Notes: Chris first got introduced to horse racing in 2009 at Canterbury Park (Shakopee, MN). "I think we accomplished that. Jos Ortiz had him picking off rivals going five wide in the second turn, but he flattened late and was caught by Smile Happy. Trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by jockey Joel Rosario, Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter was installed as the prohibitive 6-5 program choice in the Preakness field of nine runners. 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. Photo: Rick SamuelsEpicenter gallops at Churchill Downs. Horses from Japan have proven that they deserve to be in on the conversation. That's why his training and his works since have been faster and stronger.". [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]. As a consistent, fast, and pace-versatile horse who has already won at 1 3/16 miles, hes the deserving favorite in the Preakness. It doesn't bother him if he's here or there. I thought that would settle him down a bit. They all look good out there. Breeder: Vivian E. Rall. Using TVG projections and Horse Racing Nation (HRN) as a guide, here are the horse profiles for the second leg of Americas Triple Crown. Epicenter enters with four wins in six starts with half those efforts at 2 and half at 3. It seems like his energy level is good," said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, who left the track early to watch horses work at The Midlantic Sale, Fasig-Tipton's 2-year-olds in training sale at Timonium. There's one Derby a year. Simplification horse rating and status. He walked onto the equine ambulance and was transported to nearby Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital for further evaluation. This is another Brad Cox who looks alright on paper. 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. I was all in on this runner in the Arkansas Derby. But the horse had other ideas. Epicenter (foaled January 29, 2019) is a retired Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse. This one seems to just be the precocious type as he really hasnt progressed in his three year old season. Gun Runner entered the Derby with four wins in five starts, including victories in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby as his final preps. Just nice and quiet. This one is a Derby pass for me. In 2022 he won the Risen Star, Louisiana Derby, Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes. Win contenders, in preference/probability order: In the Belmont, Curlin lost by a head to filly Rags to Riches. This one ran second in the Jeff Ruby behind a turf horse. (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. Other Top Tracks, Equibase Analysis: Epicenter The One To Beat In Lecomte, First Winner For Late Stallion Effinex Comes At Saratoga, Vanzzy Rises To The Occasion In Jersey Derby, Voss: Im Worried About The Lone Racing Veterinarian In The Classroom, Imprimus Earns Breeders Cup Turf Sprint Berth With Hard-Fought Victory At Kentucky Downs, Turfway Holiday Meet In The Mix As Churchill Trainers, Jockeys Make Winter Plans, Jockey Robbie Dunne Appeals 18-Month Bullying Ban. Im not sure how strong the Arkansas Derby was. Stop stealing our stuff and ripping off our features, please. No thank you. Upsets by Rick Strike, Zandon or Early Voting would go a long way in solidifying their aspirations. The race fell apart a little bit, as it should have. Along with handicapping and betting, Chris has worked as a teller at his local track and participated in ownership partnerships. 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). The top 20 will be offered spots in the gate with the next group being named as also eligibles. 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. "He ran that incredible race in the allowance, and Kenny said, 'This horse has as much talent as my other stakes horses. "I'm good at getting here. 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. Epicenter (7-2), the third betting choice, had his way as he stayed out front. I am not convinced this one is a Derby winner. His horses have failed to achieve the same success on other circuits. Proprietary to and 2023 Equibase Company LLC. With Rosario riding him for the third time, he set honest fractions of 23.79, 47.97, 1:12.25 and 1:36.58 on the way to a winning time of 1:49.03 for the 1 1/8 miles of the fast main track. Jockey: Carlos Eduardo Lopez ", Photo: Anne M. EberhardtHappy Jack settles in at Pimlico. Trafalgar . 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. One Mile and One Sixteenth "Just an easy gallop," Yakteen said. Of the horses out of the Rebel it is probably the one that I would like best. He was sired by Violence out of the Blame mare Queen Caroline. Background [ edit] Epicenter was bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms. "He is taking a little siesta. Further good news was that Le Crete's condylar fracture, which will require surgery, is not expected to end her racing . He's won pretty much every other race. 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). Trainer Kevin McKathan said Fenwick will train Thursday at 6:00 a.m. Epicenter, Early Voting Get Acquainted With Pimlico. "He galloped a mile and a quarter. And the tote board doesn't mean a. I thought this horse would be written off due to the low speed figure earned in the last race. "He likes it here, so he's in good shape. This is one that you definitely want to win. This one was rolling at the end of the 2 year old season capping it off with a win at the Breeders Cup. He broke away with a clean break and got into a nice little rhythm.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Armagnac, owned by SF Racing and partners, last ran May 8, winning an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park. Bet the Preakness! Post-time favorite Smile Happy (2-1) made a late charge to finish second. 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. The Preakness is the only American Classic that has eluded Rosario, as the leading jockey has finished runner-up in the second jewel three times. 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. If you don't learn to turn the page in this game, you're going to have a lot of sleepless nights. Epicenter closed steadily, first on the inside and then to the outside as Early Voting shifted towards the rail. Epicenter. In the race he ran almost the same trip as the winner except he was inside the whole time. It is still far too early to lock into a Kentucky Derby pick. "I've had the disappointment and survived it. 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. "It's become a lot more emotional for me because of how blessed we've been and the success that we've hadthe excitement of everybody coming for the Derby and feeling like you have a chance. Despite sitting wide, the colt who I had shown some support for, did little to make me think this one can even hit the board in the Derby. Since the race was worth 50-20-10-5 points to the top four finishers, Epicenter probably is qualified for the Kentucky Derby, a goal that owner Ron Winchell had in mind from the day he paid $260,000 to buy the Not This Time colt as a yearling. And bam. The Winchell family has been pursuing a Derby win for two generations. 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. To get the full benefits of numberFire, please log in. 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. Horse: Gens: Highlight: X-Factor: Chef List: Reports: Maintenance: Subscriptions: Help: Message Board: Horse: epicenter : EPICENTER (CHI) G, 2007 {5-j} DP = 6-5-7-0-2 (20) DI = 2.64 CD = 0.65 : SIR CAT (USA) dkb/br. Keeneland Breeder: Westwind Farms, Sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds He doesn't really care about anything. This one couldnt beat Classic Causeway who didnt exactly flatter the Tampa Bay runners on Saturday. Yonkers Raceway [5], Epicenter made his first start on September 18, 2021, in a maiden special weight race at Churchill Downs over seven furlongs. In the stretch, first Pappacap and then Call Me Midnight made strong moves. The son of Not This Time seemed home free in the Derby in deep stretch, only to have the late-running Rich Strike shoot past him on the rail to win by three-quarters of a length at odds of 80-1. There is plenty of intrigue with this years Preakness. "I thought she won the Fair Grounds Oaks on natural ability and class," said Asmussen, adding that he's been pleased with her works and wants her razor sharp for Friday. He got the time off," Hernandez said. [19], The Travers Stakes on August 27 attracted a very strong field, including the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby (Rich Strike, Epicenter and Zandon), Preakness winner Early Voting and Cyberknife, who had won the Haskell in his last start. Trafalgar took two months off and ran in an allowance race at Fair Grounds on Dec. 2, instead of a stakes race as Epicenter did. Trafalgar shows a similar pattern to Epicenter, except he hasnt run in a stakes race yet. Now, with two wins this year in the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star plus a pair of runner-up finishes, Epicenter takes the lead role in the Preakness with Rich Strike bypassing the race. O'Neill said he is scheduled to fly to Baltimore from California Wednesday night and will be at the barn some time Thursday afternoon. 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.

Conservative Vector Field Calculator, Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf Monologue, Sinking Spring Police Officers, Articles E