Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Jackie’s Warrior on Track for Juvenile

J Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music), likely favorite for Friday’s GI TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, was among nine Steve Asmussen trainees aiming for championship weekend to work at Keeneland Sunday morning. The undefeated 2-year-old went four furlongs in :48.80 (9/25).

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

Sunday’s work was Jackie’s Warrior second over the Keeneland surface. He also went five furlongs in 1:00.20 (3/41) Oct. 25. The bay colt is now four for four following wins in the Aug. 7 GII Saratoga Special S., Sept. 7 GI Hopeful S. and Oct. 10 GI Champagne S.

“I think what gave us the most confidence was his Champagne, two brilliant races at Saratoga and for him to carry that over to another surface [at Belmont Park]–and he looked brilliant doing it,” Asmussen 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.”

Assmusen has three horses pre-entered for the GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint and, while Nashville (Speightstown) wore his Sprint towel while working three furlongs in :36.40 (2/10), the lightly raced colt is also pre-entered in the GI Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and is nominated to Saturday’s Perryville S. on the Breeders’ Cup undercard.

“Everything’s on the table.” WinStar Farm President and CEO Elliott Walden said of options for Nashville. “He’s an extreme talent. He’s only three. 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.”

Nashville was tabbed a ‘TDN Rising Star’ following an 11 1/2-length debut romp going 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga Sept. 22 and added a 9 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong allowance at Keeneland Oct. 10.

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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.

The post Nine From Asmussen Stable Work; Nashville Status Undetermined appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Oct. 31 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

WELL-BRED GODOLPHIN FILLY DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL

8th-CD, $85K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:36p.m.

Godolphin homebred ANOUSH (Candy Ride {Arg}) makes her career bow in this spot for trainer Brendan Walsh. A half to SW Sunset Wish (Malibu Moon), the bay’s second dam is GISW Cara Rafaela, who produced champion and top sire Bernardini (A.P. Indy) and the GISP dam of MGISW Love and Pride (A.P. Indy). Steve Asmussen unveils Whisper Hill homebred Happy Success (Bernardini), a half-sibling to Grade I-winning sire Brilliant Speed (Dyanformer) and SW & GSP Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie). This is also the family of Canadian Horse of the Year With Approval (Caro {Ire}); Canadian champion Serenading (A.P. Indy); and MGISW Touch Gold (Deputy Minister). Rigney Racing’s $425,000 KEESEP buy Minute Waltz (Nyquist) also debuts here. She is out of a half-sister to Grade I winners Justin Phillip (First Samurai), and Greenpointcrusader (Bernardini); as well as graded winners Successful Mission (Successful Appeal), Keyed Entry (Honour and Glory) and Algorithms (Bernardini). TJCIS PPs

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GISW Cavorting’s First Foal Gets Up in Churchill Unveiling

6th-Churchill Downs, $84,814, Msw, 10-25, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:44.85, ft, 1/2 length.
CLAIRIERE (f, 2, Curlin–Cavorting {MGISW, $2,063,000}, by Bernardini), given a 7-2 chance for trainer Steve Asmussen in this unveiling, was four wide into the first turn and remained under restraint despite showing some eagerness to get on with it early. Three wide on the far turn, she began to close on the leading pack, headed by the Norm Casse-trainee Super Quick (Super Saver). Fanned out eight wide turning for home, the bay inched ever closer to the game leader throughout the length of the stretch and got up just in time to peg that rival on the wire. Clairiere is the first foal out of three-time Grade I winner, multi-millionaire and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Cavorting. A daughter of GSW Promenade Girl (Carson City), Cavorting is a half-sister to GSW Moon Colony (Uncle Mo) and MGSP ‘TDN Rising Star’ Thirstforlife (Stay Thirsty). After having produced a filly by Medaglia d’Oro last term, she followed up with a full-brother to Clairiere this season. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $49,092. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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