Steve Asmussen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Echo Zulu Obliterates Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Field

When a heavy favorite enters any athletic contest, the best strategy can sometimes be to never let the underdog get into the game. Echo Zulu employed that exact game plan to perfection in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Friday at Del Mar, and all but guaranteed herself an Eclipse Award at the end of the year.

The 2-year-old Gun Runner filly was hustled out of the gate from the outside post by jockey Joel Rosario, who trainer Steve Asmussen named aboard Echo Zulu for the Juvenile Fillies instead of regular rider Ricardo Santana, Jr. Rosario and Echo Zulu quickly worked their way in to the rail, and snuffed out the oxygen of any rival trying to fight for the early fractions.

Echo Zulu was safely ahead of next-closest Tarabi, as she led the field into an opening quarter-mile in :23.42 seconds, while Desert Dawn and Juju's Map battled a length behind Tarabi for third position. The leader continued to maintain a one-length advantage over Tarabi across the backstretch as the half-mile point passed in :47.01 seconds.

The field bunched up behind Echo Zulu, and the duo of Tarabi and Juju's Map got to the outside hip of the leader as they approached the turn, but Echo Zulu promptly repelled the challengers, and put them several lengths behind her heading into the turn, all without Rosario's hands leaving the reins.

“She is amazing,” Rosario said. “She is fast, has so much speed and it looks like she is not going that fast. Today she liked what she was doing up there (in the front) and when I asked her, she just took off. She's just amazing.”

Rosario did little else but shake the reins aboard Echo Zulu down the Del Mar stretch, as the filly drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Juju's Map carried on for second, a half-length ahead of Tarabi.

Echo Zulu completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:42.24 over a fast main track, paying $3.60 to win as the overwhelming favorite.

Friday's Breeders' Cup victory improved Echo Zulu's lifetime record to a perfect four-for-four and all but clinched the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old filly. Echo Zulu won on debut in Saratoga in July, then took the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes at the same track. Her most recent start prior to the Breeders' Cup was a 7 1/4-length demolishing of the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 3.

“The level of proud is just unbelievable, with her being in the first crop of Gun Runner, what he's done for us,” Asmussen said. “A filly that came through mom and dad's program in Laredo. She's just brilliant. She's faster than they are. It's as simple as that. We're just so fortunate to be around her.”

Asmussen trains Echo Zulu for the partnership of L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

It was an especially satisfying victory for the Winchell operation, which also campaigned sire Gun Runner to a Breeders' Cup Classic win at Del Mar in 2017. Echo Zulu's victory also made it a virtual guarantee that Gun Runner will finish atop the freshman sire standings in 2021, having already entered the Breeders' Cup card with a healthy lead by earnings.

“It reminds me of Gun Runner,” owner Ron Winchell said. “She got out there and took command. Then took it down a notch, relaxed and got it done in the stretch. It looked a lot like (Gun Runner's) Pegasus: out, over, relax and then go.”

Bred in Kentucky by the partnership of Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby, Echo Zulu was a $300,000 purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Quotes from other connections:

Trainer Brad Cox (second with Juju's Map) – “She broke a little slow and (Florent Geroux)a put her in a good position. She raced a little wide, but she was no match for the winner. Second best today. Bottom line. No excuse.”

Trainer Cherie DeVaux (third with Tarabi) – “She ran great stretching out for the first time. The pace didn't unfold the way it looked on paper, so Javier (Castellano) went to Plan B and she ran great, so we're really happy with her performance. It's awesome to come in and have her show up off a layoff and doing something she hasn't done. Our team is great, so I'm very proud of everyone.”

Jockey Javier Castellano (third with Tarabi) – “We had a beautiful trip. I was very happy with her race. She broke good and was right behind the winner all the way. She was running very strong down the stretch and was fighting to be second. It's no disrespect to run third to a champion.”

Trainer Bret Calhoun (fourth with Hidden Connection) – “I'm very disappointed. We had a little higher expectations today. She got a little unnerved in the warmup and stumbled away from there and lost a little position early. Reylu (Gutierrez) had to use her a little bit to get back into position and she didn't have the answer today.”

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McGaughey Hopes Nashua Can Be Stepping Stone To Two Turns For Judge Davis

Courtlandt Farms' Judge Davis will take on five other juveniles in Sunday's 45th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua going a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, who saddled 1997 Nashua victor Coronado's Quest, Judge Davis arrives off a three-quarter length maiden triumph at second asking. The bay son of Distorted Humor made amends from a distant fourth going 6 ½ furlongs on debut when stretching out to 1 1/16 miles on September 24 over a muddy main track at Belmont Park.

“I think stretching him out in distance and getting that experience helped him,” McGaughey said. “I'd like to see how he does here and then start thinking about two turns.”

Purchased for $280,000 from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, Judge Davis is the second offspring out of the Sky Mesa mare Mylitta.

Jose Ortiz will ride Judge Davis from post 2.

Cairama will attempt to parlay a first out winning effort into stakes company for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Owned by His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Mishal Al Saud, the dark bay or brown son of 2013 Nashua winner Cairo Prince led through every point of call, and held off a late confrontation to win by a head.

Breaking from post 6, Cairama will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher will saddle Repole Stable's Midnight Worker who returns to the main track after trying the turf when fourth in the Grade 3 Futurity last out. The son of Outwork was a 10-1 winner of his July 24 debut at Saratoga ahead of a third in the Sapling on September 5 at Monmouth Park.

Pletcher will attempt his fourth Nashua score, previously saddling Bluegrass Cat [2005], Violence [2012], and Blofeld [2014].

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride Midnight Worker from post 4.

Rockefeller will take a drop in class and cut back to one turn after finishing fourth in the Grade 1 American Pharoah five weeks ago at Santa Anita for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The blue-blooded son of Medaglia d'Oro is out of the Grade 1-winning Speightstown mare Dance to Bristol, and was bought for $750,000 out of the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He dazzled on debut going wire-to-wire in a six-furlong maiden special weight on August 28 at Del Mar.

Rockefeller is owned by Goldconda Stable, Madaket Stables, SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Siena Farm, Stonestreet Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Robert Masterson, and Jay Schoenfarber. He will be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez from post 1.

Completing the field are Holly Crest Farm homebred Speaking [post 3, Gerardo Corrales] and Cheyenne Stables' Cooke Creek [post 5, Manny Franco] who are both stakes-winners that are unbeaten in a pair of lifetime starts.

The Nashua pays homage to Belair Stud's winner of the 1955 Preakness and Belmont Stakes trained by the great Sunny “Jim” Fitzsimmons. Notching two American Classic triumphs in addition to victories in the Florida Derby, Wood Memorial and Jockey Club Gold Cup earned him Horse of the Year honors that year and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1965. He parlayed his talent to some of his offspring including Hall of Fame distaffers Shuvee as well as Gold Digger – the dam of prolific sire-of-sires Mr. Prospector.

The Nashua is carded as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race program, which also includes the $150,000 Zagora for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upward going 12 furlongs over the turf. First post is 11:50 a.m. Eastern.

America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.

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Breeders’ Cup Classic Notes: ‘Things Have Lined Up’ For Maturing Max Player

Art Collector – Bruce Lunsford's homebred 4-year-old colt Art Collector galloped about a mile and a quarter on the Del Mar main track Thursday morning at just past 8:45 with Neil Poznansky aboard. The Bill Mott pupil will attempt to give the conditioner a third victory in the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“All's good,” Mott said. “He galloped today and he's good. He was strong and full of himself.”

Mott also touched on the news of champion turf horse Channel Maker, third in the Longines Turf in 2020, making it into the race after the Thursday defections of Domestic Spending and United: “We've got to be in to have a chance to win.”

Art Collector is a son of 2006 Classic runner-up Bernardini and 2011 Filly & Mare Turf fourth Distorted Legacy and will be his owner-breeder's eighth Breeders' Cup chance. His closest finish was when favorite First Samurai was third after a troubled trip in the 2005 Juvenile at Belmont Park.

“I've been in the business 33 years and don't own a horse farm,” Lunsford said. “I am in it to race and enjoy the experience. I would say it would clearly be the biggest win of my career if he could win. I own the mare and siblings and I have a half-brother, so that's great. With his dam, we only got beat a head and neck for second and she ran a huge race. We bred to Bernardini at a not-too-exorbitant price and obviously it's worked out well.

“As far as the 10-furlong distance, I think Bill's pretty comfortable with him, since he's won three at 9 furlongs and a lot of others haven't run or won at a mile and a quarter yet,” Lunsford continued. “It'll be an interesting race because of the pace.

“The reason we moved him to Bill is because of all the big races in New York. (Previous trainer) Tom (Drury) and I have a long history together and will continue to do so, just like I have had with Bill. Bill has this great ability to work his way around the New York races and my only (stipulation) with Bill was that if he's going to take him, I want him right outside his office. Bill is really happy with the horse. (Art Collector) is like a pet now and he's a good horse who I think can get better.”

Lunsford reflected on his most disappointing loss with the aforementioned First Samurai, who has gone on to become a credible stallion for Claiborne Farm.

“We obviously had a great trainer with Frankie (Brothers) and the best rider with (Jerry) Bailey that day, but he just had trouble at the gate and had to work his way to the front,” he said. “He got tired at the end and we got beat by a horse (Stevie Wonderboy) who never won again and a horse we beat in the Champagne, Henny Hughes. In the end, I think we were the best 2-year-old that year, along with Henny Hughes.”

Essential Quality/Knicks Go – Keeping to their same routine, Essential Quality went out before the break and Knicks Go was the last of the deep Brad Cox-trained arsenal to train Thursday morning. The two grays have both kept strong campaigns in 2021 in hopes of making it to the Classic at the end of the year. Knicks Go, the 5-2 morning line favorite, could sew up Champion Older Male honors with the win, while Essential Quality, the 3-1 second choice, could secure Champion 3-Year-Old honors with a good showing.

“It's been a great year for both horses and, obviously, they both performed well the second half of last year. Both horses have stayed in good form for the most part. Knicks Go had a little bit of a setback obviously. We felt like we may have rushed him a little bit with the Pegasus with the quick turnaround shipping halfway across the world or to the other side of the world for the Saudi Cup and then the Met Mile. But aside from those two bumps in the road, he's been ultra-consistent and proud of what he's accomplished. Essential has never missed a beat. He ran a big race in the Derby. His only defeat in his career and we could argue that he'd probably ran the best race that day, one of the better races, to end up fourth. But, both horses have had great years and hopefully we can add to their resume at Breeders' Cup Saturday.”

Express Train – Following his customary pattern, Express Train galloped his standard 1 1/2 miles this morning, with Amy Vasco aboard, in preparation for the Classic.

Trainer John Shirreffs supervised the exercise from the backstretch viewing stand.

“He likes this track a lot and he's doing well,” Shirreffs said. “This race looks like there'll be a lot of speed. If so, ideally, I'd like to see him break running, then follow the leaders in the second flight of horses. He likes to be outside of horses. That was how he won the San Diego Handicap here this summer.”

Hot Rod Charlie – Roadrunner Racing, William Strauss, Boat Racing and Gainesway Stable's Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Hot Rod Charlie left trainer Doug O'Neill's Barn Y just before after 8 o'clock and galloped about 1 ½ miles, two days before the Classic in which he is considered a serious contender. The Belmont Stakes and 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up drew post three and is listed as the 4-1 co-third choice in the Classic.

While the focus right now is the Classic, the fact that Hot Rod Charlie has steadily increased his speed figures and general performance level over the past year has his connections excited beyond the big race.

“The goal is to keep him in training next year,” O'Neill said. “We have a great group of owners and Gainesway is in, as well, so as long as he stays injury-free, we will have a chance to compete next year. Races like the ($12 million Dubai) World Cup and ($20 million) Saudi (Cup) could definitely on the horizon, if things work out well.”

Co-owner Strauss was very much on the same page: “As we think ahead and he continues to grow and develop and mature, we are definitely excited about next year with him. After we finished second in the Breeders' Cup (Juvenile) last year, we then plotted out how to get to the (Kentucky) Derby; how to get there and what prep races. After that, we plotted how to get to the Breeders' Cup Classic. When this is over, we're going to go and set our goal for next year. There's no obvious Derby-type race, but there are so many big races like Dubai and Saudi. Next week, the ownership group will get together with Doug and his team and strategize.”

Max Player – The connections of Max Player are seeing their patience rewarded in 2021 as they head into the Breeders' Cup Classic with a horse who appears to be peaking at the right time after winning his past two races.

The Honor Code colt, owned by George Hall and SportsBLX Thoroughbred Corp and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, was considered a top 3-year-old last year after thirds in the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, but lost some luster when he finished fifth in the both the rescheduled Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last fall and then performed poorly in the Saudi Cup to begin this year. He started to make amends by winning the Suburban and followed that with a strong victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

“The horse has matured as expected pedigree wise, and he has stayed extremely sound,” Asmussen said. “He's very good. And, I think things have lined up with where he is with the draw (post nine), the way the racetrack's playing, and how he's doing right now. We expect him to show who he is Saturday.”

Max Player galloped once around the track Thursday.

Medina Spirit – Classic winner Medina Spirit stretched his legs this morning with two trips around Del Mar's main track this morning as he winds down his preparation for the Classic. The sophomore colt, trained by Bob Baffert, is looking to collect his fifth stakes victory of the year in the 10-furlong championship race.

Stilleto Boy – With owner Steve Moger looking on, Stilleto Boy galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Jose Sandoval early Thursday morning at Del Mar.

Winner of the Iowa Derby for previous ownership, Stilleto Boy will be making his fourth start for Moger and his brother, trainer Ed Moger Jr.

Stilleto Boy debuted for the Mogers at Del Mar in the La Jolla Handicap going 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

“We thought we would try him on grass,” Ed Moger Jr. said. “He ran good on it (finishing fifth beaten 2 ½ lengths in his lone turf try) and he will probably run on it again at some point.”

Tripoli – Pacific Classic winner Tripoli galloped Thursday morning with assistant trainer Juan Leyva aboard. Trainer John Sadler is expected to drive down from his Santa Anita Park base Thursday.

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Amidst Monumental Year, Asmussen Heads Into BC Weekend ‘Guns’ Blazing

DEL MAR, CA – The best thing about Steve Asmussen's record-breaking 2021 season? The Hall of Famer may want to wait until the weekend is up to answer that.

In a year that has included passing Dale Baird to become the winningest North American trainer of all time, an emotional GI Arkansas Derby victory for his parents with Super Stock (Dialed In) and five top-level wins at the prestigious Saratoga meeting, including three from the first crop of a former barn superstar, Asmussen heads into the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar with a loaded, six-horse hand.

“Those are some very nice milestones and things that we will obviously enjoy looking back on, but we need to finish out the year strong,” Asmussen said.

“I feel like we have some excellent chances in the Breeders' Cup and we need to show up and have our horses perform to the best of their ability and finish the year off right.”

Excellent chances, indeed.

It comes full circle for Asmussen as his Breeders' Cup weekend begins with L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds's unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The $300,000 KEESEP graduate and half-sister to the Asmussen-trained GI Runhappy H. Allen Jerkens S. winner and young Ashford Stud sire Echo Town (Speightstown) will be heavily favored over five rivals for her two-turn debut off the strength of eye-catching wins in the GI Spinaway S. at Saratoga Sept. 5 and the GI Frizette S. at Belmont Oct. 30.

Asmussen, of course, saddled Echo Zulu's leading freshman sire Gun Runner to a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic–the 55-year-old's second trophy in the big one–which was also held at the seaside track four years ago.

Standing at Three Chimneys Farm, the 2017 Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male is also responsible for the Asmussen-trained GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite. Gun Runner will also be represented by longshot Pappacap in the male dirt equivalent on 'Future Stars Friday.'

“It went extremely well the last time the Breeders' Cup was at Del Mar and we're trying to recreate some of the same magic,” Asmussen said. “We don't get to take Gun Runner back, but it is kind of fun that the first time we go back we have one from his first crop that's the favorite in the Juvenile Fillies.”

Of Gun Runner's fast start at stud, he continued, “It's dreaming. Meaning, Gun Runner, as special as he was and what an amazing ride he was–good 2-year-old, strong 3-year-old, great 4-year-old–then, how excited we were to have Gun Runner's progeny and for one to start out this fast… Better than we could've even hoped. Knowing how much better he got with time and for Echo Zulu to come out of the box like this–just absolutely special.”

California Dreaming…

Four of Asmussen's seven-career Breeders' Cup wins, including a Classic victory with the aforementioned Gun Runner, have come in Southern California. The three others–Tapizar (2012 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile), Untapable (2014 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff) and Mitole (2019 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint)-took place at Santa Anita.

The Asmussen barn has also been well-represented with Santa Anita Breeders' Cup placings from: Dust and Diamonds (second 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint); My Miss Aurelia (second 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic); Unbridled's Note (second 2012 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint); Tapiture (second 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile); Gun Runner (second 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile); Midnight Bisou (second 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Distaff); and Storm Treasure (third 2008 GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint).

Like his aforementioned celebrated quartet, Asmussen's 2021 Breeders' Cup troops arrived early in the Golden State to prepare, in fact, weeks ahead of the 38th World Championships. It's certainly worked well in the past, but exactly how important is it to get acclimated early to the West Coast?

“I think you said it, it's worked well in the past,” Asmussen said. “It's worked well for whatever reason. Just get acclimated and eliminate as many variables as we possibly can and go from there.”

Five More Major 'Players' for BC Saturday…

Asmussen will tighten the girth on five Breeders' Cup runners on Saturday's stacked program, led by J. Kirk and Judy Robison's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint headliner Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music).

A valiant fourth as the favorite after sitting right on a scorching pace in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, he takes on his elders after a spectacular 110 Beyer Speed Figure performance in the GII Gallant Bob at Parx Sept. 25. He previously posted a heart-stopping neck victory over the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile 4-5 morning-line favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in a GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. for the ages at the Spa Aug. 28.

Where does Jackie's Warrior, just a $95,000 KEESEP buy, rank with some of Asmussen's all-time top sprinters–dare we even mention the brilliant Mitole yet?

“I think that they're all individuals and comparing horses is unjust,” Asmussen fired back. “Because what makes them special is how they perform against competition, not talking about it. We have had the fastest horses in the world and are very proud of that.”

The future Spendthrift Farm stallion's resume also includes top-level wins in the 2020 GI Runhappy Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S.

“I think the most unique thing about Jackie's Warrior is the Gallant Bob was only the second time he had run six furlongs,” Asmussen said. “He's just fast.”

Previous 3-year-old winners of the Breeders' Cup Sprint include: Drefong (2016); Runhappy (2015); Trinniberg (2012); Silver Train (2005); Cajun Beat (2003); Squirtle Squirt (2001); Reraise (1998); Sheikh Albadou (GB) (1991); and Very Subtle (1987).

George Hall's and SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp.'s GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender Max Player (Honor Code) has taken his game to the next level with a change in tactics, sitting right on the pace en route to breakthrough wins in the GII Suburban S. at Belmont July 3 and GI Jockey Club Gold Cup S. at Saratoga Sept. 4. He rallied from far back to third-place finishes in the 2020 GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. for previous trainer Linda Rice as well as a fifth-place finish in the GI Kentucky Derby in his first start for this stable.

“He was giving himself too much to do in quality races,” Asmussen said. “Spotting them seven, eight, 10 lengths-he put himself in a position that it was hard to show his ability. In the mornings, he was showing plenty and enough that with an opportunity, he could do enough with it. Getting him in the race early has allowed that. He stays well, so using some of him early hasn't cost him late and it's given him a chance.”

Stonestreet homebred Clairiere (Curlin), the first foal out of the talented three-time Grade I winner and 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint rallying fourth as the favorite Cavorting (Bernardini), faces older fillies and mares for the first time in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff. She headed an exacta for her leading sire and former Asmussen-trained two-time Horse of the Year Curlin in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 25. She was also second to the ultra-talented, re-opposing 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) in the GI Alabama S. Aug. 21.

Asmussen will be double-fisted in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Listed as the second choice on the morning line at 7-2, GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. winner and $450,000 KEESEP graduate Silver State (Hard Spun) overcame a slow start and looked well on his way after leading in the stretch, but just couldn't close the door and had to settle for a close second in the Parx Dirt Mile S. last out Sept. 25. The Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing colorbearer, did, notably earn a career-best 104 Beyer in that effort. Silver State retires to Claiborne Farm for 2022.

Bloom Racing Stable's fan favorite and blaze-faced 6-year-old Snapper Sinclair (City Zip) goes turf to dirt in search of his first career graded win in the Dirt Mile following a rallying second in Santa Anita's GII Eddie D. S. Oct. 1.

“It's the goal,” Asmussen concluded of the year-end Championships. “We're obviously very fortunate to have horses of this level. We would expect them to perform well. It is the target.”

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