wins. He spoke with Ellis Park publicist Jennie Rees.

Last we checked you had 12 wins to go.

“We had one winner (Thursday) in the second race at Saratoga. So we're at 11 now. We have some good chances the rest of the week throughout the country. But with 11 to go, it's getting pretty exciting.”

And that's 11 to break or 11 to tie?

“Eleven to tie. A dead-heat in horse racing is a win.”

But not in your mind; I have a feeling that you won't be satisfied with a tie.

“The target is 11. If we can get 11, the rest will take care of itself.”

You're very open about being very goal-minded, and you've been thinking about this for some years.

“Absolutely. We're blessed with opportunity. We train for the greatest owners in the country and we have a lot of chances to win races. I'm not surprised by the races we win; I'm kind of surprised by the races we get beat in. I think getting to a significant milestone like this allows you an opportunity to look back and reflect on the ground you have covered.”

You've had some wonderful lines about the pursuit to be No. 1 I think one time you said, “Why aspire to be No. 2?”

“Well, if it didn't matter, why do they keep counting, right? Extremely blessed to grow up in horse racing and be a part of it my whole life. Very fortunate to still have my parents involved in it, and we have collectively enjoyed the pursuit. It will mean a lot when we get there.”

Do you recall when you took over No. 2, and who did you pass?

“Hollendorfer. And I was fortunate enough to meet him when he had a string at Arlington, I think in the early 1990s…. When we got to No. 2, he has always encouraged me, let me know that I was capable of catching him. Dale Baird — a tremendous feat, no matter where you win races. If you're in horse racing, you know how hard it is to win a horse race at any level. I think it's extremely significant to hopefully one day end up being the all-time winningest horse trainer.”

Did you ever meet Dale Baird?

“I met him when I was stabled at Hawthorne in the fall and he'd come in there to buy some horses.”

Did you ever tell him, “I'm coming after you?”

“Oh, gosh no. Back then I was just hoping to win a race. But years later, with opportunity, we've accumulated some numbers.”

Do you remember when it occurred to you that “I can be the all-time winningest trainer?” Or was it a gradual realization?

“Oh, by the time I was 12. I don't know. I was just extremely fortunate in the situation that I grew up in, of knowing and believing and being correct about what great horsemen my parents were. (Having) one older brother, out of south Texas or not, who won the Eclipse and was leading rider in New York and five-time Golden Whip award winner (in France). When you have that kind of example in front of you, what are you scared of?”

Ron Flatter of Horse Racing Nation said that you're very aware that the Baird record is just for North America, that a trainer in South America owns the overall mark. (As Flatter wrote: “At his rate this year of 1.51 wins per day, Asmussen is on pace to break Baird's record on or around July 30…. The world record is still about 1 1/2 years away for Asmussen. Peru-based trainer Juan Suárez Villarroel, who added five wins since Sunday, has 9,871 victories, according to the website Página de Turf. Since last fall Suárez Villarroel has averaged 0.75 wins per day, meaning Asmussen could close the gap by early 2023 if both maintain their current win rates.)

“Juan Suárez Villarroel. He's like 300 ahead of me, and he's still winning a couple hundred a year.”

And that's your next goal?

“Winning the Derby is my next goal. But the beautiful thing about this is we feel we're in the middle of it. It's never been better. The stable is very strong right now. We have some outstanding prospects that should continue to win.”

Does it ever wear you out being so goal-oriented? Or, because you don't get worn out from being goal-oriented, you are able to be goal-oriented? If you follow…

“This is what I'd want to do on vacation. I think the saying is extremely (apt): If you do what you love, you don't work a day in your life. We're unbelievably blessed to be given the opportunity to be in horse racing.”

When's the last time you took what most people would think of as a vacation?

“Me and Julie have taken some vacations, including the whole family went to Hawaii last year after Christmas.”

No racetracks there.

“No, (but) time with the family. I think that's my favorite part about horse racing: how involved and how much the whole family cares the whole time – from my parents to Julie to the boys to my in-laws. Easy to follow and fun to be a part of it.”

Julie told me once that you got married on a dark day. A Tuesday, maybe?

“We got married on a Tuesday. All three of our children, she was induced (into) labor on Tuesdays, on dark days. Yeah, our life has worked around horse racing.”

Now you could come up with the record-tying win, record-breaking win at any of six or seven tracks.

“Right now we're racing here at Ellis Park, Louisiana Downs, Indiana Grand, Monmouth Park and Saratoga on a regular occasion right now.”

You slipped in a couple at Colonial Downs on Monday, I noticed.

“I got a couple in at Colonial. When a horse is ready to run, you've got to find a race for them.”

What will it be like if you're not there in person when you get the record?

“You're there in person. I mean, if it happens. I'm anxious for it to happen, and I want to celebrate the accomplishment of it. But you will immediately worry about winning the next one.”

Are you sending Darren Fleming, your assistant here at Ellis, some live shots so he can maybe have a chance at being the one (when you get the record)?

“Everything you enter, you're trying to win with; that's kind of the idea.”

But there's trying to win and then there's …

“No, we have some very nice horses in this week at Ellis. But I'd be surprised if it happened before the first or second week of August. In the month of August, with meets closing and other meets just starting, we don't have as many entries as usual.”

Can you give us an update on Midnight Bourbon (the Preakness runner-up who clipped heels and fell in Monmouth Park's $1 million Haskell), since he did break his maiden last summer at Ellis?

“He's back jogging.”

That's amazing he came out of that unscathed.

“It is. Well, I don't know about the word unscathed. (You don't know) what it did to his head and stuff like that. His energy level is good. He looks good under tack. He's got a few abrasions and nicks that need attention, and we'll doctor those and keep him moving for the time being. But his energy level is very high.”

Final question, the big stakes weekends at Ellis Park are a couple of weeks off. But do you have any horses at this point targeted for Kentucky Downs Preview Weekend or the following week when we have the Ellis Park Derby and the 2-year-old stakes?

“We do. Undecided on exactly who, but we will be represented on those stakes days.”

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Countdown to 9,446: Asmussen 12 Wins Shy Of Baird’s All-Time Record

One week ago, Steve Asmussen was 20 wins shy of the late Dale Baird's all-time record of 9,445 North American victories.

On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame trainer is 12 behind Baird after winning eight races from 33 starters in the past week. Those winners ranged from a $5,000 maiden claiming victory by Moon Lovin at Louisiana Downs to a quartet of $100,000-plus maiden or allowance race triumphs at Saratoga in upstate New York. The Asmussen stable also had runners at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, Ellis Park in Kentucky, Indiana Grand in Indiana and Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

With no July 21 entries, Asmussen's relentless march toward a record 9,336 training wins resumes on July 22 at Saratoga (one runner) and Indiana Grand (two runners). Things pick up further on July 23, with two entered at Saratoga and three at Ellis Park. On July 24, Asmussen has two entered at Louisiana Downs and four at Ellis Park, with additional entries expected at tracks that have yet to take entries for that day.

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According to Equibase, going into July 22 racing, Asmussen has 9,433 career victories from 45,836 starts, with 7,646 seconds and 6,520 thirds for total purse earnings of $360,660,791. For the year, the South Dakota native has 304 wins from 1,500 starts.

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