Asmussen nearing 10,000 wins

By the time you read this, he might have blown by landmark!

(Oaklawn Park press release (Coady Photography photo)

Hall of Fame trainer and perennial Oaklawn champion Steve Asmussen entered Friday with 9,997 career North American victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.

Asmussen, 57, is already North America’s all-time winningest trainer. He entered Friday with 9,999 career worldwide victories. Asmussen’s North American total reflects his victories in the United States and Canada. Asmussen also won two races in 2008 in the United Arab Emirates with Curlin, who captured Oaklawn’s $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G3) and $1 million Arkansas Derby (G2) as a 3-year-old in 2007 at Oaklawn. Curlin was named Horse of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

Asmussen had 13 horses entered Friday at four tracks – Oaklawn (seven), Fair Grounds (three), Sam Houston Race Park (two) and Turfway Park (one).  Overall, Asmussen had 56 horses entered at the four tracks through Monday.

Asmussen entered Friday with 832 career victories at Oaklawn (No. 2 all time). The late Bob Holthus (867) is Oaklawn’s all-time winningest trainer. Asmussen has collected a record 12 Oaklawn training titles (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2021-2022).

Brad Cox, Oaklawn’s third-leading trainer last season, entered Friday with 1,996 career victories, according to Equibase, after winning two races Thursday night at Turfway Park.

Cox had five horses entered Friday at three tracks – Oaklawn (three), Aqueduct (one) and Turfway Park (one). Cox has 19 horses entered at three tracks Saturday, including four at Oaklawn. One of Cox’s entrants Saturday at Oaklawn is West Will Power, the 2-1 program favorite for the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/16 miles.

Cox entered Friday with 275 career victories at Oaklawn.

Rebel Yell

The Oaklawn racing department listed at least seven probables Friday morning for the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 25. The Rebel is Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby points race, a series that concludes with the $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 1.

Expected Rebel entrants are Bourbon Bash for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, Confidence Game (Keith Desormeaux), Frosted Departure (Kenny McPeek), Giant Mischief (Brad Cox), Gun Pilot (Steve Asmussen), Red Route One (Asmussen) and Verifying (Cox). Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is scheduled to be represented in the Rebel, a race he’s won a record eight times. Talladega, a front-running maiden special weight graduate Jan. 28 at Oaklawn for trainer Rodolphe Brisset, is being considered for the Rebel.

Cox (four) and Baffert (three) have combined to win seven of Oaklawn’s last 10 Kentucky Derby points races, including the first two in 2023. Unbeaten Victory Formation (Cox) captured the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at 1 mile Jan. 1. Baffert won the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 with unbeaten Arabian Knight. Arabian Knight wasn’t nominated to the Rebel. 

The Rebel will bring back the 2-3 Southwest finishers in Red Route One and Frosted Departure, respectively. Verifying, in his 3-year-old debut, was a powerful 5 ¼-length first-level allowance winner Jan. 14 at Oaklawn. The son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify covered a mile over a fast track in a meet-best 1:37.23. Gun Pilot, second to Verifying Jan. 14, returned to post a sharp two-length entry-level allowance victory at 1 mile Feb. 4 at Oaklawn. Bourbon Bash finished second in the race.

Lightly raced Giant Mischief (2 for 3) will be making his 3-year-old debut in the Rebel. The son of champion sire Into Mischief concluded his 2022 campaign with a troubled runner-up finish in the $400,000 Remington Park Springboard Mile Dec. 17 at Remington Park. Confidence Game finished third in the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 21 at Fair Grounds in his last start.

Post positions for the Rebel and two other Feb. 25 stakes races – $300,000 Honeybee (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles and the $150,000 Carousel for older female sprinters – will be drawn Monday. The Kentucky Oaks is Oaklawn’s second of three Kentucky Oaks points races.

Early Honeybee probables include the Cox-trained Wet Paint, who won the $200,000 Martha Washington Stakes at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 28 at Oaklawn.

Revenge Tour?

Hall of trainer Steve Asmussen said Saturday’s sixth race, a $104,000 first-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles, is “absolutely” a stakes audition for Shopper’s Revenge, who dominated maiden special weight company Jan. 14 at Oaklawn.

The royally bred Shopper’s Revenge – Tapit out of millionaire 2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Stopchargingmaria – received a Beyer Speed Figure of 85 for his front-running 5 ¼-length victory under Ricardo Santana Jr. The 1 1/16-mile race marked the two-turn and 3-year-old debut of Shopper’s Revenge, who was exiting a runner-up finish on the “Stars of Tomorrow 2” program Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs. It was his first career start. Shopper’s Revenge, the 3-1 program favorite, races for his breeders, Mandy Pope and Three Chimneys Farm.

“A lot of talent,” Asmussen said. “Just a beautifully bred Tapit colt for Three Chimneys and Whisper Hill, Mandy Pope.”

The race also attracted two entrants from Southern California-based trainer Peter Miller, Arman and unbeaten Thirsty John. Miller said Arman will be scratched in favor of Sunday’s eighth race, a $103,000 entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds at 1 mile.

Thirsty John (2 for 2) exits a front-running half-length victory in the $200,000 California Cup Derby for California-breds at 1 1/16 miles Jan. 7 at Santa Anita. He broke his maiden against California-breds at 4 ½ furlongs last May at Santa Anita.

“Thirsty John, he’s 2 for 2 and shown a lot of ability,” Miller said. “Training well, but it’s a tough heat, tough race. He’s going to have to step up to win, but we thought this was a good opportunity to see if he can compete with open company or if he’s just a good Cal-bred.”

Another horse cross-entered in Saturday’s sixth race and Sunday’s eighth race is Two Eagles River for 2015 Oaklawn training champion Chris Hartman. Two Eagles River will run in Sunday’s race, Hartman said.

Probable post time for Saturday’s sixth race is 3:07 p.m. (Central). 

Roman Centurian Returns

One-time Kentucky Derby candidate is scheduled to make his 5-year-old debut in Saturday’s eighth race, a $106,000 allowance for older horses at 1 mile.

Purchased for $550,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Roman Centurian will be making his first start for two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Roman Centurian’s five career starts all were in Southern California for trainer Simon Callaghan.

Roman Centurian debuted in November 2020 at Del Mar – future multiple Grade 1 winner Life Is Good won the 6 ½-furlong race by 9 ½ lengths – before finishing second in the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and fourth in the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes (G2). Both 2021 races were Kentucky Derby preps. Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, won the Robert B. Lewis. Life Is Good won the San Felipe.

Roman Centurian hasn’t started since finishing first (via disqualification for interference) in a 1-mile allowance race May 15 at Santa Anita. He has seven workouts this year at Fair Grounds in advance of his comeback race.

“Doing well,” Cox said. “Had a good gate work couple of weeks back. Obviously, this is his first run off the layoff. It’s our first start with him, but he physically looks amazing. Excited to get him going.”

A son of Empire Maker, Roman Centurian races for his breeder, Don Alberto Stable, and Qatar Racing Limited. Roman Centurian has a 2-1-0 record from five starts overall and earnings of $119,420. Cox and Qatar Racing, in partnership, campaigned 2020 Kentucky Oaks champion and multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Shedaresthedevil.

Roman Centurian, the 5-2 program favorite, is scheduled to break from post 10 under 2021 Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario. 

Probable post time for Saturday’s eighth race is 4:10 p.m. (Central).

Finish Lines

Joel Rosario, the 2021 Eclipse Award winner as the country’s outstanding jockey, is the special guest for Saturday’s “Dawn at Oaklawn.” Oaklawn handicapper/paddock analyst Nancy Holthus will interview Rosario at 8 a.m. (Central) on the south grandstand apron. The free program includes barn tours at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. … Cogburn, a Feb. 5 allowance winner at Oaklawn, is pointing for the $200,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) for older horses, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday afternoon. The Whitmore is Oaklawn’s final major prep for the $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) April 15, a race Asmussen has won a record four times. The Whitmore and Count Fleet are both 6 furlongs. … Monday’s special Presidents’ Day card includes a baseball cap giveaway promotion. Vouchers for free Oaklawn caps will be available at track entrances (casino, American Pharoah statue and north). Redemption (while supplies last) begins after the fourth race on the north end of the first floor. Fans are limited to one cap per voucher.  … “Oaklawn Raceday,” featuringDavid Longinotti, director of Oaklawn Anywhere, and Equibase representative Jeff Taylor, can be heard Saturdays 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (Central) during the 2022-2023 meeting on Little Rock, Ark., radio station KABZ-FM 103.7 andwww.1037thebuzz.com. Asmussen is this week’s special guest.