Steve Asmussen sent his pair of GI Kentucky Derby contenders out to work at Churchill Downs Monday morning, just hours before the announcement of his induction into racing's hall of fame.
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's GII Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 with regular rider Florent Geroux in the irons. Working in company with stablemate Gold Hawk, the chestnut worked in fractions of :12.40, :24.60, :36.40, :48.20, and :59.80 before galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 and one mile in 1:39.
Stablemate Creator (Tapit), coming off a win in the GI Arkansas Derby, worked five furlongs in 1:02.40 with jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. up. Churchill Downs clockers caught the WinStar Farm runner working in fractions of :12.60, :25, :37.60 and :49.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.20 and seven furlongs in 1:28.80.
“Their works were ideal for what we think that they need,” Asmussen said. “I'm extremely proud of the shape that both of these horses are in going into the Derby. I think that our team has done wonderful with them; I'm very proud of the guys to get them in this position.”
Also on the work tab for Asmussen were his five GI Kentucky Oaks hopefuls, all of whom breezed five furlongs; Terra Promessa (Curlin) (1:02.80), Taxable (Tapit) (1:02.80), Royal Obsession (Tapit) (1:00), Nickname (Scat Daddy) (1:00) and Adore (Big Brown) (1:01.40).
“They are five very different fillies,” Asmussen said. “Terra Promessa and Taxable are very good company for each other as they had proved in the [Apr. 9 GII] Fantasy. I thought that they both ran very hard in their last race and did not want much from them. I thought that they handled it really well, they were both very relaxed and traveled good, galloped out nice. Nickname and Royal Obsession both needed a little more this morning; they're both bigger fillies and they're both very talented. Adore is a very willing workhorse, a very good traveler and always on the bridle in the morning. I think with Songbird [being out] it opens the race to a new favorite, so you're just trying to imagine where everyone will be and that's a bit of a guess.”
Adore is currently on the outside looking in on the Oaks field.
“I think that we will evaluate her work today with the connections and how we come out of it, and if she's not allowed to run in the Oaks, we will come up with a plan that is suitable,” Asmussen said.
Also working towards the May 6 Oaks at Churchill Monday, the Bill Mott-trained Carina Mia (Malibu Moon) worked five furlongs in company in :58.80. “She worked very well,” Mott said of the breeze that involved going around Kentucky Derby hopeful Lani (Tapit), who was galloping near the rail around the three-eighths pole.
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