Steve Asmussen | 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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Promising Sophomore Cazadero Headlines Saturday’s Gazebo Stakes At Oaklawn

Grade 3 winner Cazadero is the 9-5 program favorite for the $150,000 Gazebo Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Gazebo headlines an 11-race card, with probable post time 5:52 p.m. (Central). The 6-furlong Gazebo is the 10th race. Racing begins Saturday at 1 p.m., and the infield will be open, weather permitting.

Cazadero, who races for his breeder, Stonestreet Farm, and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, will be making his first start since finishing fifth as the favorite in the $150,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) Aug. 7 at Saratoga. Stablemate Jackie's Warrior won the Saratoga Special and was runner-up in voting for an Eclipse Award as the country's champion 2-year-old male.

In his first two starts, Cazadero was a front-running 8 ¾-length winner of his May 29 debut at Churchill Downs, then captured the $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) by 4 ¾ lengths June 27 at Churchill Downs.

A son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Cazadero has been ridden in his three races by seven-time Oaklawn riding champion Ricardo Santana Jr.

“Cazadero showed a lot of promise,” Santana said. “So glad to be back on him.”

Cazadero has been based this winter at Fair Grounds. Asmussen will also send out unbeaten Jaxon Traveler (3 for 3), who hasn't started since winning the restricted $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Futurity Dec. 5 at Laurel.

Both Cazadero and Jaxon Traveler will be racing on Lasix for the first time Saturday.

The projected six-horse Gazebo field from the rail out: Sir Wellington, Alex Canchari to ride, 119 pounds, 7-2 on the morning line; Dusty Hill, Terry Thompson, 117, 8-1; Lock Up, David Cabrera, 117, 10-1; Jaxon Traveler, Francisco Arrieta, 119, 5-2; Game Day Play, Ramon Vazquez, 119, 3-1; and Cazadero, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119, 9-5.

Sir Wellington won the $100,000 Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile Stakes Dec. 12 at Fair Grounds and exits a runner-up finish behind unbeaten Swiftsure – another Asmussen trainee – in a Jan. 23 allowance race at Oaklawn. Sir Wellington finished second to Jaxon Traveler, beaten four lengths, in a first-level allowance race Oct. 23 at Laurel.

“He runs good all the time,” said Mac Robertson, who trains Sir Wellington for Extreme Racing Stables LLC (Vickie McGowan). “I thought he ran a good race last time. A couple of Asmussen's look a little better on paper, but we'll see how we do.”

Asmussen is seeking his second Gazebo victory and 93rd career Oaklawn stakes triumph.

Game Day Play, who is trained by Bret Calhoun, won the $60,000 Clever Trevor Stakes Oct. 30 at Remington Park.

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Mar. 20 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

INTRIGUING MAIDENS FILL LA DERBY UNDERCARD

2nd-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 12:48p.m.

Three Chimneys Farm and Harrell Ventures teamed up to acquire ROAD BIBLE (Pioneerof the Nile) for $610,000 at Keeneland September and he debuts in this event. The bay is the first foal out of MSW & MGISP Wonder Gal (Tiz Wonderful), who hails from the family of Grade I winner Force the Pass (Speightstown) and MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer). TJCIS PPs

5th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, 2:13p.m.

Steve Asmussen unveils Sumaya U S Stables homebred BEDUIN FIGHTER (War Front) here. He is out of the unraced Mineshaft mare Joyfully, who is a half-sister to MGSW Divine Oath (Broken Vow) and GSW Auntie Joy (Uncle Mo). OXO Equine's $600,000 KEENOV acquisition Koolhaus (Nyquist) makes his second trip to the post in this race after rallying strongly to be third in his track-and-trip unveiling Feb. 16. His dam is a half-sister to beloved champion Lady Eli (Divine Park) and MGSW Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex). TJCIS PPs

6th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, 1mT, 2:42p.m.

Juddmonte homebred SNOW HOUSE (Twirling Candy) makes his career bow in this test. The bay is out of a daughter of European champion Special Dity (GB) (Hennessy). This is also the family of MGISWs Sightseek (Distant View) and Tates Creek (Rahy); and GI Breeders' Cup Mile victor Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}). TJCIS PPs

7th-FG, $75K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:12p.m.

Brad Cox saddles a first timer with a big pedigree in Bridlewood Farm homebred SPEIGHTHARMONY (Speightstown). The chestnut is out of a daughter of blue hen Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek), who produced four-time champion and future Hall of Famer Beholder (Henny Hughes); Grade I winner and top stallion Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday); and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf victor and young sire Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). Phil Bauer unveils a newcomer with a strong family in Played Hard (Into Mischief). The $280,000 KEESEP buy is out of Well Lived (Tiznow), a full-sister to MG1SW Well Armed and the dam of Grade I winner American Patriot (War Front); and a half to GSW Witty (Distorted Humor). TJCIS PPs

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Clairiere and Travel Column Face Off Once Again in FG Oaks

Blue-blooded Clairiere (Curlin) and pricey yearling purchase Travel Column (Frosted) boast one win each from their two prior match-ups and one will break the tie Saturday in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks.

Clairiere came out on top by a gutsy neck in their last meeting in NOLA in the GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 13. Out of MGISW Cavorting (Bernardini), the Stonestreet Stables homebred won on debut going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs Oct. 25 and was second to Travel Column next out in that track's GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 28.

“The trip worked out perfectly for us in the Rachel Alexandra,” trainer Steve Asmussen told the Fair Grounds notes team. “At a mile-and-a-sixteenth, I think the fillies are competitive. It's the same distance on Saturday. We feel really good about our prospects going forward.”

Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' off her impressive career bow beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 4, Travel Column checked in third in Keeneland's GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 2. Rallying from well back to take the Golden Rod, the $850,000 FTSAUG buy stalked from second early in the Rachel Alexandra and took control on the backstretch, but was run down by Clairiere in the final strides.

“I think she should get a good stalking trip from our post,” conditioner Brad Cox said. “There's no pace in the race. We're not going to sit back there and give someone the race. We didn't win [the Rachel Alexandra], but we were very, very pleased with the comeback and we expect her to move forward off that return. She's a very, very good work horse and she's been training great since that race.”

Undefeated Zaajel (Street Sense) takes on those rivals for the first time here. Charging home a 7 1/4-length winner in her seven-panel unveiling at Gulfstream Dec. 20, the Shadwell homebred scored a facile victory in the GIII Forward Gal S. in Hallandale Jan. 30. The bay tries two turns for the first time here, but her pedigree suggests that distance should not be a problem.

'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin) takes another crack at NOLA's leading ladies here after finishing sixth behind the top two in the Rachel Alexandra. A decisive debut winner on the Woodbine synthetic in September, the $725,000 FTSAUG purchase took the Glorious Song S. there Oct. 17 and rallied to be second when trying dirt at Fair Grounds in the Jan. 16 Silverbulletday S., but failed to fire last time after being bumped and clipping heels.

Rounding out the field are Rachel Alexandra third Moon Swag (Malibu Moon); Juddmonte homebred Obligatory (Curlin), who graduated at second asking at Gulfstream Feb. 7; two-time winner Li'l Tootsie (Tapiture); and Suncoast S. third Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy).

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