Asmussen's army put in final works for weekend battles

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Epicenter, in the $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes, won’t be the only top contender trainer Steve Asmussen will run in a Grade 1 stakes this Saturday at Saratoga.

Jackie’s Warrior in the $600,000 Forego and Clairiere in the $600,000 Personal Ensign figure to be favored in those spots. Gunite, last year’s Hopeful winner, may not be favored in the $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens, but leave him off your ticket at your own peril.

“When I nominated them I was like ‘Wow, I like these horses for these spots,’ ” Asmussen said.

Jackie’s Warrior, Clairiere, and Gunite all joined Epicenter on the work tab early Monday morning for what were pretty typical, final easy moves in preparation for the weekend.

Jackie’s Warrior, the only horse in history to win Grade 1 stakes in three successive years at Saratoga, went a half-mile in 50.78 seconds over the Oklahoma training track, getting his last quarter in 25.98. That came a week after he went a strong five-eighths in 1:00.08 in company with Gunite.

“He did a lot last week,” Asmussen said. “He’s training wonderfully, his energy level has been great. The break in the weather the last 10 days where it’s been nice and cool has been great for a big horse like him.”

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It does not appear Jackie’s Warrior will lack for competition in the Forego. The racing office was expecting Baby Yoda, Cody’s Wish, Drafted, Kneedeepinsnow, Pipeline, and Three Two Zone to be entered against him.

On Monday. Baby Yoda worked a half-mile in 48.02 over the main track, the fastest of 23 moves at the distance.

Clairiere enters the Personal Ensign off victories in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and Grade 3 Shuvee. On Monday, she went a half-mile in 50.66 by herself, going her last quarter in 25.18 while in hand.

“As Scott says, she’s automatic,” said Asmussen, referring to his assistant trainer Scott Blasi. “She’s just in a beautiful rhythm.”

Only three are expected to line up against Clairiere in the Personal Ensign – Malathaat, Letruska, and Search Results.

Gunite led off Asmussen’s workers Monday morning, going three-eighths in 39.40 nearly in the dark. Gunite comes off a neck victory over Accretive in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes here July 31. He won the Grade 1 Hopeful here last year.

The Jerkens could potentially come up the deepest stakes race on the card with the likes of Jack Christopher, Accretive, Actuator, Conagher, Happy Jack, Howling Time, Runninsonofagun, and Witty expected to run.

“Gunite is probably the only one who won’t go off favored, and he still represents unbelievably well,” Asmussen said. “Just like his Hopeful last year at 11-1, going over there knowing he was going to run his butt off.”

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Speaking of such, Asmussen sent out a pair of good-looking 2-year-old debut winners – both progeny of Gun Runner – over the weekend. On Saturday, the colt Echo Again won his debut by 6 3/4 lengths, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.89 and earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

On Sunday, Grand Love, won her debut by 4 3/4 lengths, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.93 and earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The Gun Runner trend up here continues,” Asmussen said, noting that progeny of the 2017 Whitney and Woodward winner here continue to succeed. “They train good and run better. Both Echo Again and Grand Love are exactly what a trainer would want, two extremely talented horses that look like they want to go further.”

Next starts for them have yet to be determined.

Asmussen did say that Gulfport, second in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special, would run back in the Grade 1 Hopeful here Sept. 5 and that Disarm, a debut winner here on Aug. 6, is likely for the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes on Sept. 17 at Churchill Downs.