Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Sunday’s Racing Insights: Flashy Fillies Seek Diplomas at Oaklawn

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

6th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:51 p.m. ET
The first of two strong-looking groups of sophomore fillies line up here in Hot Springs. Brad Cox-trained second timer Firewolves (Practical Joke) gets the tepid morning-line nod coming off a runner-up outing over track and trip Dec. 3 that earned her a 75 Beyer Speed Figure. The $140,000 Keeneland September yearling is half to MGSP Tap for Luck (Tapit) and to the dam of GSW/GISP Jeltrin (Tapizar).

Peace Peddler (Gun Runner) set a solid pace in her unveiling Dec. 18 before finishing third behind a pair of pricey foes. A $200,000 KEESEP pick-up, she is out of Canadian champion older mare and MGSW Embur's Song (Unbrided's Song) from the family of Classic winner Exaggerator (Curlin).

Xtreme Gem (Tapit), a daughter of GISW juvenile Gomo (Uncle Mo), also makes her second start. The $475,000 FTFMAR RNA and $625,000 Fasig Midlantic seller (:10 1/5) was fourth after taking some money in an off-the-turfer at Keeneland in October (re-opposing Madelyn's Magic {Hard Spun} was second that day). She now gets the addition of Lasix and blinkers for the Mac Robertson barn.

Among the noteworthy newcomers signed on is Courtlandt Farm's $500,0000 FTKSEL purchase Campaigning (Nyquist). The Steve Asmussen pupil is half to GSP Aurelia Garland (Constitution) out of a daughter of 2002 GII Alcibiades S. winner Westerly Breeze (Gone West).

Alex Venneri homebred Decade of Dreams (American Pharoah) is half to versatile GISW and young sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). Muse (Into Mischief) is out of a half-sister to last year's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup hero Max Player (Honor Code). TJCIS PPs

9th-OP, $84K, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 5:13 p.m. ET
Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's $475,000 KEESEP acquisition Hot and Sultry (Speightster) leads the split division of the aforementioned sixth race. The Steve Asmussen representative finished up well to be a strong second in the mud here Dec. 18. A half to SW and GSP turfer Tracksmith (Street Sense), her third dam is brilliantly fast GISW and champion Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat). Chesterette (Practical Joke), who cost $300,000 at OBS April off a :9 4/5 bullet, was fourth in that same race. The $165,000 KEESEP yearling's dam Jenny's So Great (Greatness) was a graded winner on the turf.

Charles Matses homebred Beguine (Gun Runner) was third first out against three-and-ups Jan. 7. Out of a stakes-winning juvenile, she's half to GSW/MGISP Favorable Outcome (Flatter), last year's G3 UAE 2000 Guineas winner Mouheeb (Flatter) and SW/MGSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road).

Comedy Act (Practical Joke) was fourth behind the subsequent Gowell S. runner-up after setting solid splits at Churchill Nov. 28. She was a $77,000 September RNA and $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile (:10 1/5). Little Mombo (Into Mischief) was also fourth on debut after showing early zip–this one locally Dec. 3. Rigney Racing's $500,000 KEESEP buy is out of a stakes-placed turf router from the family of GSWs Nany's Sweep, Economic Model and Well Monied.

Bicameral (Constitution), bought for $100,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Select Yearling Showcase, cuts back after finishing far back on the stretch out Dec. 17. She was previously third in the GI Del Mar Debutante.

Joe Sharp-trained $200,000 FTKOCT buy Heartyconstitution (Constitution) is half to GSW sprinter Chateau (Flat Out). China Horse Club homebred Scripps (Curlin), bought back for $75,000 at September, is out of two-time Grade II winner Spelling Again (Curlin). TJCIS PPs

8th-SA, $69K, Alw/OC ($50K), 4yo/up, f/m, 1m, 7:13 p.m. ET
Pegram, Watson and Weitman's late on the scene $385,000 Keeneland September purchase Distractedprincess (Distorted Humor) looks to go two-for-two here for Bob Baffert. The daughter of Brazilian Horse of the Year Celtic Princess (Brz) (Public Purse) crushed three foes by 13 lengths here going seven furlongs Dec. 31. She's just 1-5 on the morning line while spotting her competition significant experience. TJCIS PPs

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Millionaires Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon Square Off In Louisiana

Juddmonte's 'TDN Rising Star' Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Winchell Thoroughbreds' hard-knocking Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) face each other for the fifth time in their career, each using Saturday's GIII Louisiana S. at a possible steppingstone to the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh Feb. 26.

Mandaloun makes his first start since a late-season injury derailed any hopes of making the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar. Winner of half of his six starts at three, the bay was upset by Midnight Bourbon in the GIII Lecomte S. on this program last year before turning the tables in the GII Risen Star S. the following month. A dull sixth behind Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) and Midnight Bourbon in the GII Louisiana Derby, the strapping bay ran Medina Spirit (Protonico) to a half-length at odds of 26-1 in the GI Kentucky Derby and may yet be declared that race's official winner. Having passed on the rest of the Triple Crown, Mandaloun was the narrow winner of the June 13 Pegasus S. at Monmouth and was the chief beneficiary when Midnight Bourbon was interfered with in the GI TVG.com Haskell S., crossing the line a nose behind Hot Rod Charlie before being put up.

“Listen, I'm not going to tell you that he's working better than ever because he's always a very, very good work horse to begin with,” said trainer Brad Cox. “I think anybody that watched him train up to the Kentucky Derby could believe the way he ran the way he was training. He's definitely working as well as he was leading up to the Derby, or the Haskell, so we're in a good spot with him. I think this is a race that makes a lot of sense as far as getting back racing and seeing how it goes.”

Midnight Bourbon failed to recover from a slow start in the Run for the Roses, but finished a creditable sixth ahead of a runner-up effort in the GI Preakness S. Nailed by Essential Quality (Tapit) in the final strides of the GI Runhappy Travers S. in August, the bay was second to Hot Rod Charlie in the GI Pennsylvania Derby after some more stretch shenanigans and closed the season with a third as the favorite behind Maxfield (Street Sense) in the GI Clark S. back in Louisville Nov. 26. Blinkers go on for the first time this weekend.

“As good as he's been, I think there is more there,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It doesn't look like he's finishing [his races] off. He's not exhausted when he comes back. I think we can get a little more out of him. There is the possibility that it makes him more aggressive and that he gets in too big of a hurry. The Louisiana S. is the perfect time to try it.”

Brad Cox also sends out the progressive Warrant (Constitution), last-start winner of the GIII Oklahoma Derby Sept. 26, while Chess Chief (Into Mischief) will be scratched in favor of a start in next weekend's GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

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Pappacap Brings Strongest Juvenile Form Into Lecomte

Much to the delight of owner/breeder Rustlewood Farm and trainer Mark Casse, Pappacap (Gun Runner) will face nothing of the quality of the likes of 'TDN Rising Star' and likely Eclipse Award winner Corniche (Quality Road) when he makes his sophomore debut in Saturday's GIII Lecomte S. at the Fair Grounds.

The homebred was off the board just once from five runs in 2021, winning the GII Best Pal S. by open lengths at second asking before completing the exacta underneath the OBS April topper when beaten 3 1/4 lengths in the GI American Pharoah S. Oct. 1 and again in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 5, where he sat a perfect trip, but could not quite match strides late and was 1 3/4 lengths adrift at the wire.

Casse is a two-time Lecomte winner, having unsaddled future Classic winner War of Will (War Front) in 2019 and Enforceable (Tapit) the following January.

“I never questioned where I wanted to go after the Breeders' Cup,” Casse said. “I feel really comfortable at Fair Grounds. We had a lot of success over that track. I think it's a great atmosphere and I have a lot of confidence in [assistant trainer] David Carroll. I think the track there suits him. He's a horse that wants to settle a little bit and not have to hustle a whole lot. He gets over the ground really well there.”

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), who runs one race prior to the Lecomte this weekend (see below), won last year's event for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Steve Asmussen and that formidable duo will be represented here by Epicenter (Not This Time). A speed-and-fade sixth in his seven-furlong debut at Churchill Sept. 18, he overcame the widest gate in a field of 10 to graduate by 3 1/2 lengths going the one-turn mile Nov. 13. The second choice to the dramatically overbet Rocket Dawg (Classic Empire) in the first running of the Gun Runner S. Dec. 26, the bay prompted the pace of Surfer Dude (Curlin) to the outside and powered home to take it by 6 1/2 lengths. Joel Rosario, who broke the colt's maiden, is back aboard this weekend.

Trafalgar (Lord Nelson) is an interesting new shooter for trainer Al Stall, Jr. and Andrea Pollack's Columbine Stable. The $100,000 FTKSEL yearling turned $310,000 OBS April breezer was a distant runner-up to the impressive and subsequently GISP Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) sprinting on Saratoga debut Sept. 4, then rallied stoutly–albeit with a strong pace to chase–to don cap and gown by 2 1/4 lengths in a one-mile test at Churchill Oct. 2. Conservatively spotted in a first-level allowance over course and distance Dec. 2, Trafalgar attended a much softer pace, looked in all sorts of trouble as first-out winner Naval Aviator (Tapit) rolled up to him late, but turned back that bid to score by a hard-fought head.

“He clearly waited on horses from the three-sixteenths to the sixteenth [pole],” Stall, Jr. said. “Here comes a Brad Cox horse [Naval Aviator] with a full head of steam, and I'm thinking, 'well there goes a 3-5 shot down the drain,' but he just re-engaged when he saw him and had to run hard the last part. I like the fact that he went from lollygagging around straight to fighting.”

Cyberknife (Gun Runner) is another with a two-turn victory to his credit, having idled in the final stages before clinging on for a half-length maiden breaker over track and trip on Dec. 26. Trainer Brad Cox adds blinkers to try to sharpen to colt's focus.

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Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon Rivalry Continues In Louisiana Stakes

Lecomte, Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Kentucky Derby, Haskell: this Saturday's 76th running of the $150,000 Louisiana Stakes (G3) at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La. will be the sixth time both Mandaloun and Midnight Bourbon enter the starting gate as rivals. Mandaloun has bragging rights, winning or finishing in front of Midnight Bourbon in three out of five match-ups thus far.

The duo will be traveling 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, the same distance they ran in the 2021 Lecomte when facing one another for the first time. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon was fresh off a three-month layoff and wired the field. Now it's the even-money morning line favorite Mandaloun's turn to come in fresh. His last start was July 17 in the Haskell (G1) when he dueled through the final furlong finishing a nose short of Hot Rod Charlie, but an impending DQ awarded Juddmonte's Mandaloun his fifth career win out of eight starts.

“He needed time off. He made that decision easy,” trainer Brad Cox said. “We stopped on him and gave him time. For horses to progress, whether it be from (age) two to three or three to four, they need a break. He's received his break and he's come back. Listen, I'm not going to tell you that he's working better than ever because he's always a very, very good work horse to begin with. I think anybody that watched him train up to the Kentucky Derby could believe the way he ran (second at 26-1), the way he was training. He's definitely working as well as he was leading up to the Derby, or the Haskell, so we're in a good spot with him. I think this is a race that makes a lot of sense as far as getting back racing and seeing how it goes.”

Mandaloun will break from post two with his sole-rider Florent Geroux on board. He'll recognize the horse to his outside but not the rider.

On the track where it all began, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon has the neighboring spot in post three. Last seen setting the pace in November's Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs with jockey Joel Rosario on board, Midnight Bourbon ran well, only to be overtaken in the stretch by the classy Maxfield and Happy Saver. He gets a slight cut-back in distance to 1 1/16 miles for the Louisiana. As in the Clark, Rosario gets the call, his second on Midnight Bourbon who will break from the post three (6-5 ML).

This time, Midnight Bourbon has a new trick up his sleeve: blinkers.

“As good as he's been, I think there is more there,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It doesn't look like he's finishing it (his races) off. He's not exhausted when he comes back. I think we can get a little more out of him. There is the possibility that it makes him more aggressive and that he gets in too big of a hurry. The Louisiana Stakes is the perfect time to try it.”

With a field of horses who have shown strong early pace, they'll have their hands full throughout. Starting on the rail: Chess Chief, Sprawl, Pirate's Punch, Warrant, and Spa City make up the field of seven.

Adele B Dilschneider and Claiborne Farms' Sprawl finished sixth last out in October's Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill Downs, the race prior was his first graded stakes victory, leading most of the way in the West Virginia Governor (G3) at Mountaineer. Trainer Tom Drury Jr. brought him to Fair Grounds to ready him specifically for the Louisiana.

“That little horse fought some wars for us,” Drury said. “We've had this race in mind and we've worked backwards from it. After the Lukas Classic, we sent him to Robby Harris in Florida and gave him a little downtime. Ever since it's been like clockwork. He walked off the van (at Fair Grounds) doing good and he's been doing good ever since, but I'll be honest, I didn't anticipate the race coming up as tough as it has. That being said, Sprawl is a seasoned, older horse and we are going to take our best shot and see what happens.”

By City Zip, his pace-setting presence adds uncertainty to how the race will unfold. Fair Grounds' leading rider Colby Hernandez is on board from post four (10-1 ML).

“We are just going to let Colby ride his race,” Drury said. “I do think he's going to want to be forward, but I'd love to see him in a stalking-type position. I don't want to leave there shooting ducks trying to make the lead at all costs.”

Approximately half of Chess Chief's earnings have come from his five wins, each of them taking place at Fair Grounds. Possibly a horse for the course, but the Estate of James J Coleman Jr's 6-year-old has been ambitiously placed throughout his career, losing to Maxfield four times, Knicks Go, and other classy rivals. He's coming off a thrilling win in the $100,000 Tenacious on “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” in which he bested Happy American by a scant nose. He is scheduled to break from the rail with Reylu Gutierrez aboard (12-1 ML), although trainer Dallas Stewart has indicated that a run in the Pegasus World Cup the following Saturday is also on the table.

Finishing third last out in the Tenacious, Craig W. Dragner and Gulliver Racing's Pirate's Punch has not won any of his six races since his 2020 back-to-back graded stakes wins. Breaking from post five at morning line odds of 20-1, Corey Lanerie returns after taking him to the lead last out. The Grant Forster-trained 6-year-old gelding will have options to pass or press his half-brother Midnight Bourbon.

That's right, dam Catch the Moon and breeder Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings must be proud.

The remainder of the field with post position, jockey/trainer and morning line odds is as follows: Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Warrant (post six, Brian Hernandez Jr/Brad Cox, 12-1 ML), the 2021 Oklahoma Derby (G3) winner makes his 4-year-old debut; and Maggi Moss' Spa City (post seven James Graham/Tim Amoss, 20-1 ML), who was claimed for $40,000 four starts back.

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