Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Son of Hot Dixie Chick Earns Rising Stardom

Well-related Stonestreet Stables product Marsalis (Curlin–Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) stepped forward off a stellar debut outing to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction Saturday at Fair Grounds. Beaten a head and 5 1/4 lengths clear of third in a salty GII Risen Star S. day heat won by Todd Pletcher-trained invader Momentous (Speightstown) Feb. 19, the Steve Asmussen pupil was off at 3-5 and soon showed why.

Off at 3-10 while breaking from the fence, the $340,000 Keeneland September RNA broke well but had to work a bit early to eventually make the front narrowly. He doled out an opening quarter of :21.76, and was challenged through a :44.80 half by longshot Lagoon (Runhappy) as that one launched a sweeping move. Marsalis re-broke at the head of the lane, put his stubborn foe away by midstretch, and was wrapped up late to don cap and gown by 2 1/2 lengths. Vinco (Quality Road), last year's $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic topper, bounced back from a non-show last out to complete the exacta. Lagoon checked in fourth.

Marsalis is the sixth foal out of his connections' speedy 'Rising Star' Hot Dixie Chick, winner of the 2009 GI Spinaway S. and already the dam of Pauline's Pearl (Tapit), MGSW, $1,038,500; and 'Rising Star' Union Jackson (Curlin), MSW & GSP, $273,874. The former took the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. Jan. 30 and was most recently a close second in the GII Azeri S. two weeks ago; while the latter, who stands at Sequel Stallions in New York, was represented by his first black-type winner earlier this month. Hot Dixie Chick is also a half to 2017 GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) and Grade II winner Positive Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile). She produced a Constitution colt last term before being bred back to both Tapit and Quality Road.

A 'Rising Star' himself, Curlin has now sired 20 horses to earn that moniker. For more on Marsalis as part of Steve Sherack's Second Chances series, click here.

7th-Fair Grounds, $65,000, Msw, 3-26, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.40, ft, 2 1/2 lengths.
MARSALIS, c, 3, Curlin
1st Dam: Hot Dixie Chick (GISW, $343,252), by Dixie Union
2nd Dam: Above Perfection, by In Excess (Ire)
3rd Dam: Something Perfect, by Somethingfabulous
Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, $50,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. *$340,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP.

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Cogburn Opens 2022 Campaign in Winning Style

4th-Oaklawn, $106,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 3-25, 3yo, 6f, 1:09.44, ft, 4 lengths.

COGBURN (c, 3, Not This Time–In a Jif {SW, $203,382}, by Saintly Look) fourth on career debut Aug. 21 at Saratoga, and then scoring a maiden breaking victory Sept. 16 going six panels beneath the Twin Spires over the main track by 4 1/4 lengths, was not seen again until this victorious 3-year-old seasonal bow. Going off a heavily supported 4-5 favorite at a familiar distance with first-time Lasix, the $310,000 FTKSEL pinhook turned $150,000 OBSAPR graduate (:20 3/5) outbroke his rivals and ran them off their feet. Four lengths clear at the top of the lane, Cogburn maintained that margin easily down to the wire over stakes-placed Ignitis (Nyquist), who rallied determinedly for second. The winner has a 2-year-old half-sister by Classic Empire as well as a yearling half-sister by Tapiture. The dam is expecting a foal by Promises Fulfilled this season. Sales history: $52,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $310,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL; $150,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $139,060. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

O-Clark O. Brewster, L. William and Corrine Heiligbrodt; B-Bellary Bloodstock (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.

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Echo Zulu Returns in FG Oaks

Undefeated champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) makes her highly anticipated seasonal bow Saturday in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. Flashing her talent with an impressive debut at Saratoga July 15, the $300,000 KEESEP acquisition had things her own way from start to finish in that venue's GI Spinway S. Sept. 5, winning by four lengths. She took no prisoners next out Belmont, romping by 7 1/4 lengths in the GI Frizette S. Oct. 3 and was equally dominant in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies S. at Del Mar Nov. 5. Her flawless season left no doubt of her status, making her the clear winner of the Eclipse award for top juvenile filly. With this delay to her sophomore season, Echo Zulu needs a victory to secure a spot in the GI Kentucky Oaks.

“We are excited to get started with her,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “She is doing extremely well. She has put in some impressive moves over the race track and she just trains beautifully like she always has.”

He added, “She drew the rail so we have to get away from there cleanly and Joel will have a good ways to the first turn to get her in good position. She has handled everything extremely well that we have thrown at her up to this point. We are giving the Fair Grounds Oaks its fair due. I don't want to talk about the next one until she runs in the Oaks here but certainly we have high hopes this year for her.”

Turnerloose (Nyquist) enters off a win in the local GII Rachel Alexandra S. Feb. 19 at odds of 17-1. Opening her account with a pair of wins on grass, including the Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs in September, the dark bay was third in Keeneland's GII Jessamine S. Oct. 13, but faded to 14th in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. Nov. 5. She was making her first start on dirt last out in the Rachel Alexandra.

Hidden Connection (Connect) graduated by 7 1/2 lengths on debut at Colonial Downs in August and ran off to a 9 1/4-length score in the GIII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Sept. 18. Fourth to Echo Zulu in the Breeders' Cup, she filled the same spot behind Turnerloose in the Rachel Alexandra.

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Epicenter Looks to Repeat in LA Derby

Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen teamed up back in 2016 to take the GII Louisiana Derby with future Horse of the Year Gun Runner and that team is back with a strong chance in this year's renewal with Epicenter (Not This Time). Graduating at second asking at Churchill Downs Nov. 13, the bay was an appropriate and dominant winner of the Gun Runner S. at this venue Dec. 26. Missing by a head to Call Me Midnight (Midnight Lute) in the GIII Lecomte S. here Jan. 22, the $260,000 KEESEP buy wired the GII Risen Star S. over this strip last out Feb. 19.

“It was important for [Epicenter] to start at the mile then progress like he has through the longer distances and now we get to this race and the mile and three-sixteenth could be a separator,” said Asmussen. “He has progressed well through each of these steps and his progress has been very encouraging up to this point and he will just have to prove it again on Saturday.”

Call Me Midnight took several tries to break his maiden, finally breaking through at fifth asking at Churchill Downs Nov. 13 and was well beaten in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 27. He returned to winning ways with a late-running score in the Lecomte last out. Also exiting the Risen Star is fourth-place finisher Pioneer of Medine (Pioneerof the Nile).

The Brad Cox-trainer Zozos (Munnings) puts his unbeaten record on the line and steps up in class in this event. A debut winner sprinting at this oval Jan. 23, the dark bay earned the 'TDN Rising Star' tag with a 10 1/4-length tour de force when extended to two turns at Oaklawn Feb. 11.

Rattle N Roll (Connect) looks to rebound in this event after finishing a non-factor sixth in Gulfstream's GII Fountain of Youth S. in his seasonal bow Mar. 5. Earning his diploma at third asking at Churchill Sept. 23, he closed resolutely for a dominant victory in Keeneland's GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. Oct. 9.

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