Steve Asmussen
In what was probably America's most anticipated race in the older horse division since the GI Breeders' Cup Classic nearly four weeks ago, the 151st running of the GII Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs Friday lived up to expectations and then some. Runaway GII Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes winner and Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer Magnitude (c, 3, Not This Time--Rockadelic, by Bernardini), one of the most heralded 3-year-olds on the Derby Trail at the beginning of the year, put it all together in his first start against older horses to capture...
3rd-CD, 120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 7f, 1:56 p.m. The second of two 'Stars of Tomorrow' days at Churchill Downs features a card loaded with promise. In a battle of homebred heavyweights, POWERED BY FAMILY (Quality Road) debuts for St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds. Out of GI Personal Ensign winner Icon Project, who RNA'd at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 1,450,000gns in 2015, the filly is a half to GSW Fashion Business (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Out of a Grade I winner herself, Icon Project is a half-sister to...
Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Copper Wind (Gun Runner—Copper Quest, by Lemon Drop Kid) was overlooked at 9-1 for her career debut at Fair Grounds on Thursday and rewarded her backers when coming from just off the pace to win. Stalking even-money choice Quick Kiss (Beau Liam) for much of the early running, the Winchell homebred made her move while three wide a furlong from home and proved best on the day while holding the favorite at bay by 1 ¾ lengths at the wire. Ageis (Essential Quality) was 5 1/2 lengths...
It wasn't a perfect night for Paco Lopez Thursday night at Delta Downs as he was 0-for-2, finishing eighth with his first mount of the night and third in his second try. But, according to his agent, Jose Garcia, Lopez saw it as a positive night for the simple fact that he was back doing what he loves. "He was very happy to be back," Garcia said. "You have a rider who, basically, loves to ride horses." Lopez had not ridden since Sept. 22 at Parx. Afterward he was suspended...
7th-Churchill Downs, $122,888, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.22, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. STRADALE (c, 2, Yaupon--Twitterpated, by Stormy Atlantic) hit the board twice during his time at Saratoga, running third and second July 19 and Aug. 30, respectively, against maiden company. He bobbled and was knocked around at the start of the GI Champagne Stakes Oct. 4 and ran a flat fifth by 12 lengths as Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) won by 6 1/2 lengths. Sent off here as the 9-5 favorite, Stradale bumped with an outside rival after tossing...
2nd-Churchill Downs, $124,813, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 10-26, 2yo, 1m, 1:36.70, ft, 9 lengths. SOLDIER N DIPLOMAT (c, 2, Army Mule--Diplomatic Miss, by Violence) debuted at Saratoga July 26 and held off a late charge to break his maiden by a neck. His grit impressed his connections so much that they opted for a try at the GI Hopeful Stakes in his next jump Sept. 1, and he faded to fourth behind a trio of 'TDN Rising Stars, presented by Hagyard'--namely MGISW Ted Noffey (Into Mischief), Buetane (Tiz the Law),...
The 2025 Fall Meet wrapped Saturday with a season-record of $217-million in all-sources wagering, Keeneland announced via press release. Propelled by record purse money and overall good weather for the duration of the meeting, the 17 days of racing totaled $217,266,759 on the season--surpassing the previous record of $210,165,945 set last year for the 2024 Fall Meet. It was a 3.38% increase. Average daily purses of $1,341,107 also set a Keeneland record and races averaged 9.2 starters per card. Opening Fall Stars Weekend (excluding whole-card simulcasting at Keeneland) generated $48.9-million...
Steve Asmussen became the first trainer to win 11,000 races in North American when Beau Soleil won the eighth race at Remington Park Saturday night. Asmussen's night at Remington Park began with two quick victories in the second and third races, putting him at 10,999 North American wins before Beau Soleil clinched the milestone victory in the eighth race. The trainer's son, Erik Asmussen, rode all three winners. "I'm extremely proud and grateful to a lot of great help, great owners and great horses," Asmussen said. Asmussen has won an...
Ahead of a weekend which offers no fewer than 26 graded stakes races spread across three days, the GIII Matron Stakes at Aqueduct offers a warm up of sorts as 2-year-old fillies sprint six furlongs on the outer turf course in New York. Snow Face Princess (Midshipman) made headlines over the summer, taking the listed Bolton Landing Stakes at Saratoga before topping the Fasig-Tipton August Digital Sale where Winchell Thoroughbreds picked her up for $775,000. Making her first start for trainer Steve Asmussen at Kentucky Downs, she settled for a...
Trade remained buoyant at the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington, with statistics continuing to increase over one year ago. With this year's gross having already exceeded figures for the entire sale in 2024, the sale generated $472,224,000 for 1,771 yearlings (through the ring) sold, which is 23.47% higher than the corresponding period last year when 1,740 horses brought $382,469,500. Average price of $266,643 is 21.31% above $219,810 from 2024, and the median of $180,000 is 20% over $150,000 last year. During Tuesday's session, Keeneland sold 276 yearlings (through the ring)...
Gun Runner, the Three Chimneys sensation whose yearlings topped the first four days of the ongoing Keeneland September sale, showed once again why he's in such demand as Spice Runner (c, 2, Gun Runner--Simple Surprise, by Cowboy Cal) captured the GIII Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs Saturday. The one-turn, one-mile Iroquois awards the first points of the 2025-26 season to the 2026 GI Kentucky Derby starting gate on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale. Comport (Collected), who had finished in front of Spice Runner in their two previous meetings, was second, while maiden...
4th-BAQ, $85K, Msw, 2yo, 6fT, 2:37 p.m. ET. A $500,000 grad from the Fasig-Tipton October Yearling sale, FOURTH DIMENSION (Not This Time) makes his first start for Wathnan and trainer Bill Mott. Initially going for $200,000 during Keeneland January, the dark bay is out of Aureum (Medaglia d'Oro), who was a 220,000gns purchase at the 2021 Tattersalls July sale by Blandford Bloodstock. Aureum--who also produced current filly 3-year-old in-training Loveontheleftbank (Invincible Spirit {Ire})--is herself a half-sister to MGISP Nemoralia (More Than Ready), the dam of GII Lake Placid Stakes heroine...