By Brian DiDonato
It was announced Monday that Steve Asmussen will be among those inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame this summer at Saratoga, but the second-most-winningest American trainer of all time still has unfinished business to attend to. The 50-year-old veteran has never won a GI Kentucky Derby, but boasts two strong chances in this year's renewal with GI Arkansas Derby hero Creator (Tapit) and GII Louisiana Derby winner Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}).
“It's very unique that with our Hall of Fame, you're still an active participant when it's being voted on,” Asmussen noted during an NTRA teleconference Tuesday. “So, I personally feel like we're in the middle of this and we've got a lot of great things to do… The timing of it with the announcement coming 12 days before the Derby, when we have two excellent chances, we feel, going in, is very exciting. Obviously, we feel like there's a lot left to accomplish.”
The two-time Eclipse Award winner sent both of his Derby contenders out for strong breezes Monday under the Twin Spires, and couldn't be more pleased with how both colts are doing.
“Right now, [after] watching the works [Monday] that they put in, and how they came out of it, I'm just extremely proud of the whole team for the physical shape and mental condition that they're in,” the trainer said. “I think that is our responsibility and what we have control over. How fast the competition is, or how fast they actually are as individuals, is out of our hands. But I think that we are at our best when it matters most. That still may not be enough, but that's what our responsibility is, and what has us excited about this year's Derby.”
Asmussen's best Derby finish came with 2011 runner-up Nehro (Mineshaft). He also finished third in a very strong 2007 renewal with eventual two-time Horse of the Year Curlin (Smart Strike).
“Curlin is the best chance I've ever had at anything every day,” he quipped when asked if 2016 was his best chance to take home the roses. “But I do think that we've learned from those experiences and we've put ourselves in a better position coming into this year's Derby.”
WinStar Farm's late-developing Creator does his best running late, having rallied from last to upend the Arkansas Derby
Apr. 16. Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner employed stalk-and-pounce tactics when annexing the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 20 and Louisiana Derby Mar. 26.
“It's an excellent conversation for us,” Asmussen said when asked to discuss the complimentary running styles of Creator and Gun Runner. “When you imagine a race, you work out a scenario in your head which is favorable to you and how you would want it to unfold. I feel very good about how sharp–or how much life–Gun Runner is showing. He's always been a very handy horse, so I think he's capable of attending the pace or at least not letting the pace get away from him… Creator, out the back the last couple of races of his, has been very confident off of his Arkansas Derby win, so I do think we'll have a few more options with Creator than we've had in the past. I do believe the horses are a compliment to each other.”
You don't win nearly 7,300 races like Asmussen has without understanding the good fortune that goes into each trip to the winner's circle, and the lack thereof that often contributes to a defeat. Asmussen acknowledged that plenty can go wrong trip-wise in a field of 20, and the possibility that another runner might simply turn out to be faster, but he doesn't sound as if he'd be interested in trading places with anybody at this point.
“These two horses are very special–just personality-wise, ability wise,” he offered. “Creator has just blossomed before our eyes… Just to watch him train over the last five weeks from the colt that was here last fall, it's very exciting. He's got a sense of direction, a sense of purpose, a sense of calm about him that he didn't have previously.
“Gun Runner's work–1:12 1/5 here at Churchill after the break, out in 1:39, very few horses are capable of doing that. That separates them and has us excited and gives us a great amount of confidence. You see how they rest in their stall, eat up, it's not overwhelming to them. It puts a smile on the face of everyone involved and makes us feel good about our chances.”
If Creator or Gun Runner run as well next Saturday as they seem to be doing now, there might be another major accomplishment listed on Asmussen's Hall of Fame plaque come this August.
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