By Christie DeBernardis
Steve Asmussen had one of the best years in his Hall of Fame career last term thanks to the sensational Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}), who became the conditioner's third Horse of the Year following a gutsy victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. While Gun Runner did his best work at age four, he was a very consistent runner during his sophomore season, sweeping the GI Kentucky Derby prep series at the Fair Grounds and placing third in that year's GI Kentucky Derby.
Asmussen has never won the Run for the Roses, but has he hit the board four times, including a runner-up finish with Lookin At Lee (Lookin at Lucky) last year. The South Dakota native has also won the GI Preakness S. twice with Curlin (2007) and superstar filly Rachel Alexandra (2009), and captured the 2016 GI Belmont S. with Creator (Tapit).
Asmussen holds one of the strongest hands on the Kentucky Derby this term with around a dozen talented sophomore colts in his stable.
SNAPPER SINCLAIR (City Zip)
Snapper Sinclair broke his maiden at second asking in a turf sprint at Saratoga Aug. 14 and followed suit with a victory in the Fasig-Tipton Turf Showcase Juvenile S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 6. Failing to fire when 12th in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Nov. 3, the Bloom Racing Stable colorbearer was switched to the main track this season, finishing a game third in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 13. The flashy bay put in a gutsy performance at odds of 41-1 in the GII Risen Star S. Saturday, finishing second by just a whisker.
“I was very proud of him. He is a total professional. The [GII] Louisiana Derby [Mar. 24] will be next for him.”
NEW YORK CENTRAL
China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and SF Racing's New York Central was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” off a 7 1/4-length triumph in his second start at Churchill Downs Nov. 26. Completing the exacta next out going a mile at Oaklawn Park Jan. 13, the $750,000 FTSAUG purchase cleared his first-level allowance condition Monday going 1 1/16 miles in the mud in Hot Springs (video).
“I was glad to see him win going a mile and a sixteenth on a very tiring racetrack. We will speak with Elliott [Walden], but we did discuss the possibility of him running in the [GIII] Sunland Derby [Mar. 25]. It will be dependent upon how he trains.”
COMBATANT (Scat Daddy)
A second-out graduate at Churchill Downs when switched from turf to dirt in October, Combatant finished second next out in Remington's Springboard Mile S. Dec. 17. The Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton runner completed the exacta again in both the Jan. 15 Smarty Jones S. and Monday's GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn (video).
“He ran a nice race [in the Southwest]. He is twice the bridesmaid. I spoke with his connections this morning and they are pleased with how he came out of the Southwest. We will go forward to the [GII] Rebel [S. Mar. 17].”
ZING ZANG (Tapit)
Earning his diploma at third asking at the Fair Grounds Dec. 16, Zing Zang checked in fourth in the GIII Lecomte S. in NOLA Jan. 13 and was most recently fifth in the Southwest.
“Most likely we will target the Rebel with him and are hoping for a faster surface for him.”
RETIREMENT FUND (Eskendereya)
L and N Racing's Retirement Fund was tabbed a “TDN Rising Star” off a front-running 7 1/4-length victory on debut at the Fair Grounds Dec. 22. The $100,000 FTSAUG buy followed suit with a gate-to-wire optional claimer score in NOLA Jan. 20, but disappointed last time when seventh in the Southwest S.
” It was kind of a disappointing race in the off-going there. I am going to talk to the Levinsons today, but most likely he will go back to the Fair Grounds, where he is two-for-two. If he trains well, the Louisiana Derby is a possibility.”
PRINCIPE GUILHERME (Tapit)
Three Chimneys Farm Principe Guilherme, the first foal out of GISW Aubby K (Street Sense), earned the “TDN Rising Star” moniker after romping by 6 1/4 lengths in his career bow at Churchill Downs in November. The $600,000 KEENOV buy followed suit with an even more impressive victory when stretched to two turns next out at Fair Grounds Dec. 16, rolling clear to an 11 3/4-length score. Runner-up in the Lecomte, the bay was a head-scratching seventh last time in the Risen Star.
“We sent him in for a check up. He was obviously off his performance and if he is not himself, we will find the reason why. We will see what they have to say and go from there.”
MITOLE (Eskendereya)
Third in his Fair Grounds unveiling Nov. 25, Mitole finished second by a half-length next out at Oaklawn Jan. 13, but finished 10 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. The William and Corinne Heiligbrodt runner wired the field for a 10-length graduation last time in Hot Springs Feb. 3 (video), earning a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He is a very fast horse and will most likely stay sprinting right now.”
TENFOLD (Curlin)
Winchell homebred Tenfold took the field from gate-to-wire to graduate by 5 3/4 lengths going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Feb. 9 (video).
“He is a later developing colt that the further he goes, the better he will be. Most likely we will go through the conditions races.”
TITLE READY (More Than Ready)
Earning his diploma at third asking at Keeneland in October, Title Ready checked in third in a Churchill allowance in November and scored a decisive victory next out going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Feb. 2.
“His next race will be the Rebel.”
COPPER BULLET (More Than Ready)
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton's Copper Bullet rolled to “TDN Rising Stardom” with an eight-length triumph at second asking at Churchill Downs May 25. Runner-up next out in the GIII Bashford Manor S. there in June, the $200,000 KEESEP buy won the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 13 (video) and was subsequently shelved, but has been working steadily since January.
“We are not back up to a race for him yet. Already being a stakes winner, there won't be any easy spots for him to start back. We aren't sure where the right spot to start him will be. He is a very talented and very impressive horse.”
RERIDE (Candy Ride {Arg})
Tagged a “TDN Rising Star” after romping by 6 1/2 lengths in his career bow at Churchill in June, Reride proved his versatility with a win on the turf at Keeneland next out Oct. 25. Sixth in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 25, the Winchell homebred captured the Big Drama S. at Delta Downs Jan. 13.
“He is in the Mine That Bird Derby Sunday [at Sunland]. We think that is a very good spot for him. He is very versatile. We have had a few out of the family that are exactly like him.”
TAP DADDY (Tapit)
A second-out graduate when switched to the turf at Kentucky Downs in September, Tap Daddy checked in second in the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. at Keeneland a month later. Capturing a turf route at Churchill Downs Nov. 18, the Winchell homebred completed the trifecta when returned to the main track for the Smarty Jones.
“He is going to go back to the turf. We will run in the Black Gold [S.] at Fair Grounds Mar. 3.”
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