Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Asmussen Becomes Only Third Trainer to Win 600 Races at Churchill Downs

By Darren Rogers —-

Steve Asmussen (r), Asst trainer Scott Blasi (l); Coady Photography

ASMUSSEN BECOMES ONLY THIRD TRAINER TO WIN 600 RACES AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Friday, May 26, 2017) – Steve Asmussen became only the third trainer in Churchill Downs history to saddle 600 winners at the home of the Kentucky Derby when the Hall of Fame horseman won Friday’s second race with 2-year-old filly She’s a Julie.

Asmussen, 51, only trails fellow Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott (700) and Louisville native Dale Romans (685) for most wins as a trainer at Churchill Downs.

She’s a Julie ($8.40), a Kentucky-bred daughter of Elusive Quality who won the five-furlong sprint by 5 ¼ lengths in :58.68, was named in honor of Asmussen’s wife Julie, who was diagnosed with neck and throat cancer in September 2015. After months of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, Julie Asmussen was cancer-free in March 2016.

Asmussen, a record 17-time training champion at Churchill Downs, won his first race at the Louisville oval on May 16, 1993 with Snake Eyes. He won his 100th local race in June 2003; 200th in June 2006; 300th in July 2008; 400th in May 2011; and 500th in May 2014.

Among Asmussen’s 600 Churchill Downs wins are 61 local stakes triumphs, including two victories in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI): Summerly in 2005 and Untapable in 2014. He also won 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) with Horse of the Year Curlin and last fall’s Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (GI) with Gun Runner.

His longtime Churchill Downs assistant is Scott Blasi.

Overall, Asmussen has won 7,644 races and his horses have amassed $256.7 million from 36,737 starts during a 30-year training career that began at New Mexico’s Ruidoso Downs in 1986. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer (2008-09) was enshrined in horse racing’s Hall of Fame last August.

SWEETGRASS LOOKS FOR FIRST GRADED STAKES VICTORY IN WINNING COLORS

Six Column Stables, Randy Bloch, John Seiler and Fred Merritt’s Sweetgrass will attempt to upset heavy-favorite Finley’sluckycharm in Saturday’s $100,000 Winning Colors (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. The six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares is the feature race on an 11-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).

“She really has been training great,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “However, there are a couple of things going against us with the distance and the big favorite.”

Sweetgrass ran in route races for most of 2016 but Wilkes believes the 4-year-old filly, by Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Street Sense, is much better suited around one turn.

“I think she’s really found her niche at seven furlongs,” Wilkes said. “The six furlongs Saturday is probably too short for her. The problem is we wanted to keep her home after the Humana Distaff (GI) but needed to get a race in her before the Chicago Handicap (GIII) in June. If the pace is strong enough up front we’ll hopefully be closing ground late.”

Wilkes, who celebrated his 52nd birthday Thursday, will be at Arlington Park on Saturday with Sweetgrass’ regular rider, and his son-in-law, Chris Landeros, to saddle Giant Payday in the $100,000 Arlington Classic (GIII). Jockey James Graham will have the riding assignment on Sweetgrass for the Winning Colors.

Carded as Race 10 with an approximate post time of 5:21 p.m. (all times Eastern), the field for the Winning Colors from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Mayla (Ricardo Santana Jr., 15-1), Sweetgrass (Graham, 4-1), Covey Trace (Gabriel Saez, 30-1), Ramona’s Wildcat (Declan Cannon, 20-1), Game Time Decision (Corey Lanerie, 15-1), Finley’sluckycharm (Brian Hernandez Jr., 3-5), Athena (Joe Rocco Jr., 4-1) and Pleasant Tales (Miguel Mena, 12-1).

QUIET BUSINESS TRIES FOR TWO STAKES WINS IN A ROW IN SATURDAY’S KEERTANA – Calumet Farm’s Quiet Business is in search of back-to-back stakes wins in Saturday’s $65,000-added Keertana Overnight Stakes for trainer Rusty Arnold II.

“She really stepped up in the Bewitch (Grade III),” assistant trainer Jack Bohannon said. “She was a big price and closed ground well to beat Daring Duchess.

“This filly wants to run all day. There really aren’t a lot of spots for fillies to go 1 ½ miles (on turf) so this was a perfect option after the Bewitch. She’ll probably take a little bit of time off after the Keertana and be pointed for Kentucky Downs in September.”

Quiet Business is the 3-1 morning line favorite in the Keertana with a lifetime record of 11-3-1-0 and $180,558 in earnings.

The Keertana is the fifth race on Saturday’s card at approximately 2:43 p.m. (all times Eastern). Giovanna Blues, listed as 5-1 on the morning line, is expected to scratch, according to Racing Secretary Ben Huffman.

The field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Daring Duchess (Julien Leparoux, 7-2), Northern Smile (Miguel Mena, 8-1), Yahtzee Queen (Gabriel Saez, 30-1), Rachel Wall (James Graham, 4-1), Grey Stark (Joe Rocco Jr., 7-2), Majestic Angel (Jack Gilligan, 15-1), and Quiet Business (Brian Hernandez Jr., 3-1).

SWEEZEY GETS FIRST CAREER WIN THURSDAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – Trainer Kent Sweezey, 31, collected his first career victory in Thursday’s finale with Lela’s Gift.

Sweezey, a native of Lexington, Ky., grew up in the horse racing business as his parents own Timber Town Stable.

Prior to training on his own, Sweezey spent time working for trainers Christophe Clement, Eoin Harty and, most recently, Jimmy Jerkens.

Lela’s Gift won the maiden claiming event for fillies and mares by three lengths and returned $24.20 for the win with jockey James Graham in the saddle.

Sweezey’s string of horses is stabled at Keeneland.

WORK TAB – Trainer Mark Casse headlined Friday’s work tab with five graded stakes winners putting in published works including: Salty, fifth in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) (five furlongs in :59.60); Spinaway (GI) winner Pretty City Dancer (five furlongs in :59.60); Churchill Downs (GII) runner-up Awesome Slew (five furlongs in 1:00); and Edgewood (GIII) one-two finishers La Coronel and Dream Dancing (four furlongs in :47.80). … Trainer Dallas Stewart breezed recent-allowance winner Hollywood Handsome a half-mile in :48.20 and Churchill Downs Stakes third-place finisher Tom’s Ready five furlongs in 1:00.80. Stewart said Hollywood Handsome is targeting the Ohio Derby. … The complete Churchill Downs work tab is available here:
churchilldowns.com/horsemen/racing/workouts.

DOWN THE STRETCH – There is a $39,676 carryover in the 20-cent Single 6 Jackpot on Friday at Churchill Downs and a $3,310 carryover in the $1 Super Hi-5. The Single 6 starts in Race 4 at approximately 2:13 p.m. (all times Eastern) and the Super Hi-5 is Race 9 at approximately 4:51 p.m. … Trainer Steve Asmussen is one win away from reaching 600 victories at Churchill Downs and “Buff” Bradley is one win away from 100 victories at Churchill Downs. Asmussen and Bradley both have two horses entered Friday. … Nominations for the $65,000-added Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, a five-furlong turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up on June 3, and the $100,000 Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap (GIII), for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf on June 10, close Saturday. … “Inside Churchill Downs,” co-hosted by Churchill Downs Racetrack’s John Asher, Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein, airs Saturday throughout the Spring Meet from 10-11 a.m. on ESPN 680/105.7. Saturday’s guests include trainer Bret Calhoun, who’ll saddle Finley’sluckycharm in the featured Winning Colors. … Sunday features a Stakes & Eggs brunch in the Stakes Room for $45 ($22 for children). … In celebration of Memorial Day on Monday, all active and retired members of the United States armed forces will be admitted free of charge. Also, Churchill Downs’ bugler Steve Buttleman will perform patriotic melodies following the “Call to the Post” for each race.