Publisher finally scores maiden win

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – In a racing anomaly Sunday at Oaklawn Park, Publisher pushed his career earnings past $550,000 when he won a maiden special weight. He always looked like a winner in the 1 1/16-mile race, and after stalking the leaders, opened up on the field in the stretch for a 5 3/4-length victory.

The win came in the 13th career start for Publisher, who earned a spot in last year’s Kentucky Derby after running fourth in the Rebel and second in the Arkansas Derby. For his maiden win, the 4-year-old earned a 90 Beyer.

“It was a long time coming, but he’s a very special horse,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “He really is, and glad to see him get in the winner’s circle. But he’s obviously kept extremely good company his whole career and is going to be a very nice older horse.”

Asmussen said next race plans have not been determined for Publisher, a son of American Pharoah who races for Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones.

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“We’re just going to pet on him for a few days,” Asmussen said. “That’s what we’re going to do right now.”

Publisher was an odds-on favorite and was ridden by Asmussen’s son, jockey Erik Asmussen.

Oaks points to maiden

Steve Asmussen had a maiden run second in the $250,000 Sunland Park Oaks the same afternoon Publisher ran at Oaklawn. Touch of Magic closed from next to last to finish 1 1 /2 lengths behind Bottle of Rouge, a Grade 1 winner who had shipped in from Southern California.

Touch of Magic had a foundation of several maiden races under her belt before making her stakes debut in the Sunland Oaks, just like Publisher had before he made his first stakes start. Touch of Magic picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Oaks.

“She’s a huge filly that’s finally growing into herself,” Asmussen said. “We’ll see how she trains off of it before making any decisions [on races].”

Touch of Magic, who earned a career-high Beyer of 83, is a daughter of Into Mischief and a half-sister to Guarana, a multiple Grade 1 winner who earned $1 million. Three Chimneys Farm co-bred and owns Touch of Magic.

◗ Jockey Alfredo Triana Jr., who was off his mounts last week at Oaklawn, has been sidelined by injuries sustained in a race at Will Rogers Downs. He is recovering from a rib fracture and compressed vertebrae and will need 60 to 90 days to heal, said agent Brian Assmann.

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