Asmussen going deep at Oaklawn

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. -- The depth of the stable in trainer Steve Asmussen's care at Oaklawn Park was on full display last Saturday.

Share the Upside put up the meet’s highest Beyer Speed Figure to date when he popped a 104 winning the $125,000 King Cotton. A few races prior, the Group 1-winning mare La Renoleta rolled by 9 3/4 lengths in her North American debut to improve her career record to 5 for 5.

Asmussen said Tuesday that Share the Upside will remain at Oaklawn for his next start. In the King Cotton, he was a 1 1/2-length winner over Grade 1 winner Whitmore, setting quick fractions and going on to cover six furlongs in 1:09.39.

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“As good as he runs at Oaklawn and as consistent as he is, that was probably his best race to date,” Asmussen said. “He came back really well. We’ll proceed to the Hot Springs on March 7.”

The $150,000 Hot Springs also is over six furlongs. Share the Upside races for Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing.

La Renoleta was making her first start for Asmussen after being based in her native Argentina, where she won all four of her starts, including the Group 1 Estrellas Distaff at about a mile and a quarter on June 29. On Saturday, she was making her first start since then, stalking the pace in the mile and a sixteenth allowance before taking over under Ricardo Santana Jr.

“It was a very, very impressive run from her on Saturday,” Asmussen said. “We’re very excited about her, will proceed with her optimistically. The Apple Blossom is on her radar.”

The Grade 1, $1 million race for fillies and mares is April 18 at Oaklawn.

La Renoleta races for Swift Thoroughbreds, Paul Braverman, Tim Cambron, Anna Cambron, and Bradley Thoroughbreds.

Little Menace has been another local winner of note, taking a first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-olds with a Beyer Figure of 84 on Feb. 2. Asmussen said the son of Into Mischief, who races for Phoenix Thoroughbred III, would train up to the $125,000 Gazebo at six furlongs on March 21 at Oaklawn.

Asmussen trainees will be active in the Monday stakes at Oaklawn, with Gold Street, Shoplifted, and Silver Prospector targeting the Grade 3, $750,000 Southwest and Bankit and Snapper Sinclair pointing for the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap.

Asmussen has won 10 training titles at Oaklawn and an 11th would tie a local record with fellow Hall of Famer Henry Forrest.