Steve Asmussen
Under what was described as "perfect conditions" by analyst Kaitlin Free, a busy Saturday morning at Churchill Downs ensued as seven GI Kentucky Derby contenders logged published workouts for the "Run for the Roses" and a pair of GI Kentucky Oaks contenders also drilled for their connections, according to a press release from the track on Saturday morning. The tab included top Derby point getter Burnham Square (Liam's Map), who went a half-mile in :49.40 under pilot Brian Hernandez Jr. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes...
The sun is shining and the birds are singing, which means that spring has sprung and hopefully cold blasts are fixed over yonder. This kind of weather propagates the condition known to many as Derby fever, which technically has no definable cure. So, while you're tinkering with mint julep recipes or heading to the dry cleaners with your seersucker to keep the vapors in check, maybe what you need is to take a look at the weekend's graded stakes slate. The races are chock full of options, so let's not...
by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - The third session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale might have lacked some of the glitz of the second session which produced six million-dollar juveniles, but more than made up for it with a strong day of results propelling its three-day average well over the record average set at the 2024 auction. For the session, 144 head sold for $21,806,500, for an average of $151,434 and a median of $80,000. Through three of four...
8th-Keeneland, $120,000, Alw, 4-17, (NW2L), 3yo, f, 6f, 1:12.66, ft, 1 length. MILA ROSE (f, 3, Vekoma--Lucky Lady Lawyer, by Lawyer Ron) was a 3 1/2-length winner in her first start at Turfway Park Mar. 6. Ready to prove that making the transition from the all-weather to the dirt would be no issue, the 7-5 favorite was shuffled towards the middle of the pack after the bell despite a promising start. The 3-year-old went on the hunt around the far turn and at the quarter pole Mila Rose kicked into...
by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - It was mid-morning Wednesday when Kerri Radcliffe made the first seven-figure purchase of the day, going to $1.05 million for a son of Nyquist, and, by the time the bloodstock agent made a session-topping bid of $1.45 million for a colt by Gun Runner just three hips from the end of the day, a total of six juveniles had sold for seven figures during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training Wednesday. Through...
Proving to be an up-and-coming heavyweight in this male sprint division, Booth won his GIII Count Fleet Sprint Stakes bout at Oaklawn Park on Saturday afternoon with a powerful punch in the late rounds to score a Tyson-like knockout. Named a 'TDN Rising Star' after debuting a winner at Keeneland late in his juvenile year, Booth's highlights the following season included clearing a pair of optional claimers at Oaklawn that February and Churchill Downs in December. Coming into 2025, the colt appeared ready for stakes competition, but Booth finished a...
With just three weeks remaining to the GI Kentucky Derby, a trio of probable starters turned in workouts over the Churchill main track, while another continued his preparations at Turfway Park. Trainer Steve Asmussen sent out his GII Louisiana Derby romper Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) for a five-furlong move in the company of maiden stablemate Publisher (American Pharoah). Taking to the track around 5:45 a.m., the pair went the distance in 1:00.80 in fractional times of :13, :24.80 and :36.60 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.40 and up seven-eighths...
9th-Oaklawn, $131,000, Alw (NW1$6MX)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 4-11, 4yo/up, 6f, 1:09.27, ft, 5 1/4 lengths. SKELLY (g, 6, Practical Joke--Adande, by Bwana Charlie) ran a hole in the wind--much to the delight of the local crowd--en route to a supremely confident seasonal bow here against outclassed optional claiming rivals. Leaving the blocks like a rocket and immediately establishing control, Skelly rolled through splits of :21.96 and a half in :44.75 as he built up a sizeable margin entering the homestretch. In a position where the rest would need to produce a...
The road to the 151st GI Kentucky Derby concludes with Saturday's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland. Qualifying points are awarded to the first five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale, but won't be enough to have an impact on the first Saturday in May. With a field of nine entered and at least a pair of scratches anticipated, favoritism should come down to either 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner) or Praetor (Into Mischief). Scratched out of the GII Rebel S. due to a fever, the impressive last-to-first GIII Bob...
Steve Asmussen, Stewart Elliott and owner Richard Chandler lead their respective divisions at the conclusion of the 42-day meet at Sam Houston Race Park that wrapped up Sunday. Asmussen won his 17th training title at the northwest Houston racetrack. He was honored as top trainer here in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005; 2014 -2025. Asmussen started 210 runners, finishing with a record of 41 wins, 39 seconds, 24 thirds and earnings of $1,309,988. He added a record-setting sixth victory in Grade 3, $300, Houston Ladies Classic with Winchell Thoroughbred, LLC's...
Racing industry participants are invited to the latest Speaker Series, a popular event hosted by the Thoroughbred Club of America (TCA) and which will feature HISA's CEO Lisa Lazarus as the guest after a day at the races at Keeneland. Lazarus will give a presentation discussing the first years of HISA and how to navigate the coming years. Scott Hazelton will moderate a panel discussion, which will include Dale Romans, Steve Asmussen, Elliot Walden, Dr. Stuart Brown, and possibly others, including Mark Casse. A question and answer session will follow....
HOT SPRINGS, Ark--Clever Again (c, 3, American Pharoah--Flattering {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), coming off a 3 1/4-length maiden score, made the jump to stakes company with aplomb Sunday, going wire-to-wire to win the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The 6-5 shot set fractions of :23.76 and :46.98 with even-money favorite Gaming (Game Winner) tracking in second. Clever Again opened up on the final turn and sailed clear to an easy four-length victory, completing the mile in 1:37.13. It was jockey Jose Ortiz's fifth win in two days of racing...