Belmont '16 Notebook: Gettysburg to run; Asmussen to train

[Kasept]

@DRFWelsch Sunday Training Notes:

Some quick thoughts on Sunday's Derby-Oaks training session..

My Man Sam- Strictly a maintenance type of move in 50 and change early this morning with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, wasn't flashy but did like the finish and strong gallop out in company with the older, multiple SW Majestic Affair.

Shagaf- Very solid looking half-mile work in 48.35, came home in 23.62 on his own with a nice gallop out of 1:01.43, up six furlongs in 1:14.57.

Mo Tom- Showed very good energy opening galloping six furlongs from the five-eighths pole in 1:23.34, then reversed direction and jogged another spirited 7/8's or so home the wrong way on outside fence while on his toes much of the way.

Gun Runner- Was full of run this morning a day prior to scheduled work, took him from six furlong pole galloping a mile just off the rail in 1:53 with a :38.15 three-eighths split tossed in to the wire. Will be interesting to see if he shows the same high energy wheeling right back to breeze on Monday.

Lani- Didn't record an official work but was asked to pick it up along the rail from the half-mile pole to wire, wasn't a pretty sight struggling to wire down the lane in 25.96 under urging.

Cherry Wine- Seems to have skipped a work this weekend two weeks out from the Blue Grass, especially considering Brody's Cause did breeze yesterday exiting same race, he jogged, did not gallop this morning.

Royal Obsession- Oaks filly made super impression galloping very early this morning under the lights, expect to see good things if she breezes, as expected, on Monday.

Mor Spirit- Small in stature, gallops with his head down, eagerly awaiting his first local work later this week.

[Kasept]

Additions of Iron Rob & Denman's Call push Santa Anita Derby field to 7..

Danzing Candy (Sise)
Mor Spirit (Baffert)
Exaggerator (Desormeaux)
Uncle Lino (Sherlock)
Smokey Image (Gaines)
Iron Rob (Papaprodromou)
Denman's Call (O'Neill)

[Kasept]

4/2 (GP): FLORIDA DERBY (100/40/20/10)

http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbH...0160402-534396

Nyquist (O'Neill)
Mohaymen (McLaughlin)
Fellowship (Gold)
Majesto (Delgado)
Sawyers Mickey (Amoss)
Fashionable Freddy (Zito)
Takeittotheedge (Romans)

[Kasept]

4/2 (TP): SPIRAL (50/20/10/5)

https://www.equibase.com/premium/eqb...0160402-535660

Airoforce (Casse)
Azar (Pletcher)
Crescent Drive (Amoss)
Don't Be So Salty (Contessa)
Ralis (O'Neill)
Jensen (L. Jones)
Surgical Strike (Colebrook)
That Makes Sense (Lukas)
Two Step Time (Maker)
Oscar Nominated (Maker)
Strike Up the Band (Maker)
Swagger Jagger (Maker)
Kasseopia (Motion) ~ SA Derby

Back Togetheragain (M. Howard) ~ Rushaway
Gimlet (Pletcher) ~ Rushaway
Whatawonderflworld (Casse) ~ Rushaway
Zapperini (Foley) ~ Rushaway

[Kasept]

For those looking, Vorticity out with minor surgery.

[Kasept]

8th: SANTA ANITA DERBY

1. Denman's Call (Bejarano)
2. Exaggerator (Desormeaux)
3. Danzing Candy (Smith)
4. Mor Spirit (Stevens)
5. Smokey Image (Espinoza)
6. Iron Rob (Elliott)
7. Dressed in Hermes (Prat)
8. Rare Candy (Talamo)
9. Diplodocus (T. Baze)
10. Uncle Lino (Perez)

[gamblin4ever]

If Desormeaux has any thoughts on Swipe getting to run in the derby, he needs to send him to AR. Derby for the points.

[tanner12oz]

Originally Posted by gamblin4ever

If Desormeaux has any thoughts on Swipe getting to run in the derby, he needs to send him to AR. Derby for the points.

hearing him interviewed this weekend on tvg it sure sounded like he had given up on this one making the gate first Saturday in may..was talking about other big races this summer etc etc

[SundayStar]

hoping Suddenbreakingnews can get in. he's currently at 10 points. the Arkansas Derby has 100-40-20-10 available.

[Kasept]

Cupid out; Mo Tom in..

[casp0555]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Cupid out; Mo Tom in..

Yesss!! I mean too bad for Cupid.....still a Mo Tom fan

[Kasept]

5/7 (CD): KENTUCKY DERBY

Points standing

Jock assignments set except for Majesto..

1. Gun Runner-151 (Asmussen/Geroux)
2. Nyquist-130 (O'Neill/Gutierrez)
3. Exaggerator-126 (Desormeaux/Desormeaux)
4. Outwork-120 (Pletcher/Velazquez)
5. Brody's Cause-114 (Romans/Saez)
6. Creator-110 (Asmussen/Santana)
7. Lani-100 (Matsunaga/Take)
8. Mor Spirit-84 (Baffert/Stevens)
9. Mohaymen-80 (McLaughlin/Alvarado)
10. Danzing Candy-60 (Sise/Smith)
11. Destin-51 (Pletcher/Castellano)
12. Suddenbreakingnews-50 (Von Hemel/Quinonez)
13. Oscar Nominated-50 (Maker/Leparoux)
14. Shagaf-50 (Brown/Rosario)
15. Whitmore-44 (Moquett/Espinoza)
16. Tom's Ready-44 (Stewart/B. Hernandez Jr.)
17. Majesto-40 (Delgado/TBA)
18. Trojan Nation-40 (Gallagher/Gryder)
19. My Man Sam-40 (Brown/I. Ortiz)
20. Mo Tom-32 (Amoss/Lanerie)
------------------------------------
21. Fellowship-32 (Casse)
22. Adventist-32 (Gyarmati)
23. Laoban-32 (Guillot)
24. Dazzling Gem-30 (Cox)
25. Cherry Wine-26 (Romans)

[cakes44]

Sure would like SBN to come out of the clouds...if he had someone other that Quinonez on him. I'd seriously take Antonino Gallardo every day of the week over Luis Q, much less someone like Albarado or Lezcano.

[Benny]

http://www.twinspires.com/blog/2016/...workout-videos

Mohaymen looks good
Nyquist determined
Lani fat,poor muscles
Catherine Sophia -sprinter/miler to my eyes

[Thunder Gulch]

The information overload and amateur hour on Twitter make if hard to wade through the BS.
I saw 50 people today comment on how rank and unsettled Mohaymen was in his gallop, and another 50 talk about he was so full of energy that they couldn't contain his enthusiasm for training.

I have a handful of folks I actually listen to- some of them here- and even those few can't seem to agree in most cases....and yet I'll blow 2 hours everyday at work reading opinions and another 2 at night watching a horse gallop with my amateur eye.

[robfla]

Originally Posted by Thunder Gulch

The information overload and amateur hour on Twitter make if hard to wade through the BS.
I saw 50 people today comment on how rank and unsettled Mohaymen was in his gallop, and another 50 talk about he was so full of energy that they couldn't contain his enthusiasm for training.

I have a handful of folks I actually listen to- some of them here- and even those few can't seem to agree in most cases....and yet I'll blow 2 hours everyday at work reading opinions and another 2 at night watching a horse gallop with my amateur eye.

Mike Welsch

https://twitter.com/DRFWelsch

[Kasept]

Here's Welsch from 9:30-10:15 on the Weekend Efforts: http://stevebyk.com/broadcast/hour-1-mike-welsch/

[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.

[richard burch]

Saturday

May 7
Mostly sunny and warm
82°Lo 62°

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/lou.../348428?day=5:)

[Kasept]

MONDAY: Mor Spirit settles down some
By Mike Welsch

CHURCHILL DOWNS
WEATHER: SUNNY
TRACK: GOOD/FAST
TEMP.: 63

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The final pieces of the workout puzzle for Kentucky Derby 2016 were put in place Monday morning at Churchill Downs, with three top contenders – Mor Spirit, Creator, and Gun Runner – turning in their final breezes just five days out from the main event.

Despite heavy rain passing over the area Sunday, the main track was in top shape Monday morning, a testament to both the Churchill Downs maintenance team and the racing surface itself. The strip was officially deemed “good” when it opened at 5:45 a.m. before being upgraded to “fast” for the special Oaks/Derby training session, which began nearly three hours later.

Mor Spirit, as usual, was the first Derby horse to hit the track, arriving at 8:30 a.m. with blinkers on and jockey Gary Stevens up along with his regular workmate Jimbo Fallon, a 4-year-old maiden with just one start under his belt. The pair began the drill at the 4 1/2-furlong pole, not unusual for Bob Baffert workers, with Mor Spirit breaking off two to 2 1/2 lengths behind and eager to begin, although not nearly as headstrong as in his previous work six days earlier.

Although a bit more relaxed Monday, Mor Spirit still zipped right along over the freshly manicured track, posting splits of 23.29 seconds, 34.58, and 46.13 while completing the opening half-mile on even terms with his workmate at midstretch. The duo ran through the finish line, ending the move a sixteenth of a mile past the wire, with both having a little more left in the tank at that point than the previous week.

Mor Spirit covered five furlongs in 59.57 without much coaxing but was unable to get past his maiden mate. Although he galloped out willingly enough, he never could shake off his partner around the bend and went out six furlongs while about a head back in 1:13.18.

This was definitely a more appealing work than last week’s, when Mor Spirit was very aggressive early and had little left at the end of a similarly orchestrated five-furlong drill. Still, this was not the typical eye-catching type of move observed from many Baffert runners training up to the Derby here in previous years – and it leaves the feeling that a keen Mor Spirit may become more of a pace factor in the Derby than one might have originally expected.

Creator was pretty eager himself going to the pole, fighting his rider’s hold and briefly tossing his head a couple of times before finally settling in while well in reserve about an eighth of a mile into his breeze. The Arkansas Derby winner, Creator fanned four to five paths wide leaving the turn after a 24.79 opening quarter-mile and cruised to the wire on his own to complete four furlongs in 50.67 before easing up fairly quickly, by design, on the gallop-out. Working in his WinStar blinkers, Creator continues to make a very favorable impression as Derby Day draws near.

Gun Runner was also eager, but a little less so than his mate, coming away from the half-mile marker. He went the opening quarter-mile in 13.02 and 24.67, angled wide off the turn, and finished up without any coaxing, covering the distance in 50.43. As was the case in his previous work, Gun Runner was noticeably making noise as he approached and passed through the wire, although according to his regular rider, Florent Geroux, it’s a habit, and appears to have little effect on his performance.

Lani spent approximately 45 minutes on the track, making five trips around the one-mile oval, either walking, jogging, or galloping, while also having a bit of a tumultuous visit to the starting gate. He was set down from the quarter pole to the wire the fourth time around, going down the lane in 25.40 under considerable urging.

Outwork had another good morning and may be the most imposing physical specimen in the Derby field. The Chad Brown trainees Shagaf and My Man Sam went well again Monday, with the latter really on the muscle when he turned around near the finish line to begin his gallop. Suddenbreakingnews also made another favorable appearance, while Nyquist never turned a hair while jogging two miles alongside his stable pony. Mo Tom was the only Derby starter to train under the lights, standing at the finish line for an extended period shortly before 6 a.m. before galloping 2 1/4 miles, picking up the pace and striding out more fluidly, as usual, the second time around.

All three of trainer Steve Asmussen’s Oaks starters, Taxable (50.57), Royal Obsession (50.43), and Terra Promessa (51.02) turned in typically easy half-mile breezes just four days out from the race, while Carina Mia, not likely to crack the starting lineup, did likewise, cruising four furlongs over a fast track several hours later in 49.81.

California invader Mokat, the runner-up behind division leader Songbird in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks, caught the eye for a second consecutive morning, turning in a very energetic gallop after the break.