Steve Asmussen talks Kentucky Derby Contenders (VIDEO)

Steve Asmussen has never won the Kentucky Derby. He has had Triple Crown success, though, winning both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. In fact, the veteran trainer won the most recently run Triple Crown race when Creator stormed to victory in last year's Belmont Stakes. This year, he comes to Louisville armed with a contingent of four, including some of the more interesting potential upsetters in the field. He does have to keep an eye on the Top 20 list of qualifiers, though, as he still needs some help to get them all in. 

Of Asmussen's 2017 contenders for the Derby, Local Hero, currently #24 on the points leaderboard, looks unlikely to get into the field. Meanwhile, Hence (#14) and Untrapped (#20) are in, and Lookin At Lee (#21) will draw in with only one more horse above him dropping out. 

All four of them breezed this morning over the Churchill Downs main track. Untrapped (five furlongs, 1:01.60) and Looking At Lee (four furlongs, :51.20) went out early, while the Sunland Derby winner, Hence worked in company with Local Hero during the designated Derby/Oaks time of 8:30 AM. The latter pair went a strong five furlongs in 1:00 flat, before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13, and seven furlongs in 1:26.60.

I caught up with Asmussen after the four works were complete this morning, and the Hall of Fame trainer seemed very pleased with all of them, noting that he was looking for different things from all, as they approach the Derby from different prep schedules ...