Asmussen newcomer Engage emerges late in Phoenix Stakes upset

Engage, a relative newcomer to the Steve Asmussen barn, proved the switch to be worth it, emerging from a wall of evenly matched horses to win Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland.

Closing off fractions of 22.22 and 45.43 seconds in the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Sprint qualifier, the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief continued moving forward as five horses in the field of nine spread across the track with a furlong to go.

The final time was 1:10.21 for six furlongs on a fast main track.

"I know him very well, and I appreciate the opportunity Steve gave me to ride him back," said jockey Jose Ortiz. "I was expected a hotter pace, but they weren't going that fast, so I was able to be close."

Whitmore, who had to find room to run behind them while returning from a layoff, nabbed second, a half length back of Engage, in a photo over longshot Lexitonian. Recruiting Ready finished a close fourth.

"It was really great to see the horse dig in," Asmussen said. "...A quality field definitely rushed to the wire, and he found it."

Engage was previously conditioned by Chad Brown and based in New York, where the horse won his other graded event, the Futurity Stakes (G3) back on Oct. 14, 2017.

Engage improved to 5-4-0 in 12 career starts when scoring at 9-1. He paid $21, with Asmussen describing his latest stakes winner as "fresh" and "sound."

"We felt good about our chances when we saw him over the racetrack at Keeneland," the trainer added.

Asmussen said he'll see how Engage exits the race before officially pointing to the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park. His barn could send out the Sprint's favorite, Mitole, who also has the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile as an option.

Whitmore, who raced for the first time since June, may also be on to the championships.

"I was glad to get him back in action," said trainer Ron Moquett. "If the race had been a little faster earlier, then (leaving the gate) that far back would not have affected him at all. Breeders’ Cup is still a possibility.”

Despite fading from a pace battle to finish sixth, Promises Fulfilled could also be off to Santa Anita. Earlier in the year, he won a free trip via Belmont Park's John A. Nerud (G2).

"We’ll just have to figure something out over the next 30 days," said trainer Dale Romans. "Everything is still on the table."