Asmussen looks to end 1-for-52 skid in Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – This, too, shall pass. A rare slump in the Steve Asmussen barn inevitably will end, lost to time like dust in the wind.

With two days (and six entries) remaining at Keeneland, Asmussen was philosophical early Friday when discussing his 1-for-52 start at the 17-day fall meet. He’s well aware that things can change incredibly quickly in this game, and when Churchill Downs begins its 21-day fall meet Sunday, this short-term downward trend is eligible to reverse course immediately. Asmussen has nine entries on the traditional 2-year-old-only opener, and absolutely no one would be surprised if he won with a few of them.

“You do expect to do better,” he said of his Keeneland letdown. “We had some performances from an effort standpoint that were disappointing, although there were some horses that put in solid runs that should move them forward.”

Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., who rides first call for Asmussen, also had a rough Keeneland meet when going winless with his first 74 mounts; into Friday, his most recent winner had been Echo Zulu in the Grade 1 Frizettte on Oct. 3 at Belmont Park. Asmussen said he tells Santana not to get down on himself and that everything will even out.

“I’ve always said, you do above average, you do below average, you end up with an average,” said Asmussen, who turns 56 on Nov. 18.

Except Asmussen is anything but average. His 24 meet titles here are a Churchill record, and his stable earnings of more than $386 million speak to the overall success of a Hall of Fame career that began in 1986. In August, he became the all-time winningest trainer in North American racing history, with his win total standing at 9,523 into Friday, and even when he hits a “slump” like the one at Keeneland, he’s actually still winning. In the three-week period since Keeneland began on Oct. 8, his multi-pronged stable had won a combined 13 races at Indiana Grand, Remington Park, and Delta Downs.

Moreover, not only is he loaded for the Churchill fall meet, but he also will be back in the national spotlight this coming weekend at the Breeders’ Cup. Asmussen is scheduled to leave Monday after morning training at Churchill for Del Mar, where he stands an excellent chance to add to his career total of seven Breeders’ Cup wins with favorites such as Echo Zulu in the Juvenile Fillies and Jackie’s Warrior in the Sprint. Longtime assistant Scott Blasi has overseen the daily training of the Breeders’ Cup contingent in recent weeks in California while Asmussen has tended to business back in Kentucky.

“Right now we’ve got nice horses that are doing well,” he said. “We’ll try to find the right spots and go from there.”

Among the Asmussen charges who figure well Sunday at Churchill are maidens Chasing Time (race 3) and General Strike (race 7), Dr. Perry in a first-level allowance (race 9), and Gun Town in the co-featured Street Sense (race 10).

Debut win by well-bred filly

Marr Time, a half-sister to a couple of equine greats, earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure in winning on debut Thursday at Keeneland, taking the six-furlong race by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:11.96 with Florent Geroux up.

A 2-year-old filly by Not This Time, Marr Time was produced by the now-pensioned 25-year-old mare Leslie’s Lady, making her a half-sister to Beholder and Into Mischief. Brad Cox trains Marr Time for her breeder, the Clarkland Farm of Lexington.