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Laurel Weekend Cards Cancelled Due to Ongoing Track Issues, Racing Will Move to Pimlico

Live racing will be cancelled from Saturday, Apr. 17 through Monday, Apr. 19 at Laurel Park due to the ongoing evaluation of the main track surface conditions, the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST RACING announced Thursday. As part of regular track maintenance, the MJC identified Apr. 14 that the main track had not responded sufficiently to wintertime cushion repairs. Gallops will be allowed during an abbreviated training schedule Friday, Apr. 16.

Due to the uncertainty of the timeline to rehabilitate the main track surface cushion at Laurel Park, 1/ST RACING and the MJC submitted an application to the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to move live racing to Pimlico Race Course, effective Apr. 22 on an emergency basis. The application has been granted and live racing will be moved to Pimlico Race Course until further notice.

Dr. Mick Peterson from the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory (RSTL) along with 1/ST RACING's Senior Track Superintendent and MJC's Chris Bosley have been working together to assess the cushion replacement options using RSTL approved materials and to identify a project timeline.

“We understand that the timing of this Laurel Park main track maintenance is not ideal for our horsemen, but the safety of the horses and our riders must be our top priority,” said Aidan Butler, Chief Operating Officer, 1/ST RACING. “We have full confidence that Dr. Mick Peterson, Dennis Moore and Chris Bosley will manage this project quickly and will deliver a rehabilitated main track surface cushion that will offer superior training and racing to the benefit of Maryland horsemen for years to come.”

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Violence Colt Swiftest at OBS Thursday

A colt by Violence (hip 641) became the seventh horse of the week to work in under :10 seconds when he secured the furlong bullet time of :9 4/5 during Thursday's fourth session of the under-tack show ahead of next week's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The bay colt is consigned to the Spring sale by Raul Reyes's King's Equine as agent for his breeder, Aaron and Marie Jones LLC.

The colt will be making his second trip through the sales ring next week in Ocala after RNA'ing for $27,000 at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“We weren't getting enough for him as a yearling, we didn't think,” explained the Jones's longtime advisor Frank Taylor. “So Mrs. Jones decided to take him to the 2-year-old sale.”

Taylor continued, “Mrs. Jones usually has about 10 foals a year and usually there is one or two that we don't get enough for and we'll send to Raul to get ready for the 2-year-old sales.”

The colt is out of C'Mon Sister (Successful Appeal), who is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Iotapa (Afleet Alex).

“He's a very scopey, two-turn looking horse,” Taylor said. “He's from a heck of a family, there are a lot of good horses in that family.”

Of the colt's bullet breeze, Taylor said, “He's been training great all winter and Raul thought he was going to do really good. So we weren't overly surprised, but :9 4/5 is awful good. He had an amazing breeze. We are obviously very happy it and now we're hoping to have some luck in the ring. Hopefully he'll continue on to be a top horse.”

A colt by Pioneerof the Nile (hip 786) turned in Thursday's fastest quarter-mile breeze, covering the distance in :20 4/5 for consignor Eddie Woods. The dark bay colt is out of Fancy Day (Ire) (Shamardal), who is a daughter of graded winner Tizdubai (Cee's Tizzy). Tizdubai is a full-sister to champion Tiznow.

Bred by WinStar Farm, the juvenile RNA'd for $145,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale.

The under-tack show continues through Saturday, with each session beginning at 8 a.m. The Spring sale will be held next Tuesday through Friday and bidding begins each day at 10:30 a.m.

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Midshipman Firster Gives Ward Another at Keeneland

1st-Keeneland, $59,286, Msw, 4-15, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, :51.84, gd, 8 3/4 lengths.
AVERLY JANE (f, 2, Midshipman–Sh Sh Shakin', by Richter Scale) gave her trainer a third juvenile winner in as many days at Keeneland, rolling home to score as much the best in the Thursday opener. Sent along to vie for the lead from between rivals, the half-sister to Chattel (Giant Oak), SW, $111,540, ultimately settled outside of pacesetting Royal County through an opening quarter in a quick :21.68. She wrested command from that one in upper stretch, pinched an imposing break and was taken in hand for the final 80 yards, winning by 8 3/4 lengths as the 3-2 chalk. Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) and Nakatomi (Firing Line) won the baby maidens Sunday and Wednesday, respectively. Averly Jane's third dam includes English SW & MGSP Elrafa Ah (Storm Cat), the dam of champion and G1 Dewhurst S. winner Mujahid (Danzig). Sh Sh Shakin is the dam of a yearling colt by Brody's Cause. Sales history: $35,000 Ylg '20 FTKOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $36,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Hat Creek Racing; B-University of Kentucky (KY); T-Wesley A Ward.

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Steve Asmussen Talks ‘Family Horse’ Super Stock On Writers’ Room

One of the few major races left to win for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is the most significant prize in racing, so a win in this year's GI Kentucky Derby would satisfy an ultimate career goal. But if he were to do it with Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby victor Super Stock (Dialed In), a horse with the Asmussen family's fingerprints all over him, it would represent the sentimental success of a lifetime. Wednesday, Asmussen joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to discuss Super Stock, the permanent chip on his shoulder, who he would pick between some of his legendary trainees head to head and more.

Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Asmussen talked about his emotional connection to Super Stock, who is co-owned by his father and was ridden to victory by his oldest son for his first stakes win last summer.

“We've been very fortunate in racing, had many successes, but a circumstance in which you can leg your son up on a stakes winner for your parents is quite unique, to say the least, and is a very special experience,” he said. “I have so many emotions about it. You imagine having that kind of success going into a race, but I did not realize what it actually meant, and the outpouring of love, respect and support since the [Arkansas Derby] for my parents and who they are has been the best part for me. This is my mom and dad's story. They supported us unwaveringly and put me and Cash in the positions we've been in to have success in this business. They're both 79 years old and unique circumstances allowed them to keep this horse. Dad has had Grade I winners in the past, he's just sold them all. That probably would have happened with this horse as well if not for the pandemic. It's brought mom and dad to the forefront and gotten them the respect and admiration that I know they deserve.”

Asked how it would change his life to win a Derby after coming up empty with his first 21 starters, Asmussen said, “I don't know yet, but I'd hate to lose this chip on my shoulder, lose the edge. The next horse that you run is the most important horse. Our motto around here is, 'Everything matters or nothing matters.' So don't lose that chip. We've got to keep it in front of us. We get tremendous opportunities and we respect them and want to make the most of them. Whenever Super Stock won, it was meant to be, so that's what we're looking for going into the Derby. It'll happen, if it's meant to be.”

Elsewhere on the show, the writers reacted to the weekend's big races and handicapped all five participants' chances to win the Writers' Room Derby Chase fantasy 3-year-old contest. In the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, they lamented yet another slap-on-the-wrist fine for a trainer with a drug positive and lauded Indiana Grand's decision to broadcast video explanations for all of its steward decisions. And, in welcoming new sponsor the Minnesota Racehorse Engagement Project, they talked about TDN's most-read story of the week, which featured trainer Joe Orseno railing against the Lasix ban in stakes races. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version.

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