Asmussen works Arkansas Derby pair of Untrapped, Lookin At Lee

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Untrapped and Lookin At Lee worked in company Sunday at Oaklawn in preparation for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on the closing-day card, April 15. They are trained by Steve Asmussen.

Untrapped and Lookin At Lee breezed five furlongs on a fast track in 1:00.40. Asmussen said Untrapped was on the rail, worked in blinkers, and most likely will add the equipment for the Arkansas Derby.

“We moved up the works up a day because of the forecast,” Asmussen said Sunday. “It worked out well. I thought Untrapped and Lookin At Lee worked super.

“Lookin At Lee has always been a very laid-back horse, and that’s as good a work as I’ve ever seen him put in, which is very good timing considering what’s on his agenda. Untrapped, we’ve been training him in blinkers all week, and I was pleased with how he handled in them, so we’ll go from there.”

Untrapped was third in last month’s Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn and second in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Lookin At Lee was third in the Grade 3 Southwest in February at Oaklawn and last year ran second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

The Arkansas Derby, at 1 1/8 miles, drew 60 nominations. It will anchor a card that includes the Grade 2, $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap, which had 20 nominations, led by Midnight Storm and Mor Spirit; the Grade 3, $400,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap, which drew 13 nominations; and the $125,000 Northern Spur, a 3-year-old route that closed with 36 nominations.