Anythingyoucando goes for two in row for Asmussen

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Just over a year ago, Anythingyoucando was a maiden incapable of winning even when racing for a $25,000 claiming tag. Then she arrived in the care of owner and trainer Steve Asmussen via a claim, and her fortunes turned around.

A winner of two of seven races for Asmussen, including a starter $50,000 allowance race in her last start May 2 over the Churchill Downs strip, she now stands a strong chance of becoming an allowance winner in Sunday’s eighth race at Churchill Downs, a $51,000, entry-level contest.

Matched against the promising maiden winners All Laced Up and Noelle’s Mischief as well as the stakes dropper Treble, Sunday’s eighth race represents a stiffer test for Anythingyoucando than the starter allowance in which she last scored, though she still may be up to the challenge. Her recent victory at Churchill Downs came by 7 1/4 lengths over the same seven-furlong distance as Sunday’s race.

Leading jockey Corey Lanerie – aboard for her May 2 victory, in which she posted an 84 Beyer Speed Figure – returns in the irons.

The narrow morning-line favorite at 3-1 is the Mark Casse-trained Noelle’s Mischief, a filly who showed a change in style and performance in her second start, blowing past rivals to take command in a seven-furlong maiden race at Keeneland on April 7 and maintaining a clear edge to score by 1 3/4 lengths.

Jockey Julien Leparoux, winning at a 30 percent rate with Casse at Churchill Downs in 2016-17, returns.

Key Contenders

All Laced Up, by Bernardini
Beyer: 72

◗ Overcame breaking about two lengths slowly in her debut to chase a fast pace and pull clear to a 2 1/4-length maiden victory at Oaklawn Park on April 8.

Noelle’s Mischief, by Into Mischief
Beyers: 73-44

◗ Finished slowly in winning her maiden April 7, covering her final furlong in 13.96 seconds en route to completing seven-eighths in 1:24.93.

Treble, by Macho Uno
Last 3 Beyers: 45-78-74

◗ Drops in class after running last of seven in the Grade 3 Beaumont at Keeneland, where she was beaten more than 23 lengths by the victorious Sweet Loretta after getting bumped at the start.

Anythingyoucando, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 84-72-66

◗ Sat 11 lengths off the pace in winning her latest, a function of the leaders blitzing through a half-mile in 44.34 seconds, but is tactical enough to sit close if the early fractions are moderate.