2021 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Asmussen always an early bird when the BC is out west
Silver State, headed for the Dirt Mile on Nov. 6 at Del Mar, is part of a large, powerful contingent of horses trainer Steve Asmussen already has sent west for starts in upcoming Breeders’ Cup races, joining the likes of Clairiere, Echo Zulu, Jackie’s Warrior, and Max Player, among others.
Asmussen doesn’t have a regular presence in Southern California, but when the Breeders’ Cup is on the West Coast, Asmussen doesn’t wait around after the final round of preps.
In 2012, Tapizar had his final prep at Belmont Park, and nine days later had the first of his series of works at Santa Anita, resulting in a win in the Dirt Mile.
In 2014, Untapable headed west right after the Cotillion at Parx Racing, turned in a sharp series of works at Santa Anita, and captured the Distaff to win a divisional Eclipse Award.
The only prior Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar was in 2017, and Asmussen made sure to get on West Coast time with Gun Runner, who did his major work at Santa Anita before heading south and winning the Classic and, with it, Horse of the Year.
And two years ago, with the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, Mitole trained in breathtaking fashion for the Sprint, then ran to those works to earn the male sprint title.
“You know where you are running next. You want to eliminate as many variables as possible,” Asmussen said on a telephone call this week, “and acclimation is one of them.”
Del Mar’s barn area doesn’t open until Oct. 23, and the main track won’t reopen for training until Oct. 25, so Asmussen’s horses are currently at Santa Anita, where Silver State worked a half-mile in 51.40 seconds on Saturday. As he did with Gun Runner four years ago, Asmussen said his horses will do the bulk of their serious training at Santa Anita.
“Maybe do something light at Del Mar, but nothing major,” he said.
Silver State most recently was second in the Parx Dirt Mile, a race he lost in the final strides after seemingly headed to victory. That race was going two turns, same as the configuration at Del Mar. He has proven effective around two turns as well as one. Earlier this year, Silver State captured the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap going two turns, but he scored the biggest win of his career in the Met Mile, around one turn.
“He’s just a very good horse,” Asmussen said. “He’s coming off a disappointing loss, which he can easily improve off.”
Asmussen could have a second starter in the Dirt Mile in the versatile Snapper Sinclair, who also is expected to be pre-entered in the Mile on turf.
◗ One horse unlikely to run in the Dirt Mile is Lukas Classic runner-up Independence Hall, who is pointing to the Fayette on Oct. 30 at Keeneland, according to Aron Wellman, whose Eclipse Thoroughbreds is part of the colt’s ownership group. Wellman said he’d keep an eye on the Dirt Mile “in event of any substantive defections.”
Life Is Good, Silver State, Ginobili, and Mind Control make a formidable foursome at the top.