Epicenter, Jackie's Warrior awaiting green light to train over Breeders' Cup track

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Epicenter and Jackie’s Warrior, the two brightest stars in the Steve Asmussen barn, are scheduled to ship from Saratoga to Keeneland the middle of next week, or “whenever they’ll let us in,” said the Hall of Fame trainer.

Epicenter, clearly the leading 3-year-old in North America following his 5 1/4-length victory in the Aug. 27 Travers, had his latest work Saturday at Saratoga, going five furlongs in 1:02.40 over the Oklahoma training track. Jackie’s Warrior worked Tuesday, going a half-mile in 49.80 seconds.

Both will train at Keeneland ahead of their respective next starts in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and BC Sprint on Nov. 5. Asmussen said the same shipping schedule applies to one of the favorites for the BC Distaff favorites, the Stonestreet Stables homebred Clairiere, who also worked Saturday at Oklahoma, going five furlongs in 1:02.40.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Keeneland stall superintendent Wayne Mogge said the Asmussen barn should be ready for their arrival “on or about” Wednesday (Sept. 28), after the stable area turnaround is completed following the yearling sales.

Meanwhile, Pauline’s Pearl, winner of the Grade 1 La Troienne at Churchill in May, has been turned out for an indefinite period but is not retired, said Asmussen. The Stonestreet homebred was defeated as the favorite in her last two starts, both at the Churchill spring meet.

“We gave her the summer off,” he said. “I didn’t want to run her and Clairiere in the same races, and I didn’t want to ship her around all summer.”

Also, Asmussen had the beaten favorites in each of the twin 2-year-old stakes held last Saturday at Churchill, those being Echo Again, seventh in the Iroquois at 3-5, and Grand Love, third in the Pocahontas at even-money. The Iroquois and Pocahontas were the first two points qualifiers toward the Kentucky Derby and Oaks next May.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with either of them yet,” said Asmussen, who on Tuesday notched career win No. 9,900 with Big One at Louisiana Downs, extending his record as racing’s all-time winningest trainer. “Let’s see how they train. I was obviously disappointed with the outcome of their races – but that’s just their last race, not their life.”

Also, Echo Zulu, the 2-year-old filly champion of 2021, is entered to run Saturday in the Grade 3 Dogwood at Churchill Downs, although Asmussen said he isn’t sure she will actually start. The trainer also entered Wicked Halo, a last-out winner of the Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga, in the seven-furlong Dogwood.

“I haven’t decided which one I’m going to run,” Asmussen said late Tuesday. “There’s also the Raven Run up ahead,” referring to the Grade 2, seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies Oct. 22 at Keeneland.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

The $275,000 Dogwood is one of four stakes, all for 3-year-olds, to be run Saturday on the final night card of the year at Churchill. The others on an 11-race card that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern are the male counterpart to the Dogwood, the $275,000 Harrods Creek, along with two longer races, the $275,000 Bourbon Trail at 1 3/16 miles and the $160,000 Seneca for fillies going 1 1/16 miles.

Because the turf course is unavailable, Churchill is racing exclusively on dirt throughout a 14-day September meet that runs through Oct. 2.

All listed purses include bonuses restricted to registered Kentucky-breds.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.