Asmussen amping up his top Breeders' Cup hopefuls

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jackie’s Warrior, the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, went an easy half-mile in 49.53 seconds early Monday, capping a busy stretch for Breeders’ Cup workers at Keeneland.

Jackie’s Warrior was one of a handful of BC hopefuls trained by Steve Asmussen to work during that recent span. In five-furlong works Sunday, Epicenter (BC Classic) went in 1:00.20; Echo Zulu (Filly and Mare Sprint) went in 1:02.80 in company; Grand Love (Juvenile Fillies) went in 1:00.60 in company; and Clariere and Society breezed alongside each other in 59.80 toward the Distaff.

Wesley Ward also had a couple of BC workers Sunday, when Kimari (Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) went five furlongs in 1:00.60 and Nakatomi (Sprint) went a half-mile in 48.80.

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The work tab was fairly heavy Saturday with a wide assortment of BC runners, including Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike (Classic) going a half-mile in 47.60 and Hot Rod Charlie (Classic) going the same distance in 49.40.

Handle at a brisk pace

Amid a remarkable stretch of chamber of commerce weather, Keeneland during its first eight days attracted wagering handle that remains on pace to break the track’s all-time record of $181 million set at the 2021 fall meet.

The aggregate total was $108,023,650, according to track figures, an increase of 10.2 percent over the corresponding eight-day period at the 2021 fall meet.

“We’re continuing to receive great support from our horsemen, players, and fans,” said Gatewood Bell, Keeneland vice president for racing, further quipping, “and whoever is in charge of the weather.”

Betting favorites have won 28 of 78 races (36 percent), and field size is averaging 9.15 horses per race.

◗ Strobe, a 3-year-old Godolphin homebred, earned a 95 Beyer with a six-length victory in a first-level allowance at six furlongs Friday. The 3-year-old colt by the white-hot sire Into Mischief is now 2 for 2, with his debut in a six-furlong maiden race on the May 7 Kentucky Derby Day card grading out to a 99.

Trainer Brad Cox said he’s unsure whether another allowance or a stakes will be next for Strobe.

◗ Beverly Park came up just shy of his 12th victory of 2022 when third in a three-way photo finish in the last race Saturday, a six-furlong starter-allowance. Owned and trained by Norman “Lynn” Cash, the 5-year-old horse by Munnings has won 11 times, tops on the North American continent, from 24 tries.

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