Basin on track for Rebel Stakes

NEW ORLEANS – Trainer Steve Asmussen had three entrants for the Lecomte Stakes on Saturday at Fair Grounds and planned to enter four more 3-year-olds for the Smarty Jones Stakes next Friday at Oaklawn. That’s a lot of firepower, and Asmussen has still more ammunition in his 3-year-old arsenal.

Wednesday morning at Fair Grounds, Basin had his first work since September, going an easy half-mile in 52.40 seconds. Basin traveled smoothly in the workout and came out of the drill in good shape, Asmussen said Friday, and if all goes according to plan will make his 3-year-old debut March 14 at Oaklawn Park in the Rebel Stakes.

Basin is by Liam’s Map out of Appenzell, by Johannesburg, making him a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Rise Up. He hasn’t raced since he won the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 2 at Saratoga. Basin finished second by a nose in his career debut before capturing a maiden race at Saratoga and landing the Hopeful. Basin worked twice in September following the Hopeful before being put away with an irritated pastern, according to published reports.

Asmussen was to run Grade 2 Golden Rod winner Finite here Saturday in the Silverbulletday Stakes and has a couple other 3-year-old fillies of note in his Fair Grounds stable, particularly Wicked Whisper. Wicked Whisper won the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont in her second start and failed to handle the Santa Anita racing surface when a no-factor fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Wicked Whisper, Asmussen said earlier this week, is nearing her first work since the Juvenile Fillies.

Wednesday at Fair Grounds, 3-year-old filly Magic Dance had her first work (a half-mile in 52.40) since finishing third in the Adirondack Stakes on Aug. 4 at Saratoga. Magic Dance, by More than Ready, won the Debutante at Churchill in her previous race.

Back for 2020 campaigns for Asmussen are a pair of 5-year-old mares, the sprinter Mia Mischief and the route horse She’s a Julie, neither of whom has worked yet this winter. Mia Mischief won the Grade 1 Humana Distaff last May at Churchill, and She’s a Julie the Grade 1 La Troienne, and the two horses, if all goes well, could end up in those same races this spring.