Cinco Charlie nears return for Asmussen

NEW ORLEANS – The 3-year-old sprinter Cinco Charlie is nearing a comeback race for trainer Steve Asmussen after being sidelined since a nose loss June 6 in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park. Cinco Charlie worked four times during November at Churchill and has breezed twice here at Fair Grounds during December.

“He’s coming back very nicely, put in some good works and coming around well,” Asmussen said.

Cinco Charlie has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $519,182, but by the autumn, he had been eclipsed by another 3-year-old sprinter in the stable, Holy Boss, who won the Amsterdam at Saratoga, finished third in the King’s Bishop there, and then turned in two good races at Keeneland, a troubled fourth in the Phoenix and a good fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

“He’s been given a little break on a farm, out 45 days, and should come back in to Fair Grounds right after the first of the year,” Asmussen said. “He’s got a lot of talent. I’d like to get a race into him before the Count Fleet at Oaklawn.”