Photos from the Ford Risen Star Stakes Veterans Awards (G2) and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds & Slots finally 2017 horse of the year Gunman on the way to nearly $16 million in career earnings for coach Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds in partnership with the Three Chimneys.
On December 26 in New Orleans, Epicenter took steps toward a potentially bright future for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Asmussen with a 6 1/2 win in effect in the first $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, winning 10 points on the Road to Kentucky Derby along the 1/16 mile run.
Assistant coach Scott Blasi said: “To be able to win the first Gun Runner run today is special for us. “Gun Runner has had a start and some ground-breaking performances here at the Fair Grounds, and to see what he’s done in the stables has gone down in history. He’s a 2 year old stallion. To be able to win this race for the Winchell family is very special.”
Sent off as second-choice 2.90-1 despite a morning bias, Epicenter broke through warily from a first-card position under Brian Hernandez Jr. He settles right on the sidelines of the setup Surfer Dude through the first even fractions of: 24.41 and: 47.76. Still walking hand in hand into the turn, the 2-year-old son of Not this time hijack the fourth column, and extend his winning margin to the ropes. Tejano Twist , who took the lead in the third column sixteen, started a bit late, while there were still two clear lengths of pacesetting Surfer Dude , who completed the trilogy.
Ranking a little early, favors Rocket Dawg finished in far sixth when Epicenter stopped the clock at 1:44.19 on the fast track.
Hernandez, third place winner of the day, said: “I walked down to the training ground and Scott told me how much they liked him. “I remember watching (Epiccenter) run at Churchill. Same scenario as today. I was actually on Surfer Dude (that day) and he was outside of me. On your turn you could say he was. he walked really well and he was his best that day. Coming out of that race, he looked like he had a lot of potential and he showed it today.
“Anytime you get a horse with tactical speed, especially here, that helps a lot. That’s the nice thing about him, you know, with only the third race. , he put himself in place and all I had to do was shut up the passenger and let him do his thing.”
Tired Friday on September 18 when it debuted with seven debuts at Churchill Downs, Epicenter was back with a sublime performance over a mile one turn seven weeks after his next start, hitting speed and winning in 3 and a half seconds with a giant gallop over the Louisville strip. not good to forward the horse during the day.
With the Gun Runner win, Epicenter now has a 2-0-1 record from three games starting with $130,639 in earnings.
“We love his tactical speed, his ability to put himself in a position to do well and Brian did a great job with him today to let the pace continue and switch sides,” Blasi said. “He’s still racing lightly, still learning, but hopefully has some big things coming up.”
The next road to the Kentucky Derby at the Fair Grounds is Lecomte Stakes (G3) on January 22.
Coach Bret Calhoun was pleased with the efforts of runner-up Tejano Twist, who made his two-legged debut in his ninth career, which began with a win in the Lively Shively Stakes at Churchill.
“We think he handled it really well,” Calhoun said. “At the end of the day, his real call against a better competitor might have to be the finish sprinter. I think he handled that well I don’t really envision him running against the top horses at 1 1/4 mile. He did well on his first test. , but the horse that beat him started first and we had a chance in the first leg and he backed away from him I’ll talk to the owner (Tom Durant) and we’ll get started. since then. Overall, very pleased with the horse, runs great. It passed that two-pass test.”
Bred in Kentucky by Westwind Farms, the Epicenter was sold to Winchell Thoroughbreds for $260,000 at its September 2020 sale in Keeneland. He ran out of bets Candy Ride mare Silent Candy, who produced a coveted pony by Always dreaming and ponies by Tapiture last spring.
North Country Unflappable in Untapable
Started three times. Three locations. Three racing surfaces. Make three wins, all about two turns, for Rebecca Hillen, Stonecrest Farm and Bruno De Julio’s Northern District , who knocked down the first prize of $100,000 Unacceptable Stakes on the Sunday card at Fair Grounds, earning 10 points on the Road to Kentucky Oaks.
A winner on the pitch at Indiana Grand and on a sloppy track at Keeneland for coach Brendan Walsh, North County has shown professionalism, and on Sunday she proved her worth on the fast track and against tougher competition.
Wary off the field with Adam Beschizza astride, North County, second choice 7-2, placing himself on the sidelines while chasing the early scores: 23.75 and: 47.86 set by Hottie Shotgun and a chase Fannie and Freddie , who took over at the third pole sixteen. Fannie and Freddie took advantage of a clear advantage this time around, but North County knocked her down decisively, passing to score by neck in a final time of 1:43.17 for the post. test one mile and 70 yards.
North County (green and white hat) trumps Fannie and Freddie to claim Unacceptable Rewards at Fair Grounds
“She’s tough, very agile, and she’s really done nothing wrong since she broke her maidenhood in Indiana,” said Beschizza, who played on Not This Time’s daughter in both three times started, said. “She showed that she was very popular and both looks didn’t seem to stand in her way. She was small, tough and strong. After winning the Keeneland pension, she did a great job and We’re confident going forward with this.”
Popular Cocktail moment passed slowly, clashed with some traffic, and finished on the left leading to third place, three and a half seconds behind the winner.
North Country increased her bankroll to $132,000.
“She showed a lot of heart today, which is impressive,” assistant coach Paul Madden said. “She’s been very well trained and Brendan can’t wait to put her in a position like this to see if she can be a good fit for this company, and thankfully we did. so.”
“She’s a badass that’s also going to get stronger and I think she’s so much more. She’s very talented, has a good mind, and wants to win races.”
The $100,000 Silverbulletday on January 22 is the next stop on Fair Grounds’ Road to Kentucky Oaks.
Brian Reed, of Stonecrest Farm, said: “There will be some discussion with Brendan, but there is a reason why he is locked up here and now we as owners have a reason to. expect those big races. “Ideally she would stay here and run in the next race in the series.”
North County was bred in Kentucky by Shadow Pond Stable. She sold the Grove Stud for $45,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale 2020 before Walsh signed up for the film in France for $148,525 at this year’s Arqana Deauville Breeze-Up Show. North County is produced from the winning horses of the City Zip mare Northern Netti, the dam of 5 winners from the 5 ponies that took part in the race.
Videotapes: Unable to record S. (BT)
Videotapes: Gun Runner S. (BT)
