Asmussen Loaded for TTA Sales Futurities at Lone Star

Edited release from Lone Star Park

There's almost $250,000 on the line in two Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurities June 12 at Lone Star Park, and trainer Steve Asmussen means business. He has 10 2-year-old entered: seven colts and three fillies.

"The finals are yet to be run, but if we don't win both of them, we'll be disappointed, and that's the truth," Asmussen said. "We were very pleased with the trials."

The fields for the five-furlong TTA Sales Futurities--a $129,830 division for fillies and a $118,570 division for colts and geldings--were determined through trials held May 26-27 at Lone Star. The filly division drew 11 entrants, and the colt and gelding division 12.

Asmussen will saddle morning-line favorite Rockin' Kate in the filly division. Owned by Ox Creek Farm, the Texas-bred daughter of Seneca Jones won a trial division by five lengths in her career debut. Shane Sellers, in from Kentucky, is named to ride. Gentry Farms' Glitter Sexy and Ro Parra's Berdelia, first and second, respectively, in a trial, also are trained by Asmussen.

Jones and Brigh's Expect Wings, trained by Mike Stidham, is the 9-5 morning-line choice in the colt and gelding division. By Valid Expectations, Expect Wings is one-for-one and will be ridden by Ted Gondron.

Among Asmussen's seven challengers is Heiligbrodt Racing Stable's Goes (by Cien Fuegos), who broke his maiden by nine lengths in his career debut in April at Keeneland. Another Asmussen trainee is Ackerley Brothers Farms' Valid Virtue (by Valid Expectations), who is two-for-two with a state-bred maiden special weight win and a trial victory.

"(Mike) Stidham's colt ran fastest (in the trials) and he's a legitimate horse, but when you run seven, you expect to win the race," Asmussen said.

First post time June 12 at Lone Star is 1:35 p.m. CDT. The TTA Sales Futurities are slated for the eighth and ninth races, with post times of 4:51 p.m. and 5:19 p.m., respectively.

Asmussen entered the June 10 program at Lone Star with 12 2-year-old winners from 27 starters--a 44% win clip. He is the dominant trainer of 2-year-olds at the meet with eight more wins than his closest rival, Ed Dodwell.