Epicenter works half-mile at Keeneland for Breeders' Cup Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Epicenter, the leader of the 3-year-old male division, led a group of quality workers for trainer Steve Asmussen as he turned in his first local move toward the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Classic on Sunday morning at Keeneland.

Epicenter, working solo under regular exercise rider Wilson Fabian, went a half-mile in 51 seconds in the second set of a mild fall morning. It was his fourth work since winning the Travers Stakes on Aug. 27, but his first of those at Keeneland, as he arrived in Lexington from Saratoga last Wednesday.

Epicenter won the Grade 2 Risen Star and Grade 2 Louisiana Derby early this year before finishing second in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. He reasserted control over the division by winning the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and breaking through with a Grade 1 score in the Travers at Saratoga. He is training up to the Classic, which will be his first start against older horses.

Also turning in works at Keeneland after arriving from Saratoga for Asmussen were divisional standouts Jackie’s Warrior and. Clairiere.

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Working in the first set shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m., Jackie’s Warrior went a half in 49.80 under Fabian. The reigning Eclipse Award champion sprinter is training up to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after finishing second to Cody’s Wish in the Grade 1 Forego on the Travers undercard. It was the first loss of the year for the five-time Grade 1 winner.

Clairiere, in the second set of horses Asmussen sent out, went a solo half in 49.80 under Carmen Rosas, shortly before Epicenter worked. The filly established herself as a divisional standout by defeating champions Letruska and Malathaat in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps, and Malathaat again in the Grade 2 Shuvee, but was fifth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on the Travers undercard behind the victorious Malathaat.

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