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Kentucky Derby clocker: Asmussen goes big with Epicenter, Echo Zulu

Mike Welsch | Apr 24, 2022

Churchill Downs
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast
Temperature: 66

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - It was a “big” work day for trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn Sunday morning at Churchill Downs with Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks King and Queen pins Epicenter and Echo Zulu each working a serious six furlongs in company well before dawn.

It was another unseasonably warm day in Louisville, with the temperature reaching into the low 70s by the time the final work over the new $10 million turf course was in the books later in the morning, well after the two Asmussen 3-year-olds had been cooled out and returned to their stalls. A moderate south wind made everyone work a little harder down the stretch and when galloping out into the turns on both the main and turf tracks.

EPICENTER, who will likely vie for favoritism in the Derby with Blue Grass winner Zandon, went in company with his 6-year-old allowance mate Gun It, the pair easing away from the six-furlong pole in a leisurely 13.09 before picking up the pace. The duo turned into the stretch off a crisp 46.96 half-mile clocking, Epicenter holding a slight edge while going easiest to the wire to complete the distance in 1:12.34. The Louisiana Derby winner was given a little encouragement upon passing the finish line to continue into the clubhouse turn, easing up best after seven furlongs in 1:26.44, nearly a full second slower than Echo Zulu had galloped out the same distance about 30 minutes earlier.

CROWN PRIDE was the only other Derby contender to work locally on Sunday, breezing an official four furlongs from the three-eighths pole in 49.40, the work far more impressive than the final time suggests. Crown Pride got quicker the farther he went, going from the wire into the turn and into the wind in 12.12 before continuing to accelerate around the bend, completing five furlongs in 1:01.43 without any need of encouragement. An easy winner of the UAE Derby despite racing against the grain of the track bias that day at Meydan, Crown Pride could prove one of the sleepers in this year’s Derby field.

Only a handful of horses galloped during the special Derby/Oaks training session this morning, including the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Wood winner Mo Donegal and Pioneer of Medina, who moved up to the all-important 20th spot on the Kentucky Derby qualifying points list following Sunday’s announcement by Asmussen that Morello had been withdrawn from consideration for the Derby. Pioneer of Medina missed a scheduled work Friday, but could be back on the tab Monday morning.

UAE Derby runner-up Summer is Tomorrow made his first local appearance and appeared a bit uncomfortable galloping down the stretch on his left lead while kept along the inside rail the first time around before looking a bit smoother his second pass down the stretch.

At Gulfstream Park, Florida Derby winner WHITE ABARRIO also had a “big” work of his own, going five furlongs in company in 1:00 before completing six panels into the turn under vigorous handling in 1:12.58, after which he shut down a bit quick, pulling up after a mile in 1:45.32 per track clockers.

ECHO ZULU had the 3-year-old filly King Ottoman for a partner, the pair negotiating six furlongs in 1:11.74 with internal splits of 24.13, 47.60 for the opening quarter and half-mile. Echo Zulu was put to a little light pressure while about a head back of her maiden mate at the wire before holding a narrow edge of her own after saving ground along the rail, galloping out seven furlongs under some continued encouragement in 1:25.52.

HAPPY JACK shipped to Kentucky form Southern California on Saturday. He is scheduled to breeze next Saturday at Keeneland, trainer Doug O'Neill said.

- additional reporting by Jay Privman