Asmussen 3-year-olds may headline Iowa Derby, Oaks
Ahead of Friday’s entry deadline for the $250,000 Iowa Derby and Grade 3, $200,000 Iowa Oaks, the big question Prairie Meadows racing secretary Michael Anifantis is seeking to answer: Which of Steve Asmussen’s runners are entering?
The Hall of Fame trainer has a slew of horses on both nominations lists and plans to be represented in both races.
For the Derby, possibilities include Laughing Fox, the Oaklawn Invitational winner who went on to be fifth in the Preakness Stakes. Lady Apple, third in the Kentucky Oaks after winning the Fantasy Stakes (G3), could go in the Oaks.
Either would lead their respective races set for Friday, July 5.
Other familiar possibles for the Derby include Alwaysmining, who ran in the Preakness Stakes and was most recently third in Belmont Park’s Easy Goer. Joe Cassidy, racing manager for Runnymede Racing, said Alwaysmining is more likely to wait for the Indiana Derby (G3) on July 13. Trainer Kelly Rubley also nominated Top Line Growth, another Maryland-bred who beat winners last time at Laurel Park.
Tom Amoss-trained Roiland, a familiar name from the Kentucky Derby trail, could go to the Iowa Derby along with And Seek (Dale Romans), Dazzling Truths (Kerry Zavash), Night Ops (Brad Cox) and Thetrashmanscoming (David Anderson).
Asmussen’s other Iowa Derby nominees are Comedian, Fluminense, Shang, Tkhvin Flew and Whiskey Echo.
Per Anifantis, the Iowa Oaks list consists of Beach Getaway (David Van Winkle), Blessed Again (John Prather), Cowgirls Like US (Bret Calhoun), Drinking Dixie (Tom Amoss), Sweet Diane (Eddie Kenneally) and Taylor’s Spirit (Scott Gelner). Cassidy said Runnymede’s Scatrattleandroll, another trained by Rubley and based in Maryland, is expected to enter.
In addition to Lady Apple, Asmussen nominated fillies Demimondaine and Perfect Reins.
The Iowa Derby and Iowa Oaks both run at 1 1/16 miles. Also on the card is the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (G3) for older horses. Defending winner Remembering Rita is expected back in the Cornhusker.