Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

MGISW She’s a Julie Retired; Headed to Fasig-Tipton November

Winner of the June 13 GI Ogden Phipps S., She’s a Julie (Elusive Quality–Kydd Gloves, by Dubai Millennium) has been retired from racing and will be offered as a broodmare prospect at the Nov. 8 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Denali Stud will consign her for the partnership of Bradley Thoroughbreds, Tim and Anna Cambron, Denali Stud, Rigney Racing, and Madaket Stables.

In addition to her win in the Ogden Phipps this year as a 5-year-old, She’s a Julie also captured the GI La Troienne S. last year and three other graded stakes during her career in addition to placings in both the GI Alabama S. and the GI Personal Ensign S. After four years of campaigning, she retires with a record of 21-7-2-4 and earnings of $1,196,380.

“Her talent was obvious with two Grade I wins on top of her other graded stakes wins and Grade I placings,” said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. “She was the real deal on the racetrack, but you have got to see her in person to understand what a beautiful mare she is. Named after my wife, she is so very special to me and my family. It is really hard for me to let this one go.”

She’s a Julie’s dam is a half-sister to Untouched Talent (Storm Cat), who produced GISW and sire Bodemeister (Empire Maker) and sold for $5 million at Fasig-Tipton’s same sale in 2012.

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Grade 1 Winner She’s A Julie Retired, To Be Offered At Fasig-Tipton November Sale

She's a Julie (2015, mare by Elusive Quality out of Kydd Gloves) has been retired from racing.

“Simply put, 'Julie' is incredible,” said Peter Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds, “There are not enough words to express the admiration and gratitude I have for this mare who fiercely laid it down on the track every time we asked her to. With that said, back in the barn she is the sweetest mare in the world. I cannot thank 'Julie' enough for all that she has done for Bradley Thoroughbreds and her co-owners.”

She's a Julie finishes her career with earnings of $1,196,380 claiming two Grade 1's along with winning graded stakes at three, four, and five years of age. Her dam Kydd Gloves has the unique distinction of being one of 56 foals from the only crop of Godolphin's international champion Dubai Millennium.

She's a Julie made her 2-year-old debut a winning one under the Twin Spires at Churchill Downs. At three, 'Julie' began showing her true talent with victories in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks and G3 Remington Park Oaks. Between those two victories was a runner-up effort in the G1 Alabama at Saratoga Race Course.

She kicked off her 4-year-old campaign with an authoritative victory in the G3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park before notching her first G1 win in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs. The remainder of 2019 saw her place in three graded stakes including the G1 Personal Ensign.

In her final season, She's a Julie turned in her most gutsy performance getting up in the shadow of the wire to win the prestigious G1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.

When asked about She's a Julie, Steve Asmussen noted, “Her talent was obvious with two Grade 1 wins on top of her other graded stakes wins and Grade 1 placings. She was the real deal on the racetrack, but you have got to see her in person to understand what a beautiful mare she is. Named after my wife, she is so very special to me and my family. It is really hard for me to let this one go.”

Bradley added, “I would be remiss not to thank Carrol and Stacy Castille, the original owners who are responsible for naming her for Steve's wife Julie, for allowing us to jump on this incredible adventure. Under the tutelage of Steve Asmussen, Scott Blasi, Darren Fleming, Ronnie Warner, Toby Sheets and the entire Asmussen team, 'Julie' was able to show her extraordinary talent and was always cared for like the most exceptional individual that she is. The bond she shared with her regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. is undeniable. When Julie needed a respite to prepare for her five-year-old campaign, we entrusted her care to Becky Maker. To 'Julie's' entire team, thank you. Although her retirement from racing is the end of an era, one thing is for certain, 'Julie' has a big team rooting her on in her next career!”

She's a Julie will be offered as a broodmare prospect with Denali Stud at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton November “Night of the Stars” Sale on Sunday, Nov. 8 in Lexington, Ky.

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Wicked Whisper, Bravo Team Up For Miss Preakness Stakes Victory

Winless since her victory in the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park nearly one year ago, Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Wicked Whisper got a ground-saving trip from Joe Bravo, came off the rail at the furlong pole, then ran down frontrunning Ain't No Elmers to win Saturday's Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Ain't No Elmers finished second, beaten one length after setting all the fractions, with Sound Machine third, another three-quarters of a length back, and 1-2 favorite Mundaye Call fourth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Wicked Whisper ran the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.36 and paid $12.60 for the win, her third in six career starts.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Wicked Whisper is from the first crop by Liam's Map out of the Bernardini mare Zayanna. She was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms and sold for $500,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Fly On Angel and Angel Cruz broke on top, but Gabriel Saez sent Ain't No Elmers through on the inside to take command in the run down the backstretch, the opening quarter mile in :23.08. Wicked Whisper sat just behind the top pair on the inside after a half mile in :45.78, awaiting racing room as the field turned into the stretch.

A patient Bravo swung Wicked Whisper off the rail when seeing an opening after five furlongs in :57.97, and the Liam's Map filly took command from Ain't No Elmers in the final sixteenth of a mile to win going away.

“You just can't draw them up to be any better than that,” said Bravo. “She broke good. The only thing I was really told was 'make sure you pay attention to her leaving the gate. She's been having trouble getting away from there.' When she broke so cleanly it was like the pressure got off me. She was able to breathe around the turn. I know the '5' horse (Mundaye Call) is a very good filly, but all horses relaxed and it just gave me all the confidence.”

Mundaye Call raced in the clear to the outside of Wicked Whisper for the opening three furlongs, made a three-wide bid on the turn and lacked any stretch punch.

Wicked Whisper captured the 2019 Frizette after a stylish debut at Saratoga, winning a maiden special weight race by 6 1/4 lengths. She ran fifth at 7-2 in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies to wrap up her 2019 campaign, then finished a well-beaten fourth going seven furlongs in the G3 Beaumont Stakes on July 10 in her 2020 debut at Keeneland. Wicked Whisper ran a good second to Fly On Angel in most recent start, the G3 Charles Town Oaks on Aug. 28, then returned to the Asmussen stable in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to train up to the Miss Preakness.

“She's been definitely interrupted by this year's racing calendar,” said Asmussen. “She was getting ready late for things and then with the cancellations, we got off track. It's beautiful to see her show the quality that she's always had. Joe gave her a great trip today. There are big things in her future.”

Trainer Bret Calhoun said the inside post position did not work in Ain't No Elmers' favor.

“It probably wasn't the best post to have, but she ran great and did everything to win,” Calhoun said. “She got pressed the whole way and that's the difference between an inside and outside post and being a presser instead of a pressee.”

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Undefeated Yaupon Ties Stakes Record In Chick Lang Romp

L. William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon kept his perfect record intact in impressive fashion Thursday, streaking to a stakes-record four-length triumph in the $200,000 Chick Lang (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

The 45th running of the six-furlong Chick Lang for 3-year-olds helped launch a spectacular Preakness weekend program of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $3.35 million in purses over three days featuring the 145th running of Saturday's $1 million Preakness (G1).

Stakes action was kicked off earlier on Thursday's card with upset victories by Hollis in the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint and A Great Time in the $100,000 The Very One, both going five furlongs on the grass.

Favored at 3-5 over eight rivals, Yaupon ($3.20) improved to 4-0 with his second straight graded-stakes triumph following the Amsterdam (G2) Aug. 29 at Saratoga in his previous start. The winning time of 1:09.10 matched Lantana Mob from 2008 for the fastest in stakes history.

Both Yaupon and Lantana Mob came from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who also won the 2018 Chick Lang with 2019 champion sprinter Mitole. It was the first Chick Lang victory for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.

“Put him on the lead and keep him on the lead, and he keeps running,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez did precisely that, hustling Yaupon to the front from the gate and assuming control through testing splits of 22.77 and 45.11 seconds, pressed to his outside by Arkaan while the rest of the field tried to keep pace. Yaupon was firmly in command as Arkaan dropped back once straightened for home and sprurted away as Double Crown came with a steady run to edge 17-1 long shot Relentless Dancer for third.

“You've got to ride him the first part. For the first three-sixteenths of a mile, I had to ride him just to keep his head on the business,” Velazquez said. “Even at the three-eighths pole I am reminding him, 'Hey, keep your mind on your business.' Then when he switched down the lane then he knew. It was 'OK, time to go.'”

Unraced at 2, Yaupon debuted with a nose victory June 20 at Churchill Downs then rolled by 3 ¾ lengths in a Saratoga allowance July 18, both races coming over older horses. In his first race facing straight 3-year-olds he captured the six-furlong Amsterdam, his stakes debut.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Double Crown won the Roar and Carry Back over the spring and summer at Gulfstream Park, and was exiting a third-place finish in the Smile Sprint (G3) Sept. 5 under regular pilot Cristian Torres, who made the trip north to ride. Double Crown was racing for the first time in Maryland since his debut triumph last September, after which he was purchased privately.

“He always gives 100 percent,” Torres said. “I had a perfect trip. He broke good. I let him settle off the speed. At the three-eighths, he started picking it up very nice and down the stretch, when I got him clear, he was rolling.”

Run as the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes from its inception in 1975 to 2009, the Chick Lang was renamed in honor of the racing industry legend widely known as 'Mr. Preakness,' who passed away in 2010 at age 83.

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