Epicenter works five furlongs in Breeders' Cup Classic prep
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As the sun rose at Keeneland on Sunday morning, prominent contender Epicenter turned in his penultimate and most serious work toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic as heavy favorite Flightline began his journey to Kentucky for that race.
Epicenter came through the Keeneland paddock and onto the track immediately following the first morning renovation break with regular jockey Joel Rosario in the irons for trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00.35 on the watch of Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch. He pulled away from maiden workmate Uncle Berley while galloping out, pulling up the mile in 1:40.75.
“This morning was more of the same,” owner Ron Winchell said of the consistent colt. “I think he did what he needed to do. He went out there, and it looked like he went really easy, and fast, and nice, and all the good words you associate with Epicenter.”
Epicenter is the 8-1 co-third choice on Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free’s early line for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, for which pre-entries will be taken tomorrow and announced on Wednesday. Unbeaten and unchallenged Flightline, the 3-5 favorite, breezed on Saturday at Santa Anita and early Sunday morning was heading to the airport. He was expected to land in Louisville late Sunday morning, Eastern time, before vanning to Keeneland.
Life Is Good, the second choice on Free’s line at 6-1, breezed Friday morning at Keeneland.
Epicenter has won four graded stakes this year, the most recent a 5 1/4-length romp in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on Aug. 27. That race was at the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Classic, which will be Epicenter's first start against older horses. The Travers cemented Epicenter’s status atop the 3-year-old male division after he finished second in the Kentucky Derby to Rich Strike and second in the Preakness Stakes to Early Voting.
Rich Strike, the only one of this year’s classic winners still in training after the retirements of Early Voting and Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, was confirmed for the Classic on Sunday morning by trainer Eric Reed, and could assume control of the division with another upset victory there.
Echo Zulu leads Asmussen workers
Asmussen’s barn was busy early on Sunday morning, with four other Breeders’ Cup candidates, led by Eclipse Award champion Echo Zulu, all turning in breezes in company with other stablemates in the first sets when the Keeneland main track opened in darkness.
Echo Zulu, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to secure a divisional Eclipse, covered a half-mile in 46.99 and five furlongs in 59.28 on Welsch’s watch in preparation for this year’s Filly and Mare Sprint. Keeneland officially credited the champion with five furlongs in 59.40, giving her the bullet of 30 moves at the distance.
Grade 1 winners Clairiere (five furlongs in 1:01.06) and Society (1:00.03) each worked for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, while Grand Love (1:00.44) worked toward the Juvenile Fillies.
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