Asmussen works half a dozen stakes-bound 3-year-olds
Trainer Steve Asmussen worked six stakes-bound 3-year-olds five furlongs on Monday at Fair Grounds, but where and when those races come remains up in the air, Asmussen said Tuesday.
Principe Guilherme, second in the Lecomte Stakes last out, went in 1:00.40, while Snapper Sinclair, third in the same race, went in 1:01, and Zing Zang, fourth in the Lecomte, was clocked in 1:01.40. Copper Bullet, who hasn’t raced since winning the Saratoga Special on Aug. 13, worked as far as five furlongs for the first time since last summer and was clocked in 1:02.40. Tap Daddy, who likely is headed back to turf, was timed in 1:02.60, as was Reride, the winner of the Big Drama at Delta Downs last out.
“I thought they all worked well, but I’m not sure where they’re going yet,” Asmussen said.
Asmussen trains yet another stakes-bound, Fair Grounds-based 3-year-old, Retirement Fund, who has started his career with a pair of open-lengths wins in dirt routes. Also under his care is the Oaklawn-based Combatant, who was a fine second to Mourinho in the Smarty Jones Stakes there.
◗ High North, who rallied from 13th to finish fourth, beaten five lengths, in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes to end his 2-year-old season, worked five-eighths in a quick 1:00 on Monday at Fair Grounds. Trainer Brad Cox said High North is being considered for the Risen Star but might instead make his 3-year-old debut in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn.
◗ Featured on a nine-race Friday card is race 7, a six-furlong allowance race for non-winners of four also open to $35,000 claimers and restricted to Louisiana-breds.