Steve Asmussen

WinStar Farm and China Horse Club's Life Is Good (Into Mischief), who won the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. in dominating fashion, has drawn gate one in the $12-million G1 Dubai World Cup. The 4-year-old colt is six for seven, with five of his wins at the graded level. Elliott Walden, president and racing manager of co-owner WinStar Farm said, "It's an 11-horse field. He has enough time to get over, and has enough speed to put himself in a good position. It's...

   The TDN's 'Let's Talk'--a podcast series featuring TDN's Christina Bossinakis and TVG's on-air analyst Gabby Gaudet, offers candid discussion on personal and professional issues often faced within the racing community.    The latest edition presents a trio of successful veterinarians--The Stronach Group's Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Dionne Benson, equine surgeon Dr. Patty Hogan (Hogan Equine Clinic in Cream Ridge, NJ) and longtime racetrack practitioner Dr. Bill Hawk, who counts Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen among his vast clientele. Over the course of the last decade, racing has faced significant...

7th-Fair Grounds, $56,000, Alw (NW3$X)/Opt. Clm ($80,000), 3-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.21, ft, 6 1/2 lengths. CLAIRIERE (f, 4, Curlin--Cavorting {MGISW, $2,063,000}, by Bernardini), fresh off a 2021 season that saw her victorious in both the GI Cotillion S. and the GII Rachel Alexandra S., got back in the winner's circle Wednesday to begin her 2022 campaign. Though a last out fourth by only three-quarters of a length to longshot Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, Clairiere posted a career-high 101 Beyer Speed...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency By Stefanie Grimm 7th-FG, $56K, Alw/Opt. Clm ($80k), 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 5:05 p.m. ET After a last-out fourth in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff where she was defeated only three-quarters of a length by longshot Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), GISW & MGSP CLAIRIERE (Curlin) starts her 2022 season Wednesday at the site of some her greatest successes. Prior to her defeat in the Breeders' Cup, she took the GI Cotillion S. Sept. 25 at Parx and, earlier that season, captured the GII...

Saturday's GII Azeri S. at Oaklawn Park features several of the most prominent figures in the Distaff division each lining up to get their first graded stakes win of the 2022 season. The reigning champion sprinter and winner of the 2021 GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Ce Ce (Elusive Quality) returns to the two-turn distance after spending much of her 2021 season at seven-furlongs. She's been plenty successful at this distance before, including a win the 2020 GI Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park and two third-place efforts in...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. In a race that didn't deserve a loser, Stonestreet homebred Marsalis (c, 3, Curlin--Hot Dixie Chick, by Dixie Union) came up a head short on debut after running hard the entire way on the GII Risen Star S. undercard Feb. 19 (video). The well-bred chestnut's worktab was highlighted by a five-furlong bullet from the gate in :59 4/5 (1/47) at Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen's Fair Grounds base...

The unbeaten Morello (Classic Empire) pressed and pounced his way to a dazzling 4 1/2-length victory in Saturday's one-turn mile GIII Gotham S. at the Big A. Drawn wide in post nine, the even-money favorite Morello, a last out five-length winner of the local Jimmy Winkfield S. Feb. 6, was bumped hard at the start. Seemingly undeterred, he raced under a nice hold while a stalking second behind fellow two-for-two Dean's List (Speightstown) through an opening quarter in :23.47. He cruised up alongside the pacesetter approaching the quarter pole and...

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won the first four runnings of the GIII Honeybee S. starting way back in 1988, and after picking up another trophy in 2007, sits tied with fellow Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen at a record five wins in Oaklawn's penultimate GI Kentucky Oaks prep. Lukas looks well positioned to break that tie with Asmussen as he sends out expected heavy favorite Secret Oath (Arrogate) in Saturday's renewal. Briland Farm homebred Secret Oath was a second-out romper around two turns at Churchill on Halloween before finishing a...

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) made up for his close call in the GIII Lecomte S. with a front-running score in the GII Risen Star S. at the Fair Grounds, moving him up in the GI Kentucky Derby points rankings. Winchell Thoroughbreds and winning trainer Steve Asmussen also teamed up to take this event in 2016 with future Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Away a breath slower than the rest, Epicenter quickly got his hooves beneath him and tugged his way up to the front under Joel Rosario....

Stonestreet Stables' Bombdiggity became the 30th 'TDN Rising Star' for her super sire Into Mischief with an impressive score at Fair Grounds. Bumped at the start of her unveiling at Churchill Downs Nov. 6, the $600,000 KEESEP purchase faded to be sixth after setting the early pace. Receiving Lasix for the first time in this sophomore bow, Bombdiggity broke much better this time around, jumping up to take immediate control. Coasting through a :22.66 first quarter, the bay was well within herself as she turned for home in front after...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency BELGRADE MAKES FIRST START FOR NEW CONNECTIONS 1st-TAM, $35K, Opt. Clm. ($75K), 3yo, 7f, 12:13 p.m. Carl and Yurie Pascarella went to $700,000 for KEEJAN sale topper BELGRADE (Hard Spun) with GI Kentucky Derby dreams and he makes his first start for his new owners and new trainer Graham Motion here. A $45,000 FTKSEL purchase by Randy Bradshaw, the chestnut romped by six lengths in his career bow at Fair Grounds Dec. 18 for trainer Brendan Walsh. His dam is a half to GSW &...

Just a $95,000 Keeneland September yearling buy by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, MGISW juvenile Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) found his home around one turn in 2021 and garnered champion male sprinter honors off of the strength of his complete body of work. His signature win came when out-dueling fellow superstar Life is Good (Into Mischief) in Saratoga's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S., and he followed that up with a smashing success in the GI Gallant Bob S. at Parx for trainer Steve Asmussen. Jackie's Warrior, whose breeding rights...