D'cajun Cat, Gun Roar Set for Bashford Manor

Trainer Steve Asmussen began Thursday with seven wins in 2-year-old races at the Spring Meet and he will look to add to that number with D’cajun Cat and Gun Roar in Saturday’s 112^th running of the $100,000-added Bashford Manor (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

 

The Bashford Manor is one of three stakes races on the “Downs After Dark Presented by Stella Artois and Finlandia Vodka” racing program. Post time for the first race is 6 p.m. and the Bashford Manor will go as Race 7 at 9:05 p.m.

 

Southern Equine Stable LLC and Whispering Oaks Farm LLC’s D’cajun Cat scored a 5 ¼-length victory in his career debut on June 1 at Churchill Downs. Mike McCarty’s Gun Roar won his debut by a neck on May 10 at Churchill Downs. Both races were run on a sloppy track.

 

“I’ve got high hopes for both horses,” Asmussen said. “They’ve both trained very well since their wins and hopefully they’ll have a little success.”

 

D’Cajun Cat will break from post six in the field of seven under Rosie Napravnik while Gun Roar will break from the rail under Corey Lanerie.

 

“I love D’cajun Cat’s draw with him drawing six of seven for a horse that’s had one race,” Asmussen said. “I don’t like Gun Roar’s draw at all going three-quarters (of a mile) here. It starts at an odd place for a baby.”

 

Asmussen, a three-time winner of the Bashford Manor, entered Thursday’s card ranked second in the trainer standings at Churchill Downs with 28 wins. Mike Maker leads all trainers with 31 victories.