Winchell Thoroughbreds’ The epicenter worked five-eighths in 1:01.13 July 18 on the Oklahoma dirt track at Racecourse Saratogarule his company, 3-year-old girl Flute Master (1:03.12).
Epicenter, one Not this time sophomore year, boasting an 8-4-3-0 record for purse earnings in excess of $1.9 million. He’s aiming for the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2), a nine-point test for sophomores on July 30.
Coach Steve Asmussen said: “The visual impression is who he is. “He’s an incredibly talented horse and he’s doing well. His work on Monday was as good a job as I’ve seen from him, and I’ve seen some impressive work from him. This is a good time to do well.”
Epicenter got a pair of tier 2 wins over the winter at Fair Grounds & Slots, attending the Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February and Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) in March. He was sent to the post as a 4-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in May, finishing in second place having been beaten just 3/4 longs Rich Strike . He entered Jim Dandy from a second rally in Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 21 at Racecourse Pimlico.
J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior Eclipse Award-winning reigning male sprinter, launched five pairs of trousers at 1:00.72 on July 17 on a training track in Oklahoma with the winner being a 3-year-old girl. Outlaw favorite to prepare for the launch at $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) on July 30.
He is also likely to start later this summer with $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) on August 27 as part of his path towards returning to participation in the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup. Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland.
4 year old kid Music by Maclean colt is a perfect match 3 this year, proudly winning the Counts Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) in April at Oaklawn Parkthe Churchill Downs Shares presented by Ford (G1) in May and a final five-time race at True North Stakes (G2) on June 10 at Belmont Park.
“It’s rare to have a champion horse back in training and not only that, his three runs this year have all been impressive,” Asmussen said. “He had a good job here on Sunday and we are targeting Vanderbilt.”
Jackie’s Warrior, bred in Kentucky by J&J Stables, is the perfect 4v4 model at Spa, including minors in the Saratoga Special Bets do Miller Lite (G2) and Runhappy Hopeful Stakes ( G1) presented alongside the summer final winner in Amsterdam Stakes (G2) ahead of one point of the game against the final winner of Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Life is good in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.
“We want more of the same from him. He’s four-for-four here, it’s an unbelievable record,” Asmussen said. “His win here in Allen Jerkens over Life Is Good is like a horse race I’ve been in. It was great to be on the right side of that game.”
Jackie’s Warrior started first out of seven sophomores on the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn before returning to single-turn races with excellence with Top score in Pat Day Mile Stakes presented by LG&E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs. He followed with a good second when knocked down by Discharge the watch in the Woody Stephens Stock presented by the Nassau County Industrial Development Authority (G1) in Belmont during a campaign culminating in a September Gallant Bob (G2) victory in Parx before finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.
