By Christie DeBernardis
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.–After leading the sophomore male division through the winter and early spring, Epicenter (Not This Time) ended up second as the favorite in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Losing none of his luster in those defeats, the Winchell Thoroughbreds colorbearer rebounded with a decisive score in the GII Jim Dandy S. and had his connections feeling confident he could finally get the Grade I he was lacking, but certainly deserved.
Epicenter did just that Saturday with an emphatic score in the prestigious GI Runhappy Travers S. in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 49,672, the largest since American Pharoah finished second in the 2015 renewal. It was the first win in the Saratoga feature for both his trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Joel Rosario.
Epicenter could not have had a better setting for his career high between the history of New York's most popular racing venue and the picture-perfect, sunny and 75-degree day. His connections weren't the only ones confident that Saturday was the colt's day and he was sent off the even-money favorite.
Away from stall six in good order, Epicenter established position in a joint third alongside Preakness winner Early Voting (Gun Runner) going into the first turn. He hugged the fence as GI Haskell Invitational S. winner Cyberknife (Gun Runner) was pressed by longshot Ain't Life Grand (Not This Time) through early fractions of :23.32 and :47.63.
Shortly after three quarters went up in 1:11.43, Cyberknife jumped away from his foes and both Ain't Life Grand and Early Voting called it a day. The GI Arkansas Derby winner's clear lead didn't last long however as Epicenter rolled up on his outside full of run and the stage was set as the pair turned for home together.
Running three wide in the lane, Epicenter bounded clear with ease under a vigorous hand ride from Joel Rosario, who peaked over his right shoulder several times in the final eighth of a mile. He had nothing to worry about however. Cyberknife gave it everything he had, but was never threatening the winner, who hit the line 5 1/4 lengths clear. He determinedly held on for second, just a nose ahead of Jim Dandy runner-up Zandon (Upstart), who was a neck in front of Derby winner Rich Strike (Keen Ice).
“It was really gratifying,” said Asmussen. “We walked over today with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse, but definitely remember we felt exactly that way walking over for this year's Derby. He was away cleanly and thought he was very comfortable and attending close enough to the pace, and just ran a very dominating performance against a very good group.”
The Hall of Famer continued, “Beforehand, there was a lot of concern about who was going to be on the lead. Early Voting appeared to have the most pace, but they definitely did not want to be on the lead this time. Off of that there was a concern how much pace there would be, but Joel [Rosario] handled Epicenter. He was away clean and in the rhythm he wants to be in and I thought he finished up the mile and a quarter very strong.”
As for winning his first Travers, Asmussen said, “It's really exciting at Saratoga, coming from a racing family. What Saratoga means to American racing, what the Travers means to Saratoga. I want to help paint the canoe. Saratoga is about tradition. Racing is about tradition. To have your name on that cup is very special.”
“As long as I can remember, the history of Saratoga and the horses my family has run over the years, the Travers is always the marquee race,” Ron Winchell said. “Coming here with Gun Runner and running third and Midnight Bourbon running second last year, it just makes you want to win it that much more. It makes this win in this race that much more special for myself and my family.”
The owner added, “One of the reasons Steve mentioned we came here is knowing we ran second in the Derby and the Preakness and one of the few horses–the favorite–and not having a Grade I. This was a very natural step of where we had to go. We had to beat some of the best in the class to obtain the championship and obtain one of our goals.”
“He broke very well. It was a good trip,” said Rosario. “I was just following those two horses on the lead. I was inside there and I just wanted to take my time with where he was. He looked like he was going one speed and then he kept building and building and building and I felt pretty good turning for home. I could see he was relaxing and looking around and I felt like I had plenty more, so it felt good.”
On winning his record 12th graded-stakes in a single season at Saratoga, Rosario said, “It's amazing. I have a great agent. Ron Anderson is amazing and I have to thank him and everyone for all the opportunities they've given me.”
As for the runner-up Cyberknife, trainer Brad Cox said, “I can't predict what anyone else is going to do but I know we're not going to take away anything that comes easy and we were doing it easy enough. We were the second best horse today. At a mile-and-a-quarter, I thought the horse really battled and battled for second, held and I'm very, very proud of our horse. I thought he trained well leading up and he ran a big race. When I saw three-quarters in eleven I thought wow, we're in a good spot here. Obviously, once I saw Joel ranging up, as easy as he was, I thought this was going to be [difficult], once they straightened up, I thought 'we got a shot here', but you could tell he was getting away from us a little bit. He's a very good horse. Hats off to the winners, they deserve it. We were second best and I'm very proud of our horse.”
The Makings of a Potentially Eclipse-Worthy Season…
Graduating at second asking going a mile at Churchill Nov. 13, Epicenter dominated the Gun Runner S. next out at Fair Grounds Dec. 26, an appropriate victory given the race was named for his connections Horse of the Year. Missing by a head after leading the way in the GII Lecomte S. at that venue Jan. 22, the $260,000 KEESEP buy wired the GII Risen Star S. Feb. 19 and followed suit with a decisive score in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 26.
Sent off as the 4-1 favorite in the Run for the Roses, Epicenter took the lead with a half-mile left to run, but was run down late by 80-1 shot Rich Strike, settling for second by 3/4 of a length. Favored again in the May 21 Preakness, the bay produced a powerful rally, but could not catch Early Voting, finishing second once again. Skipping the GI Belmont S. with an eye on the Travers, Epicenter was next seen in the July 30 Jim Dandy, where he powered home to a good-looking score.
Pedigree Notes:
Providing his young sire Not This Time with his third Grade I winner, Epicenter is the first colt to win at the highest level for the Taylor Made stallion and first to achieve the feat around two turns. He is also one of eight graded winners and 19 black-type scorers for his sire. Epicenter is the sixth Grade I victory out of a daughter of Candy Ride. The winner's dam Silent Candy captured the Hatoof S. at Arlington and was Grade III-placed at that venue. She was purchased by Westwind Farms for $130,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale in foal to Scat Daddy. Epicenter was her most expensive foal sold at public auction and her best runner by far. She is also responsible for an unraced juvenile colt by Always Dreaming, who brought $140,000 from Carolyn Wilson at this year's OBS March Sale; a yearling filly by Tapiture; and a 2022 filly by Outwork. Silent Candy was bred back to Not This Time this term.
Saturday, Saratoga
RUNHAPPY TRAVERS S.-GI, $1,250,000, Saratoga, 8-27, 3yo, 1 1/4m, 2:00.72, ft.
1–EPICENTER, 126, c, 3, by Not This Time
1st Dam: Silent Candy (SW & GSP, $182,208), by Candy Ride (Arg)
2nd Dam: Silent Queen, by King of Kings (Ire)
3rd Dam: Soundproof (Ire), by Ela-Mana-Mou (Ire)
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($260,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Westwind Farms (KY); T-Steven M.
Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $670,000. Lifetime Record: 10-6-3-0,
$2,940,639. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Cyberknife, 126, c, 3, Gun Runner–Awesome Flower, by
Flower Alley. ($400,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Gold Square LLC;
B-Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $230,000.
3–Zandon, 126, c, 3, Upstart–Memories Prevail, by
Creative Cause. ($170,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Jeff Drown;
B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $125,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, NO, NK. Odds: 1.00, 4.50, 6.20.
Also Ran: Rich Strike, Gilded Age, Artorius, Ain't Life Grand, Early Voting.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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