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

[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.

[saratogadew]

Thank you for this!!!

[Kasept]

Kentucky Derby clocker: Mor Spirit sizzles, then simmers
By Mike Welsch

Churchill Downs
Weather: Clear
Track: Fast Temp. 71

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Trainer Bob Baffert arrived in town on Monday and wasted little time getting down to work, sending out a handful of his stakes horses to breeze at Churchill Downs on Tuesday morning, including key Kentucky Derby contender Mor Spirit, who zipped five furlongs over a quick track under clear and relatively balmy conditions during the special Derby/Oaks training session shortly after 8:30 a.m.

With regular rider Gary Stevens aboard, and equipped with blinkers, Mor Spirit, who runs with his head down, was very eager going to the pole outside workmate Jimbo Fallon, a 4-year-old maiden whose only start came one year ago. The duo blasted away from the 4 ½-furlong marker, clipping off eye-catching splits of 22.38 for the opening quarter, 33.93 for three-eighths, and 46.11 completing a half-mile at midstretch. Mor Spirit held a short advantage at that point, but never could put away his partner. He wearied noticeably during his closing furlong which took him through the finish line and into the clubhouse turn. The final eighth was in 13.68 seconds and completed a 59.79 drill. Mor Spirit held a head advantage at the point, the pair remaining pretty much on even terms galloping out in 1:13.21 before pulling up seven furlongs in 1:27.32.

Baffert simply commented, “He worked well today,” a short while later. “He’s never been a real willing worker. It seemed like Gary didn’t go too hard on him. This track is pretty quick, but it was good for him, he got into it. He likes the surface.”

Having never seen Mor Spirit work in person before this morning, it’s tough to be too harsh a critic, although it’s never a positive sign seeing a horse especially keyed up breaking off for a work, or wearying at the end while unable to run away from a lightly raced maiden as was the case here. Expect to see Mor Spirit back for one last breeze prior to the Derby early next week.

:: KENTUCKY DERBY WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

While Mor Spirit turned in the only recorded work of the morning, several of his likely rivals on Derby Day were given the opportunity to really stretch their legs, including south Florida invader Majesto, Arkansas Derby runner-up Suddenbreakingnews, the Japanese invader Lani, and Mo Tom, who continues to impress on a regular basis.

Majesto was among the first of the Derby horses on the track and he turned in a lively, open gallop during which he covered six furlongs from the five-eighths pole past the wire in 1:22.83. An impressive-looking animal, Majesto has continued to improve with experience and appears to relish the relatively glib going of the local surface as compared to his deeper, cuppier home course at Gulfstream Park West.

Suddenbreakingnews was also allowed to open up a bit this morning, and he too galloped at a lively pace for an extended period, looking strong with his ears pricked coming down the lane the final time.

Lani has made a huge turnaround over the last 48 hours, turning in a high-spirited gallop for the second consecutive morning after struggling over the course on Sunday. As was the case on Monday, he cruised at much better than a two-minute-mile pace for the majority of what was a two-mile gallop as a prelude to a scheduled work on Wednesday.

Mo Tom has made a favorable impression each of the last three mornings and certainly seems to be carrying a very good fitness level. He came down the stretch, from the quarter pole to the wire, in 27.15 while picking up the pace of his gallop the second time around once again today.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sent out his two Derby hopefuls for the first time locally and both looked well. Tampa Bay Derby winner Destin got a little warm, but has a tendency to do so, and seemed to be gazing around a bit at the new surroundings despite galloping with blinkers on. Wood winner Outwork also had his head cocked out some coming down the lane, but was striding out extremely well moving through the wire and into the clubhouse bend.

There is heavy rain in the forecast over the local area this evening with more precipitation predicted over the next several days, all of which could disrupt workout schedules into the weekend.

[casp0555]

Thanks for posting Steve!