Before he gets to Saturday, Asmussen will have a chance at his third Oaks win with undefeated champion juvenile filly Echo Zulu, a daughter of Gun Runner campaigned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. But when you start running a 108, you can compete with anybody. The Medaglia dOro filly suffered an injury to her right front leg. He is trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. 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. This runner finished second in the Fountain of Youth. No thank you. As for the Derby, Asmussen has come close. He doesn't really care about anything. Ron's Winchell's father, Verne, who passed away in 2002, predicted his son would reach Churchill's most hallowed ground. ), Morning Line Odds: 6/5Bet Now at FanDuel Racing. "It's a big hole; he wants to fill it," Winchell said. This horse is tricky. 1993 . Also getting a feel for the Maryland track for the first time Wednesday were Early Voting, Armagnac, and Creative Minister. Epicenter held off Pappacap but was caught at the wire by Call Me Midnight, losing by a head. 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. He walked onto the equine ambulance and was transported to nearby Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation. Jos Ortiz had him picking off rivals going five wide in the second turn, but he flattened late and was caught by Smile Happy. 1), Risen Star S. presented by Lamarque Ford (Gr. To be able to win this race for the Winchell family is very special. We will see what happens. Curlin was attempting to be "Justify" more than a decade before the lightly raced 2018 Triple Crown winner's amazing spring. Welcome to Equibase.com, your official source for horse racing results, mobile racing data, statistics as well as all other horse racing and thoroughbred racing information. Saturday's 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. Didn't happen To be honest with you, it's over. "He's extremely talented. ", Photo: Anne M. EberhardtRon Winchell after Echo Zulu's 2021 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies win. Epicenter has been the most consistent and classy horse down the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Surfer Dude finished third behind Epicenter in the Gun Runner Stakes after leading for the first six furlongs so will be trying to improve, while Call Me Midnight was last seen finishing seventh of 11 in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes near the end of November. Rosecroft Raceway 2009-2023 numberFire, Inc. Certain headlines thanks to Rotoworld. The odds may reflect a season debut in which Echo Zulu experienced the first close race of her career, holding off Kentucky Oaks rival Hidden Connection by a nose in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) March 26. 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. Epicenter (164) Epicenter rolls to victory. The Winchell family has been pursuing a Derby win for two generations. He swung five-wide moving into the stretch and moved steadily to the lead to win by 1+12 lengths over Zandon, with Early Voting finishing in fourth. The post Equibase Analysis: Epicenter The One To Beat In Lecomte appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report. If she were to get in here though she would be a great bet against because she would take a ton of narrative money. "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. ", Photo: Anne M. EberhardtHappy Jack settles in at Pimlico. 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. And he did", said Asmussen. Depending on how some of these horses progress, they could be seen in the Risen Star Stakes four weeks from now on Feb. 19, and then hopefully in the Louisiana Derby on March 26. Bet the Preakness! Epicenter was bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms. Jockey: Orlando Bocachica Assmussen holds the unfortunate distinction of most Derby runners without a victory. 2009-2019 numberFire, Inc. Certain headlines thanks to Rotoworld. I thought that would settle him down a bit. He went to the early lead and set a moderate pace, then opened up a wide lead in mid-stretch. She has a condylar fracture that is a good candidate for repair. Find everything you need to know about horse racing at Equibase.com. If this one gained some professionalism from the start, he may be the likeliest Derby winner we saw all weekend. Image courtesy of Blood Horse. He got everything I wanted at Oaklawn and just couldnt do any running late. He was sired by Violence out of the Blame mare Queen Caroline. In the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, players would be wise to follow the narrative on this runner to decide if hes continuing the progression. He finished second by three-quarters of a length to one of the biggest upset winners in the history of the Derby. He now enjoys sharing his passion with his wife and two young daughters who love going out to the track each and every summer. The euphoria of victory in a big race stifled by an injury to a stablemate on the undercard. An (*) asterisk after the odds means Epicenter was the post-time favorite. Simplification horse page with past performances, speed figures, results, pedigree, photos and videos. The following horses have earned Kentucky Derby points. If ever there was a Derby Fever horse this might be the one. 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. "Gun Runner had his start and a number of breakout performances here at the Fair Grounds, and to see what he has done in the stallion barn has been historical. Third in the UAE Derby this one is the least enticing as he closed into a fast pace and still could get into the exacta. In fact, since first sending out ninth-place Fifty Stars for the 2001 Derby, the Racing Hall of Famer has moved into consideration for the "best trainer to not yet win the Derby" category behind his 23 starts without a victory in the Churchill Downs classic. Winchell Thoroughbreds'Epicenter, the 6-5 morning-line favorite for the May 21Preakness Stakes (G1), jogged a mile around Pimlico Race Course early May 18, his first morning in town after vanning from Louisville. Im not sure how strong the Arkansas Derby was. The problem I have is that the Kentucky Derby has been a front runners game largely since the introduction of the points system. 8 JOCKEY: Joel Rosario / TRAINER: Steven M. Asmussen RECORD: 7 starts: 4-2-0 TOP EQUIBASE SPEED FIGURE: 105 . 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. The field of four were all stakes winners, with Epicenter going off as the even-money favorite. 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. This one is actually kind of interesting. The Grade 2, $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes , t Hallandale Beach, Fla. Trainers always are searchi Before handicapping the Grade 2, $400,000 San Feli History (1875-2022 Derby Results & Videos), Breeders' Cup Super Screener - Expert Picks. [24] On November 6, Asmussen confirmed that Epicenter would be retired from racing, adding that the surgery was successful and the prognosis for him to stand at stud was good.[25]. "I'm good at getting here. This one is on my radar, but I will be looking for a convincing win in the Wood Memorial if this one is going to be a part of my Derby day plays. Just one of those things. Hard pass for me despite the impressive connections. "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. Bettors tabbed Epicenter as the 9-2 favorite in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Saturday prior to the runnings of the $1 million Blue Grass (GI), $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) and $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII). Regulated in AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, LA, MI, NJ, NY, ON, PA, TN, VA, WA, WY, If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling, and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800 GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (USA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN only), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ only), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA only) or 1-800-522-4700 (CO Only), Top Speed Figure: 97 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 102 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 109 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 100 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 99 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 104 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 96 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 91 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 106 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 94 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 103 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 90 Equibase Speed Figure, Top Speed Figure: 93 Equibase Speed Figure. This one is a hard pass. NBA Betting Guide for Wednesday 3/1/23: Will the Knicks Keep Winning? Upsets by Rick Strike, Zandon or Early Voting would go a long way in solidifying their aspirations. There is plenty of intrigue with this years Preakness. I dont want my eggs in the basket of a horse that needs to come from out of it to win. The problem with me for this runner is that despite quick fractions the horse didnt have a ton of pace pressure throughout. He was sired by Not This Time out of the Candy Ride mare Silent Candy. "He likes it here, so he's in good shape. New players, bet $5, win $100 on the Preakness and get Win Bet Insurance if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd. The top 20 will be offered spots in the gate with the next group being named as also eligibles. This means he will now have the chance to get to the Derby by winning the Santa Anita Derby. The problem is that the race didnt come up that fast and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is a beast at Gulfstream Park. "It's a horse race, and anybody can win. This runner won the Sunland Derby and did beat Messier last year, but I just dont trust this one. I thought the trip might have settled him down a little bit," he added. Description: Photo: Skip Dickstein. With only a couple chances left to earn points, it is time to start identifying contenders and pretenders. "He is taking a little siesta. Owner: Guyana Rocky LLC "We absolutely love the horse," Blasi said. Even with Corniche rolling all alone on the front end, Pappacap stayed as close as he could and held second at 13 to 1 odds. In the Belmont, Curlin lost by a head to filly Rags to Riches. Crown Pride put him away in the last half furlong. Some of them weren't fast enough and I've had others where it wasn't meant to be. The Derby was the first race for the colt outside of California. Longines Breeders' Cup Classic participant - 2022. ', "It's typical of him. Jockey: Carlos Eduardo Lopez Further good news was that Le Crete's condylar fracture, which will require surgery, is not expected to end her racing . He broke slowly so jockey Joel Rosario moved him to the inside where he rated in third place. 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. Horse Profile for Epicenter | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information Horse Profile Home Stats Central Horse Profile (Thoroughbred) Epicenter (KY) TB, B, C, foaled January 29, 2019 ( Not This Time - Silent Candy, by Candy Ride (ARG) ) Connections as of last Start: Jockey: Joel Rosario Trainer: Steven M. Asmussen The rest of the field appeared content to let Epicenter have the early lead. 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. Still in seventh place after three-quarters of a mile, he began to make up ground along the rail near the top of the stretch. "We're very pleased with how the training has gone for both Epicenter and Echo Zulu," Asmussen said. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen had it happen Saturday at Fair Grounds. "He was jumping around," Ramsey said. We were proud of our horse and how he ran. Jockey Corey Lanerie tried to find room between rivals as he turned Smile Happy into the homestretch. This one just barely cracked the top 3 of the Louisiana Derby. Proprietary to and 2023 Equibase Company LLC. Clunked in the Arkansas Derby after an upset in the Rebel. Forte has raced at Belmont Park, Keeneland, Saratoga with wins at Belmont Park . 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 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. Trafalgar finished second in his debut last summer at the same seven furlong distance that Epicenter finished sixth in his debut. It will take something special for the son of Runhappy to turn the tables on Epicenter who he faced in his last race at Fair Grounds. It is hard to see this runner making enough progress to get the job done even if he makes the gate at the Kentucky Derby. The way he did it today, the mile and a quarter (of the Derby) shouldn't be a problem. Im hesitant to endorse this one. "We've just been seeing how he's progressing," said co-owner Greg Back. Gulfstream Park Some horses may pass on the Derby which could then draw in horses from further down the list. 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. Is there a long shot lurking in the wings to run by them all? This time, Rosario said Epicenter was more relaxed. And he's won the Derby's sister race, the Kentucky Oaks (G1), with Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014. 2022 PREAKNESS STAKES BETTING PROFILES TOP CONTENDERS. Epicenter then began his move on the outside, taking the lead at the quarter-pole. Epicenter is a 4 year old colt that was born in 2019 and retired -> race from 2021 to 2022. He was pulled up on the first turn after an injury to his right forelimb. Justify was the last Preakness favorite to win the race in 2018 on his way to capturing the Triple Crown. Trafalgar Consigned by Bettersworth Westwind Farms. [11] "It was a little different than his last race, as every fraction was perfect for him," said Winchell. Saturday, January 22, 2022 Post Time 7:20 PM E.T. His current speed figure is among the top in the three year old crop. Maybe needed to be a tad closer early, trainer Kenny McPeek 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 is a good shipper. As a consistent, fast, and pace-versatile horse who has already won at 1 3/16 miles, hes the deserving favorite in the Preakness. The Florida Derby was his third career race. 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. This one has lost 2 straight to Tiz the Bomb who will be a career turfer. Epicenter (foaled January 29, 2019) is a retired Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. *All statistics on this page include results from all countries. Horse profile for Kentucky Derby contender Epicenter. Compared with Asmussen's previous Derby horses that went on to earn Horse of the Year honors, Epicenter's preparation is closer to Gun Runner's than Curlin's. O'Neill said he is scheduled to fly to Baltimore from California Wednesday night and will be at the barn some time Thursday afternoon. 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. Handicappers will point to the huge closing kick this one has showed in the last two races. He broke away with a clean break and got into a nice little rhythm.". Fly to Baltimore from California Wednesday night and will be a great bet against because she would a. 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