Belmont Challengers Regroup After Facing Justify
The talented group that tried to end Justify's quest for the Triple Crown appeared to exit the final leg of the 3-year-old classics in good order, with decisions ahead for the rest of their campaigns.
Keyword: Steve Asmussen
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Winchell's Faith Strong in Belmont Contender Tenfold
The lightly raced son of Curlin out of the Tapit mare Temptress will be making just his fifth start June 9 in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), but owner Ron Winchell has no reservations about running the colt back on three weeks' rest.
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Justify Gallops, Tenfold Breezes for Belmont
Undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Justify galloped 1 1/2 miles June 2 at Churchill Downs.
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B. B. Dude First Winner for Shakin It Up
Jerry Durant's B. B. Dude made his first start a winning one and also became the first winner for Spendthrift Farm's Shakin It Up when he took a Churchill Downs maiden race June 1.
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Justify Returns to Track, Bravazo Breezes at Churchill
Dual classic winner Justify returned to the track at Churchill Downs May 31 for a one-mile jog following his half-mile breeze in :46 4/5 May 29, and Bravazo worked a mile in 1:42 4/5.
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Asmussen Earns Second Maryland Jockey Club Bonus
For the second consecutive year, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen claimed the top prize in the Maryland Jockey Club's $100,000 bonus program offered to trainers for their participation in stakes races over Preakness weekend at Pimlico Race Course.
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Justify 'Bright' After Preakness Victory
Regarding the 1 1/2-mile third leg of the Triple Crown, trainer Bob Baffert rolled out the standard horseman's mantra: If all goes well, Justify will run.
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Mitole Runs Them Off Their Feet in Chick Lang
Mitole earned his fourth career victory in what has become his trademark blowout fashion, when he headed every point of call of his 6 1/4-length cakewalk in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
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Three Trainers Eligible for Pimlico Bonus
After securing the top bonus from Pimlico Race Course last year in its program that rewards trainers who support its Preakness (G1) weekend stakes races, Steve Asmussen appears well-positioned for another run.
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Untrapped Seeks Second Graded Score in Pimlico Special
If Untrapped can channel his best form May 18, a second graded stakes victory could be his for the taking when he faces eight others in the $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.
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Tenfold Aims to Take Big Step Forward in Preakness
Tenfold put in the standard week-of exercise the Steve Asmussen barn is known for, covering an easy half-mile in :49 2/5 at Churchill Downs May 14 in preparation for his expected start in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 19 at Pimlico Race Course.
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Tenfold Joins Preakness Fray
Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred Tenfold officially joined the Preakness Stakes (G1) fray, according to his connections, and galloped 1 1/2 miles May 12 at Churchill Downs.
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Bee Jersey Defeats Girvin in Steve Sexton Mile
Chuck Fipke's homebred Bee Jersey earned his first stakes win and third straight victory in the $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile (G3) May 6 at Lone Star Park.
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Mia Mischief Makes Grade in Eight Belles
Front-running Mia Mischief held off a stretch challenge from Talk Veuve to Me and powered home to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) May 4 at Churchill Downs, the first of six graded stakes on the Kentucky Oaks card.
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Derby Contender Combatant in Comfort Zone at Churchill
While Steve Asmussen acknowledges Combatant will have to run the best race of his career in what the Racing Hall of Fame trainer believes is a particularly tough Kentucky Derby field, he does think some factors are working in his favor.
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Combatant Steady in Half-Mile Work for Kentucky Derby
In his first timed move since running fourth in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Combatant put in a typical week-of-the-race move for trainer Steve Asmussen, rolling through a solo four-furlong breeze in :49 3/5 Monday morning.
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Oaklawn Park Sees Double-Digit Handle Increase in 2018
Oaklawn raced 55 of 57 days after two weather cancellations in January for total handle of $209,695,403. The average total daily handle of $3,812,644 was up 15% over 2017.
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Santana Earns 1,000th Victory on Four-Win Day
Ricardo Santana Jr. grabbed the 1,000th victory of his career (since based on the United States mainland) when he guided Westfest to a clear victory in the sixth race April 12 at Oaklawn Park.
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Asmussen Has Strength in Numbers in Southwest
Count the $500,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Feb. 19 as a microcosm of how deep the well of potential runners in Asmussen's shedrow is these days.
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Gun Runner Farewell Brings Out the Best of Emotions
The only thing brighter than Gun Runner's attitude Sunday morning was the wattage of Steve Asmussen's smile as he soaked in every precious moment with the horse who answered almost every bell in his 19-race career.
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Gun Runner Goes Out a Winner in Pegasus World Cup
In the $16.3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park, the 5-year-old son of Candy Ride owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm put an exclamation point on the end of a magnificent career with a determined win.
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Once More, With Feeling for Champion Gun Runner
Because Gun Runner has delivered on almost every one of his connections' aspirations, his team now feels the pressure of wanting him to properly close the book on a chapter that has nothing left to prove.
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Gun Runner Takes Home Horse of the Year Eclipse Award
Gun Runner closed out 2017 with four straight grade 1 wins, including the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).
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Gun Runner Smooth in Final Breeze Before Pegasus
In his typically professional manner Jan. 22, Gun Runner breezed a half-mile in :48.96 at Gulfstream Park in the last timed workout ahead of his career finale in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream.
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Gettysburg Earns Keep as Gun Runner's Perfect Partner
Whatever his problems in the afternoon, Gettysburg can display brilliance in morning workouts. As Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen marveled, few horses have the physical ability to repeatedly and effectively work with a horse such as Gun Runner.
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Instilled Regard Better Than Going in After Lecomte
OXO Equine's Instilled Regard exited his triumph in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) in fantastic fashion according to Christina Jelm, the assistant for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.
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Instilled Regard Much the Best in Lecomte Stakes
Instilled Regard provided his conditioner his first ever win at the venue and signaled his presence on the Road to the Kentucky Derby when he drew clear for a 3 3/4-length win in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course.
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Principe Guilherme Puts Talent to the Test in Lecomte
On Jan. 13, Principe Guilherme will provide his connections an indicator on how much they can keep dreaming when he headlines a full field of 14 sophomores set to start in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes (G3).
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Gun Runner, Seeking the Soul Continue Pegasus Works
Horse of the Year favorite Gun Runner had another methodical work on his march to Gulfstream Park's $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), motoring six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 with Gettysburg at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 7.
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Gun Runner Sets Track Ablaze in Latest Work
With frigid weather looming in New Orleans, trainer Steve Asmussen wanted a little something extra from Gun Runner during his weekly workout Sunday in preparation for Gulfstream Park's $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
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Gun Runner, Seeking the Soul Work Toward Pegasus
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Gun Runner picked up the pace in his Dec. 17 workout at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, motoring five furlongs in 1:00 4/5 in his preparation for the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27.
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Gun Runner Back to Work for Pegasus
Gun Runner had his first timed work Dec. 3 since winning the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), as the Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's colt took a step toward his final career start in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 27.
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Tapit's World
A look at three-time leading sire Tapit, from his up and down racing career to record heights as a stallion.
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Iron Fist Heads Asmussen Bunch on Big Zia Stakes Day
Just 20 days after his fifth-place run in the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), Iron Fist is scheduled to be back in action in the $150,000 Zia Park Championship Handicap Nov. 22.
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Breeders' Cup Sunday Wrap
Claire Novak recaps what's next for Breeders' Cup Classic contenders Gun Runner, West Coast and Collected. Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm.
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Breeders' Cup Saturday Wrap
Claire Novak recaps Breeders' Cup Saturday at Del Mar, including Gun Runners' dramatic victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Sponsored by Darby Dan Farm
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Arrogate, Gun Runner Headline Classic Showdown
The 2017 edition of the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) is one to marvel at.
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Gun Runner Solid in Santa Anita Work
Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Gun Runner put in his third West Coast work toward the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), going five furlongs Oct. 16 at Santa Anita Park.
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Drefong, Gun Runner Head Santa Anita Park Works
Trainer Bob Baffert's efforts to replicate a 2016 schedule with Drefong that saw the son of Gio Ponti secure victory in last year's TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) appears to be on schedule.
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Woodbine Invader Admiralty Pier Brings Class to Bourbon
The Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) could be decided by the class of Woodbine invader Admiralty Pier, a lack of pace, or the potential for thunderstorms Oct. 8 at Keeneland.
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Gun Runner Getting Acquainted with Southern California
The same Gun Runner that Scott Blasi has seen at several other racetracks made his first trip around the Santa Anita Park main track Sept. 27.
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Untrapped Gives Asmussen First Oklahoma Derby Win
It was Steve Asmussen and Ricardo Santana Jr.'s day Sept. 24 at Remington Park and the cherry on top came with an 11-1 upset in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3).
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Rock Steady: Gun Runner Works Bullet Five Furlongs
The full display of Gun Runner's good vibes came during his outing with stablemate Gettysburg Sept. 24, as the 4-year-old colt put in his typically rock-solid work, with a five-furlong bullet in :59 4/5, fastest of 47 drills at the distance.
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Morley, Proscia Suspended for 'Improper' Horse Sale
The start of the Belmont Park fall meet saw Thoroughbred owner Peter Proscia and trainer Tom Morley, both slapped with suspension orders, banned from entering the grounds or having anything to do with racing for 20 days.
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Asmussen, Lanerie Lead Ellis Park Meet
It came down to the next-to-last race of the 2017 Ellis Park meet that ended Sept. 4, but 2016 meet-leader Steve Asmussen repeated as leading trainer, edging 2015 winner Brad Cox 18 wins to 17.
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Copper Bullet Sidelined With Shin Issues
Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Coors Light (G2) winner Copper Bullet will almost surely miss the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) because of shin issues, co-owner Ron Winchell said Sept. 3.
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Gun Runner Much the Best in Woodward
Gun Runner continued his wash, rinse, repeat pattern of excellence Sept. 2 when the chestnut stunner rolled past pacesetter Neolithic on the far turn and drew off to capture the Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) by open lengths.
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Gun Runner the Target in Woodward Stakes
When Gun Runner heads to the starting gate for the Sept. 2 Woodward Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, he will be viewed as the star burning brightest among his peers.
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Gun Runner Puts in Final Woodward Work
Multiple grade 1 winner Gun Runner put in his final breeze the morning of Aug. 28 for the $750,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 2.
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Brown Confirms Cloud Computing to Start in Travers
Trainer Chad Brown confirmed that Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Cloud Computing will start in the $1.25 million Travers Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Aug. 26.
