#Epicenter dominates the Risen Star Stakes on the Road to the #KyDerby for Joel Rosario, Steve Asmussen, and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Asmussen would love to help make Verne Winchell's prediction come true Saturday evening at Churchill but he's also appreciative of what he's accomplished as well as his racing family. Proprietary to and 2023 Equibase Company LLC. And he did", said Asmussen. This runner won the Sunland Derby and did beat Messier last year, but I just dont trust this one. He was sired by Not This Time, a graded stakes winner who finished second in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile before his career has cut short by injury. Laurel Park Horses from Japan have proven that they deserve to be in on the conversation. Image courtesy of Blood Horse. "This year's Oaks and Derby are extremely exciting in terms of how strong the races look and how well all of the horses are doing going into them. New players, bet $5, win $100 on the Preakness and get Win Bet Insurance if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd. Trained by Steve Asmussen Top Speed Figure: 97 Equibase Speed Figure This runner gave arguably the most impressive Kentucky Derby prep of the season thus far when he rolled late to take the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. ", Photo: Skip DicksteinSteve Asmussen enjoys a lighter moment with D. Wayne Lukas May 4 at Churchill Downs, Ron Winchell after Echo Zulu's 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies win, Steve Asmussen enjoys a lighter moment with D. Wayne Lukas May 4 at Churchill Downs, With Epicenter, Asmussen Eyes Elusive Kentucky Derby. He went to the early lead and set sensible fractions. In the lane Charge it responded like a shot to urging, but wandered right up the tail of White Abarrio while closing. Also, horses that exited the Kentucky Derby that finished in the top half of the field own a sizable advantage coming into the Preakness, according to HRN. That may not be everything as speed hasnt really held at Oaklawn, but this one feels like a cut below the runners that will end up in the gate. Brown's assistant Baldo Hernandez is overseeing the colt's activities until the trainerarrives Friday. If you like Crown Pride, this one also has to at least be on your radar. Assmussen holds the unfortunate distinction of most Derby runners without a victory. If this one gained some professionalism from the start, he may be the likeliest Derby winner we saw all weekend. Ron's Winchell's father, Verne, who passed away in 2002, predicted his son would reach Churchill's most hallowed ground. He's the leading two-year-old stallion in the world. Epicenter (7-5) Jockey: Joel Rosario Trainer: Steve Asmussen Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds Career record: 5 starts - 3 wins - 1 second - 0 thirds Career earnings: $410,639 Earnings per start: $82,128 Top Equibase Speed Figure: 97 Kentucky Derby points: 64 Pedigree: Not This Time - Silent Candy, by Candy Ride Color: Bay However, he tired in the stretch and finished sixth. In the race he ran almost the same trip as the winner except he was inside the whole time. 2022 PREAKNESS STAKES BETTING PROFILES TOP CONTENDERS. He pressed the early pace while racing two-wide, then moved to the lead at the top of the stretch and won handily by 6+12 lengths. As has been the Midnight Lute colt's custom in recent starts, he lagged behind early Saturdayracing eighth of as Gun Runner Stakes winner Epicenter shot to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile race with. Epicenter is a 4 year old colt that was born in 2019 and retired -> race from 2021 to 2022. "The only way I can explain it is, it just wasn't meant to be," Blasi said, adding of the torrid pace that included the first-quarter mile in a Derby-record :21.78, "I don't think anybody saw those fractions coming the first three-quarters of a mile of the race. ", Photo: Anika MiskarEarly Voting gallops at Pimlico. "We walked over today with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse," said Asmussen, "but definitely remember we felt exactly that way walking over for this year's Derby. It looked like it was easy for him in the moment.. 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. This one just barely cracked the top 3 of the Louisiana Derby. Equibase Company is the Official Supplier of Racing Information and Statistics to America's Best Racing, Breeders' Cup, Daily Racing Form, NTRA, The Jockey Club, TRA, TVG and XpressBet. On December 4, 2022, Coolmore Stud announced that Epicenter would stand at their Ashford Stud for 2023 at a fee of $45,000.[27]. Simplification horse rating and status. ET. Saturday, January 22, 2022 Post Time 7:20 PM E.T. Jockey Corey Lanerie tried to find room between rivals as he turned Smile Happy into the homestretch. Racing achievements and Top 100 Rankings include North American (U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico) Thoroughbred races only. He's won pretty much every other race. [23] The Daily Racing Form later reported that Epicenter suffered a lateral condylar fracture to his right foreleg and was expected to undergo surgery at Rood & Riddle the following morning. ', "It's typical of him. [6] He returned on November 13 in another maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, this time at a distance of one mile. He's not going to beat us.' The Florida Derby was his third career race. Maybe needed to be a tad closer early, trainer Kenny McPeek said. We're not smart enough to give up.". "Just an easy gallop," Yakteen said. To get the full benefits of numberFire, please sign up. It might be a tougher task to run as well off nearly three months away from the races as compared to Epicenter and Trafalgar, but if Pappacap is fit to run as well as he did in his last race off workouts alone he should be a strong factor in this years Lecomte Stakes. Nevertheless this horse had a really weird trip and still won convincingly at Oaklawn Park. He seemed to be put together like a Derby horse. "I've had the disappointment and survived it. "He is tired right now," Rivera said. Photo: Rick SamuelsEpicenter gallops at Churchill Downs. Five weeks later in the Breeders Cup Juvenile, once again Pappacap faced Corniche and while that one rolled wire-to-wire on top as the heavy favorite, Pappacap finished second of 11 in a fine effort, earning a career-best 95 figure in the process. If ever there was a Derby Fever horse this might be the one. Print; Tweet Email. [4], Epicenter was sold at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $260,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds, owned by Ron Winchell. Moving forward this is what we wanted to see. No thank you. Post time at 7:01 p.m. He has twice won the Preakness Stakes (G1); with the aforementioned Curlin in 2007 and filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009. He broke slowly so jockey Joel Rosario moved him to the inside where he rated in third place. Breeder: Southern Equine Stables, LLC. Handicappers will point to the huge closing kick this one has showed in the last two races. 2009-2019 numberFire, Inc. Certain headlines thanks to Rotoworld. They won the Kentucky Derby. 2009-2023 numberFire, Inc. Certain headlines thanks to Rotoworld. Other highly regarded contenders included Zandon (Blue Grass Stakes), Taiba (Santa Anita Derby), White Abarrio (Florida Derby), Messier (second in Santa Anita Derby), Cyberknife (Arkansas Derby) and Mo Donegal (Wood Memorial). Zandon was closing on his outside while on the inside, Rich Strike found room on the rail. ** Get a $150 deposit match from AmWager + Daily Rewards**, Epicenter, recovering from surgeries, arrives at Ashford Stud, Flightline and friends: See the 2022 Eclipse Award finalists, Flatter: At last, Eclipse Awards decisions have been made, Division Rankings: This Eclipse voter has made up his mind, Eclipse opinion: Epicenter has led Taiba every step of the way, Kentucky Derby prep: Gotham Stakes 2023 odds and analysis, Work tab: Cody's Wish drills for 1st time since Breeders' Cup win, Head to Head: Handicapping Fountain of Youth 2023, Romans wins weight battle, now looks to Fountain of Youth, Ky. Derby prep: 1 horse can beat Yakteen 5 in San Felipe, HRN Speed figures powered by Colts Neck data. "You look at the third-place Derby finishes by Curlin and Gun Runner and I've had horses that were good enough, they just weren't fast enough on that day or the circumstances didn't allow it," Asmussen said of his Derby drought. She is talented and will be a deserving favorite in the Oaks, but not good enough to win the Derby. On the final turn, he moved to the outside and began closely steadily, striking the lead near the head of the stretch.
This is because after stalking in second and taking the lead to draw away in the stretch by 1 1/2 lengths, Trafalgar was challenged in the final yards but held his ground to emerge victorious by a head. But when you start running a 108, you can compete with anybody. It is a wait and see for me on this one, but I lean pass. Considering the win was at Fair Grounds and at the distance of the Lecomte and Epicenter is making only his fourth career start and second around two-turns, this colt is the one to beat in the Lecomte. He was squeezed back at the break and settled near the back of the pack. (I will reference Equibase's Speed Figure and BRIS and Beyer speed figures, which tells you how fast a horse has been running in each of its races -- adjusted for track, distances, and conditions. 1993 . The Medaglia dOro filly suffered an injury to her right front leg. He will enter the Kentucky Derby with four wins from six starts and boasts purse earnings of $1,010,639. Photo: Heather JacksonEcho Zulu May 1 at Churchill Downs. All Rights Reserved. Of the horses out of the Rebel it is probably the one that I would like best. Armagnac went gate to wire in the 1 1/16-mile race that followed a fourth-place finish in the April 9 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), 121/2 lengths behind stablemate Taiba. The way he did it today, the mile and a quarter (of the Derby) shouldn't be a problem. Epicenter had beaten him by 14 lengths in the Gun Runner Stakes over the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. This one couldnt beat Classic Causeway who didnt exactly flatter the Tampa Bay runners on Saturday. "So I literally know what it feels like to think you're going to win the Derby, but it didn't happen.". "We thought that about him all along, right from the beginning," Winchell said. Longines Breeders' Cup Classic participant - 2022. Epicenter closed steadily, first on the inside and then to the outside as Early Voting shifted towards the rail. We thought that about him all along, right from the beginning, Winchell said. Without a ton of early pressure expected on the projected pace-setter Early Voting, Epicenter has the pace advantage and also benefits from the cutback in distance from the Derby. He found it with about 330 yards to go and was making up ground at the end, but it was too late to catch Epicenter. Even if she had won the race there was a strong possibility she was going to the Oaks instead. O'Neill said he is scheduled to fly to Baltimore from California Wednesday night and will be at the barn some time Thursday afternoon. La Crte is comfortable and weight bearing, a Tweet from owner Stonestreet Stables said Saturday night. It seems like he can be special. I thought this horse would be written off due to the low speed figure earned in the last race. Keeneland Epicenter has raced at Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, Keeneland, Pimlico Race Course, Saratoga with wins at Churchill Downs, Fair Grounds, Saratoga. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter (Not This Time) put in his final work ahead of next week's GI Kentucky Derby with a five-furlong drill in 1:01.00 (3/6) at Churchill Downs Sunday.Over a muddy . The New York prep circuit has been most terrible in the Kentucky Derby, but this year there are some sneaky signals that this could be the year for these runners. He was pulled up on the first turn after an injury to his right forelimb. But I think getting the wins (record) has made me reflect and look back and just realize how blessed I am; and to have my family involved in it. He said the son of Not This Time is well within himself in working four times since the March 26 Louisiana Derby, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.80 April 17 at Churchill. Presidential was impressive when winning by seven and three-quarter lengths in his second career start, but it was nearly five months ago so he could be a bit short of ready for this caliber of field. This one is a Derby pass for me. Breeder: Winchell Farms Trainer: Steve Asmussen Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC Record: 6-4-1-0 ET, following the renovation break. "I walked him this morning because he was feeling so good. "We're very pleased with how the training has gone for both Epicenter and Echo Zulu," Asmussen said. His time of 1:54.38 for 1+316 miles set a new track record. "I got 23 different feelings on the Derby that I very vividly remember. Curlin was attempting to be "Justify" more than a decade before the lightly raced 2018 Triple Crown winner's amazing spring. As a consistent, fast, and pace-versatile horse who has already won at 1 3/16 miles, hes the deserving favorite in the Preakness. pic.twitter.com/26oaC8aBS3. Epicenter is a 4 year old colt that was born in 2019 and retired -> race from 2021 to 2022. This is one that you definitely want to win. If this runner was a legitimate contender, the Arkansas Derby would have been his for the taking. Forte has raced at Belmont Park, Keeneland, Saratoga with wins at Belmont Park . Creative Minister Feeling Good Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Gr. Equibase Analysis: Epicenter The One To Beat In Lecomte. All Rights Reserved. Epicenter held off Pappacap but was caught at the wire by Call Me Midnight, losing by a head. Trainer Kevin McKathan said Fenwick will train Thursday at 6:00 a.m. Epicenter, Early Voting Get Acquainted With Pimlico. That came about a half-hour after previously undefeated La Crte was pulled up on the backstretch by jockey Joel Rosario while leading the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2), a prep for the Kentucky Oaks. His stakes wins include wins in the 2022 Travers Stakes (G1), 2022 Jim Dandy (G2), 2022 Louisiana Derby (G2), 2022 Risen Star (G2), and the 2021 Gun Runner (LS). They all look good out there. That's the great thing about horses like that, the consistency of them.". Rosecroft Raceway What a story. "He has taken a lot of training extremely easily," Asmussen said. He took the lead with a quarter of a mile remaining in the race and opened a one-length lead in mid-stretch. He took two starts to break his maiden. Smile Happy, the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner who was the individual favorite in last weekends pari-mutuel Kentucky Derby Future Wager, spent most of the race four or five lengths off the lead. It doesn't bother him if he's here or there. Epicenter will break from post 8 in the Preakness, which Rich Strike is skipping. "He's in good shape.". Epicenter's owner, Ron Winchell, who has sent Asmussen a number of top runners, including Gun Runner (co-owned with Three Chimneys),has seen first hand Asmussen's determination to win the Derby. He was sired by Violence out of the Blame mare Queen Caroline. Pappacap is notable not because of his two runner-up efforts last fall but because those efforts came against unbeaten and untested Corniche in the G1 American Pharoah Stakes and in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile. Epicenter, perhaps his best chance to win his first Kentucky Derby, led from gate to wire in a dominant, 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 2, $400,000Risen Star Stakes. Weather info Powered by Dark Sky. Hard pass for me despite the impressive connections. The trouble is that this one is pointed to the Bay Shore instead of the Wood which implies this one wont be pointed toward the Derby anyway. How to make 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic picks, bets. Just one of those things. Gun Runner entered the Derby with four wins in five starts, including victories in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby as his final preps. I was really happy with him coming home," Hernandez said. Trainer Steve Asmussen has come so close to Kentucky Derby (G1) glory that he briefly has experienced the feeling of winning the race. The Risen Star was the most legitimate field he faced and he was a far cry from winning that race finishing 6th. [2] Not This Time stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Kentucky for US$75,000 service fee. [7], Epicenter made his final start of the year on December 26 in the newly-created Gun Runner Stakes, an early prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby over 1+116 miles at Fair Grounds Race Course in Louisiana. Epicenter And he's won the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (G1), with Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014. I thought the trip might have settled him down a little bit," he added. Brown and Klaravich owner Seth Klarman opted to skip the Kentucky Derby to focus on the Preakness, which they won in 2017 with Cloud Computing using the same script. American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse, "Not This Time well represented in Saratoga's Travers", "Epicenter Makes Championship Claim With Travers Victory The Not This Time colt picked up an elusive grade 1 victory Aug. 27 at Saratoga", "Steve Asmussen To Saddle Morning-Line Favorite Epicenter In Inaugural Gun Runner Stakes Horse Racing News | Paulick Report", "Chart for September 18, 2021 at Churchill Downs", "Chart for November 13, 2021 at Churchill Downs", "Epicenter, North County shine at Fair Grounds", "Epicenter posts frontrunning Risen Star win", "Epicenter shows new dimension in Louisiana Derby", "Epicenter clings to top spot over Zandon in Derby dozen", "Rich Strike stuns with 80-1 Kentucky Derby Upset", "Runhappy Travers Tops Super Saturday at the Spa", "Epicenter Gives Asmussen, Rosario an Emphatic First Travers Victory", "Epicenter was pulled up by jockey Joel Rosario after sustaining an injury to his right forelimb in the Breeders' Cup Classic and was attended to immediately by an expert team of veterinarians led by KHRC Chief Veterinarian Dr. Nick Smith", "Breeders' Cup Classic: Flightline turns in anoher astonishing performance", "Breeders' Cup: Epicenter has surgery, retired from racing", "2022 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 (race 11)", "Grade 1 Winner Epicenter to Stand at Ashford Stud; The son of Not This Time will stand in 2023 at an introductory rate of $45,000", "Thoroughbred Bloodlines Wagtail (GB) Family 21-a", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epicenter_(horse)&oldid=1138546821, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 10 February 2023, at 07:36. Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen
I mean, Curlin gave us so much power. I'm unbelievably excited to be doing this well with this much on the line.". However, this runner romped over Doppelganger at Santa Anita. The son of Quality Road made his first appearance at Pimlico just after 8:30 Wednesday morning, galloping about a mile for trainer Tim Yakteen. The Oaks field is so deep that 2021 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) winner Echo Zulu enters with five wins in as many startsby more than 22 combined lengthsand yet she is the third-choice on the morning line at 4-1 behind Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Nest (5-2) and undefeated Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Kathleen O. "We've just been seeing how he's progressing," said co-owner Greg Back. Will Epicenter validate the belief he ran the best Kentucky Derby performance based on being relatively close to the hot pace? As always, check the program for racing information, and monitor the weather and track conditions. This runner gave arguably the most impressive Kentucky Derby prep of the season thus far when he rolled late to take the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. "He bounced out of the Derby with relative ease and made the ship fine. Some of them weren't fast enough and I've had others where it wasn't meant to be. Find everything you need to know about horse racing at Equibase.com. Description: Photo: Skip Dickstein. Given the poor performance of Simplification in Arkansas this weekend, this one is probably a fade. Epicenter (left) prepares to head to the track at Pimlico Race Course Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter , the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the May 21 Preakness Stakes (G1), jogged a mile around Pimlico Race Course early May 18, his first morning in town after vanning from Louisville. Saturdays Grade 3, $200,000 Lecomte Stakes showcases nine recently turned 3-year-olds and is the first of a local three-race prep series at the Fair Grounds on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The problem with me for this runner is that despite quick fractions the horse didnt have a ton of pace pressure throughout. You'll get the best projections in the business! Some will point to an injury that was reported after the last race as the reason this one didnt have its best, but maybe the answer is that hes just not a grade 1 dirt router. This one could easily be the favorite especially when you consider he has thousands of casual owners via MyRaceHorse. In 2022 he won the Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes. To be able to win this race for the Winchell family is very special. Asmussen loves the natural talent of Epicenter, noting that if you only looked at numbers, you'd think Epicenter was training harder than some of his previous Derby contenders. [10], Epicenter returned to racing on February 19 in the Risen Star Stakes. "He's extremely talented. Epicenter improved markedly last November in his second career start when stretching out to a mile (around one turn) for the first time and controlling the tempo from start to finish to beat nine. "[22], Epicenter made his final start in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on November 5. Asmussen most assuredly puts the work in as he searches for Derby gloryin April he drove all night from Oaklawn to Churchill to witness an Epicenterbreezebut he's also been around the race enough to nod to the 'Derby gods.' All Rights Reserved. Smile Happy will look to run in the Blue Grass ahead of the Derby. . Meanwhile, Early Voting tracked the early pace set by Armagnac and moved to the lead entering the stretch, pulling well clear with an eighth of a mile remaining. Fern Circle Stables, Back Racing, and Magdalena Racing's allowance optional claiming winner Creative Minister was feeling good Wednesday in his first visit to the track. After a mediocre fourth place finish in the Del Mar Futurity last summer, trainer Mark Casse did not give up on Pappacap and entered him in a two-turn race for the first time in the American Pharoah Stakes. This is the loser that I think you want out of this weekends races. An (*) asterisk after the odds means Epicenter was the post-time favorite. These runners are often way over bet. He was trained by Todd Pletcher and has raced for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, and was bred in Kentucky, United States by South Gate Farm. The problem is that the race didnt come up that fast and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is a beast at Gulfstream Park. The diagnosis took the edge off a satisfying climax to the night for Asmussens team. Epicenter does meet some key trends and respected metrics in horse racing when determining a contender or winner of the Kentucky Derby. This runner finished second in the Fountain of Youth. University of Louisville Equine Industry Program - Get a Career in Horse Racing! Zandon, a debut winner who lost by a nose Dec. 4 in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, blew the start going straight up at the break Saturday. Further good news was that Le Crete's condylar fracture, which will require surgery, is not expected to end her racing . Although only winning by a head, and although the figure was lower at 82 then in his previous race, Trafalgar showed a lot of mental toughness in victory which may benefit him in the Lecomte. Also getting a feel for the Maryland track for the first time Wednesday were Early Voting, Armagnac, and Creative Minister. The field of four were all stakes winners, with Epicenter going off as the even-money favorite. He then shifted back out and came again. In his second career start, also in a one-turn mile last fall, Trafalgar improved markedly, rallying from ninth of 10 to draw off late and earn a career-best figure, in this case an 88. Jos Ortiz had him picking off rivals going five wide in the second turn, but he flattened late and was caught by Smile Happy. He hopes this is the year he finds out what it's like to enter the Derby winner's circle. He also finished second as the favorite in both the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. This one was rolling at the end of the 2 year old season capping it off with a win at the Breeders Cup. Cox is the reigning Eclipse Award winning trainer and this one is the kind of horse that is progressing at the right time. "[17], Epicenter went off as the 6-5 favorite in the 2022 Preakness Stakes on May 21. This means he will now have the chance to get to the Derby by winning the Santa Anita Derby. The Keith Desormeaux trainee skipped the Risen Star last month, his conditioner hoping to have a fresher horse for the rigors of what he hopes is a journey on the Triple Crown trail. 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Second in the Preakness, which Rich Strike is skipping 's circle to! Japan have proven that they deserve to be 6:00 a.m. Epicenter, Early,... Brown 's assistant Baldo Hernandez is overseeing the colt 's activities until the trainerarrives.... Horse racing at Equibase.com, he May be the one that you definitely want to this... One also has to at least be on your radar pulled up the. By a head have proven that they deserve to be able to win this for. And creative Minister feeling good Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve ( Gr still won convincingly at Oaklawn Park Award! Easy for him in the last race, Rich Strike is skipping ron 's 's! Wednesday were Early Voting, Armagnac, and Winchell Thoroughbreds from 2021 to 2022 Doppelganger at Santa Anita....