Asmussen is poised for big weekend at Churchill Downs
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is poised to close the Churchill Downs fall meet in dominant fashion with 26 horses entered over the final four days of racing, highlighted by Red Route One in the Grade 2, Clark and Tiztastic in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).
Asmussen, who has been a fixture atop the trainer standings throughout the year, leads the current meet with 15 wins from 103 starts, five victories ahead of Brad Cox.
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“I’m very anxious to run several of the 2-year-olds we have in and expect good things from all of them,” Asmussen said.
Red Route One, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, will compete Friday in the premier race of the meet. The Clark is a 1 1/8-mile test that drew a deep and competitive field of 10 older horses. Last seen winning the Cornhusker Handicap (G3) in July at Prairie Meadows, the 4-year-old colt is listed at 8-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Cristian Torres.
“I think the further the better,” Asmussen said. “It’s a very solid field. Cristian won the Cornhusker last time aboard him, so he knows him extremely well. He’s been training very nicely going into it.”
The Clark, the 11th of Friday’s 12 races, will go to post at 5:48 p.m. EST. The field includes top contenders Hit Show (3-1), Most Wanted (7-2) and Crupi (4-1). The first post is 1 p.m.
Asmussen also will be well represented in Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club, where he’ll send out Tiztastic for Winchell and for Coolmore partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. Tiztastic, a winner on turf this year at Kentucky Downs, also finished second in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) on Oct. 27. The 2-year-old colt will take another shot on the dirt, aiming to continue his road to Kentucky Derby 2025.
“He’s a stakes winner on the turf, and I think the Street Sense was a solid performance going back to the dirt,” Asmussen said. “He definitely earned his chance to run in the Kentucky Jockey Club. I thought he drew extremely well. Obviously, Jonathan’s Way is a fast horse and had success here, but I think our horse is up to the task.”
The Kentucky Jockey Club is part of Saturday’s program exclusively featuring 2-year-olds. Asmussen has entered eight juveniles on the card.
Asmussen’s dominance at Churchill Downs extends beyond this meet. Across the spring, September and fall meets, his horses have made an astounding 352 starts with 55 wins and more than $6.4 million in purses. His relentless approach has secured him firmly as Churchill Downs’ leading trainer by both starts and wins for 2024.