[Kasept]

Monday Clocker Report: Asmussen's Derby and Oaks workers impress
By Mike Welsch

Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast
Temperature: 63

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer Steve Asmussen had a very good morning on Monday. It began with his five potential Kentucky Oaks starters and two Kentucky Derby contenders turning in sharp works over a fast main track at Churchill Downs and ended several hours later with the announcement that he’d been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

Asmussen’s day, as it always does, began early with the first of his five Oaks workers, including leading points earner TERRA PROMESSA, hitting the track shortly before 6 a.m. His two Derby workers, Louisiana Derby winner GUN RUNNER and Arkansas Derby hero CREATOR, were a study in contrast, working just minutes apart during the special training session reserved for Derby and Oaks starters immediately after the renovation break at 8:30.

Gun Runner was amped up, turning in a spirited gallop here Sunday, and was no less a handful while making his way around the clubhouse turn along with Asmussen’s favorite workmate, Gold Hawk, on Monday. The pair left the six-furlong pole in full flight and hit the top of the stretch on even terms. Gun Runner switched leads on cue and steadily began to pull away from his partner leaving the eighth pole, hitting the wire well clear without need of urging before galloping out very willingly around the turn. Jockey Florent Geroux took one look over his left shoulder approaching the seven-eighths marker in search of his overmatched partner.

Gun Runner did seem to be making some noise as he crossed the finish line and proceeded out into the turn – noticeable even from a perch on the fourth floor of the grandstand – although whatever the cause, it obviously had little effect on his energy level during the gallop-out. Gun Runner went his final five-eighths in 59.63 seconds off splits of 11.84 and 35.46 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.88 and pulling up seven-eighths in 1:26.63.

Asmussen was looking for a little less from Creator, who was returning to breeze nine days after his breakthrough performance in the Arkansas Derby, and the steadily improving son of Tapit delivered the goods, going an easy five-eighths in company with Hundred Years in 1:02.23. The best part of this drill came after the wire, with Creator responding to just a hint of coaxing from regular rider Ricardo Santana Jr. to readily pull away from his workmate while reaching out nicely to complete six furlongs in 1:15.44 before pulling up seven-eighths in 1:28.96. Asmussen was all smiles when talking about the work after accepting congratulations for his Hall of Fame election, acknowledging that Creator certainly seems to be peaking as Derby Day nears.

ROYAL OBSESSION was arguably the star of Asmussen’s five Oaks workers while going in company with NICKNAME, who is also a candidate for the race and a filly who always seems to give her best in the morning. Coming off an eye-catching gallop the previous morning, Royal Obsession, with Geroux up, began about a half-length behind and outside Nickname and finished on even terms while under a good hold at the wire. The pair negotiated five furlongs in 59.91 before galloping out another solid quarter-mile to get six furlongs in 1:13.71, up seven-eighths in 1:27.92. Like Creator, Royal Obsession appears to be peaking at just the right time.

Asmussen was looking for something entirely different with Terra Promessa, who was coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Fantasy nine days earlier. Terra Promessa is a handful in the morning. In fact, she gallops in draw reins to help her rider keep her under control, and she got very eager going to the pole while working with fellow Oaks probable TAXABLE. But once under way, she settled in nicely, going five furlongs in a relatively leisurely 1:02.62 off a 36.06 three-eighths split under Santana before galloping out impressively in 1:16.22 for six furlongs and 1:29.79 for seven furlongs.

CARINA MIA was the only Oaks starter to work after the break Monday, and she was very sharp, sizzling through her five-furlong drill in 58.43 while having plenty left down the lane off a 34.61 opening three-eighths split. She broke a couple of lengths behind workmate Black Eagle before pulling seven lengths clear at the wire and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.75.

LANI didn’t work on Monday, but he did turn in a very long and spirited gallop while looking like a different animal than the one who struggled when asked to stretch his legs down the lane the previous morning. Lani galloped at far better than a two-minute-mile clip for well over a mile, completing five furlongs to the wire in 1:06 before continuing out around the turn and well down the backstretch. He was scheduled to have his next official breeze on Wednesday.

MOHAYMEN was a real handful again this morning, with his rider doing all he could to hold him on the ground during his gallop. He retains a high energy level exiting a very spirited work several days earlier.

MO TOM also had another very good morning, looking very comfortable and focused while galloping at better than a two-minute clip himself before reversing direction and jogging nearly another mile back to the barn.

◗ While Asmussen dominated the action here Monday, it was Chad Brown who took center stage on Sunday ,with his two Derby workers, MY MAN SAM and SHAGAF, also a study in contrast. My Man Sam, working almost immediately after the track opened for training with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, cruised through a leisurely opening quarter in 26.23 before finishing up well without urging to complete a half-mile in 50.83. His gallop-out was the most impressive part of the drill, five-eighths in 1:03.44, up six furlongs in 1:16.61 while on even terms throughout with the multiple stakes-winning older horse Majestic Affair.

Shagaf worked solo after the break, posting a quicker 48.35 half-mile, with a final quarter in 23.62. He finished on his own before galloping out nicely in 1:01.43 for five furlongs and pulling up six furlongs in 1:14.57.