Asmussen's big day led by Lucky Player, Bold Conquest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Steve Asmussen has been known to have eventful Saturdays, and the first Saturday of the 12-day September meet at Churchill Downs certainly was one of those.

Asmussen not only sent out the one-two finishers in the Iroquois Stakes in Lucky Player and Bold Conquest, but he also was heavily involved in the three 2-year-old maiden special-weight races on the Saturday card.

Asmussen saddled a first-time starter named Holy Boss to win the seventh race by 10 1/4 lengths, but he sure could have used some of that huge margin to apply to the two other races: Tiznow R J was beaten two heads when third in the second race, and Tapit Wicked was beaten a nose in the 11th and final race.

Remarkably, both Tiznow R J and Tapit Wicked were defeated the same way: after dueling the length of the stretch, only to have a horse close from the clouds to narrowly win.

“It happens because it can,” Asmussen, laughing with incredulity, said by phone early Sunday while driving from Louisville to Keeneland to inspect yearlings for the sale that starts Monday. “Overall, it was a really nice day for us, though. I’m very happy with how both colts came out of the Iroquois.”

Lucky Player, owned by Jerry Durant, earned an 82 Beyer Speed Figure in his neck victory over Bold Conquest, owned by Ackerley Brothers Farm. Holy Boss (80 Beyer) also is owned by Durant.

“We’ll keep the two from the Iroquois separated and most likely run one of them at Keeneland” in the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 4, said Asmussen. “We’ll probably run Holy Boss in an allowance next.”

With his victory, Lucky Player earned an expenses-paid Breeders’ Cup berth and the first 10 points toward eligibility into the 2015 Kentucky Derby field.

The last race Saturday, by the way, was won in a three-way photo by an Ian Wilkes first-time starter named Handy Candy, who paid $69.60 to win and led a dime superfecta worth $912.65.

** Trainer Eddie Kenneally said Ack Ack winner Bradester (104 Beyer) came out of his 1 3/4-length victory over Carve in good shape and now will take aim at the Grade 2 Kelso on Sept. 27 at Belmont Park.

Both Bradester and Carve, trained by Brad Cox, are being pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

** Phil Sims said Locust Grove winner Don’t Tell Sophia (90 Beyer) emerged from her comeback race in excellent shape and will be pointed to the Oct. 5 Spinster Stakes at the trainer’s home track. Don’t Tell Sophia was making her first start in nearly six months when going last-to-first to win the Locust Grove by 2 1/4 lengths over Molly Morgan.

Meanwhile, On Fire Baby has run her last race, as owner-breeder Anita Cauley confirmed the breeding shed is the next stop for a 5-year-old gray mare who won two Grade 1 races and nearly $1.1 million from 17 career starts. On Fire Baby finished last of six in the Locust Grove.

“She’s had a good run, but I think it’s time,” Cauley told Churchill publicity.

** Trainer Dale Romans said he will decide in the next week or so whether to run Pocahontas winner Cristina’s Journey back in the Oct. 3 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland or simply train her into the BC Juvenile Fillies.

Cristina’s Journey (76 Beyer) led all the way in the Pocahontas in earning an expenses-paid Breeders’ Cup berth and the first 10 points toward eligibility into the 2015 Kentucky Oaks field.

Romans watched the Pocahontas via simulcast from Kentucky Downs, where he sent out Medal Count to finish second by a nose to the Maryland shipper My Afleet (89 Beyer) in the inaugural Dueling Grounds Derby.

“You hate getting beat a zop, but we’re very happy with how he handled the grass and fought the whole way,” said Romans.

** Beyer figures for the two other Kentucky Downs stakes winners Saturday were 78 for Croninthebarbarian (KD Juvenile) and 74 for Nicky’s Brown Miss (KD Juvenile Fillies).

** Attendance for the Downs After Dark program on a hot and humid Friday night was 11,058, the lowest since Churchill first began racing under the lights in 2009 (30 programs). The second and last Downs After Dark card of the meet is set for Sept. 19.