Chasing Time puts in final work for Arkansas Derby

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Like death and taxes, one of the certainties of our existence is that on the Monday preceding a Saturday stakes race, Steve Asmussen will work his horses an easy half-mile in something like 51 and change for their final tune-up. So on Monday morning, just after the renovation break at Oaklawn, his colt Chasing Time hit right on cue, a half-mile in 51.20 seconds under the supervision of assistant Darren Fleming while readying for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Arkansas Derby.

Chasing Time was second and then first in allowance races here earlier this meet prior to his most recent start, a fifth-place finish in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn. Chasing Time has done all his training here this winter. He’s had four works since the Rebel, all on Monday mornings.

Chasing Time is by Not This Time, the same sire as Epicenter, whom Asmussen sent out for a Louisiana Derby victory at Fair Grounds last Saturday.

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Also Monday at Oaklawn, Asmussen and Fleming worked the female sprinter Joy’s Rocket a half-mile in 52 seconds in preparation for the $200,000 Carousel, at six furlongs, on the Arkansas Derby undercard.

Acting Out, who beat Joy’s Rocket in an allowance race here March 11, worked three furlongs Monday in 37.80 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and assistant Dan Ward.