Epicenter takes them all the way in the Risen Star for Asmussen

New Orleans

It was one of those evenings that even the most successful trainers must endure from time to time. The euphoria of victory in a big race stifled by an injury to a stablemate on the undercard.

Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen had it happen Saturday at Fair Grounds. Epicenter, perhaps his best chance to win his first Kentucky Derby, led from gate to wire in a dominant, 2 3/4-length triumph in the Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star Stakes.

That came about a half-hour after previously undefeated La Crête was pulled up on the backstretch by jockey Joel Rosario while leading the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (G2), a prep for the Kentucky Oaks. The Medaglia d’Oro filly suffered an injury to her right front leg.

“La Crête is comfortable and weight bearing,” a Tweet from owner Stonestreet Stables said Saturday night. “She has a condylar fracture that is a good candidate for repair. She will be monitored through the night, and we will update (Sunday).”

The diagnosis took the edge off a satisfying climax to the night for Asmussen’s team. It did not, however, keep assistant trainer Scott Blasi from praising Epicenter.

“That was a very impressive effort,” Blasi said near the winner’s circle while Asmussen was back at the barn looking after La Crête. “Moving forward this is what we wanted to see. You want these horses to progress, and he definitely took a step in the right direction.”

Epicenter (7-2), the third betting choice, had his way as he stayed out front. With Rosario riding him for the third time, he set honest fractions of 23.79, 47.97, 1:12.25 and 1:36.58 on the way to a winning time of 1:49.03 for the 1 1/8 miles of the fast main track.

“That’s a real time here,” Blasi said.

Post-time favorite Smile Happy (2-1) made a late charge to finish second. Zandon (7-2), the public’s fourth choice, was another half-length back in third. Long shot Pioneer of Medina (33-1) finished a head behind in the show photo and settled for fourth.

Tawny Port (24-1), Slow Down Andy (7-1), Trafalgar (24-1), second choice Pappacap (7-2), Bodock (63-1) and Russian Tank (149-1) finished fifth through 10th in that order.

If there was any question about Epicenter, it was whether he would go too fast. When he was caught by Call Me Midnight at the wire last month in the Lecomte (G3), he went out in 23.40 and 47.01. This time, Rosario said Epicenter was more relaxed.

“He was comfortable doing it. He seemed more calm today, more mature,” said Rosario, who also rode Epicenter in the Lecomte and a maiden victory last November at Churchill Downs. “Most of the time you have to get after him, but it seemed like he was very nice today. It looked like it was easy for him in the moment.”

The rest of the field appeared content to let Epicenter have the early lead. Smile Happy, the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner who was the individual favorite in last weekend’s pari-mutuel Kentucky Derby Future Wager, spent most of the race four or five lengths off the lead.

“Maybe needed to be a tad closer early,” trainer Kenny McPeek said.

Jockey Corey Lanerie tried to find room between rivals as he turned Smile Happy into the homestretch. He found it with about 330 yards to go and was making up ground at the end, but it was too late to catch Epicenter.

“Good run,” said McPeek, who added it was too soon to know what Smile Happy’s last prep would be before the May 7 running of the Kentucky Derby.

Zandon, a debut winner who lost by a nose Dec. 4 in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct, blew the start going straight up at the break Saturday. José Ortiz had him picking off rivals going five wide in the second turn, but he flattened late and was caught by Smile Happy.

Since the race was worth 50-20-10-5 points to the top four finishers, Epicenter probably is qualified for the Kentucky Derby, a goal that owner Ron Winchell had in mind from the day he paid $260,000 to buy the Not This Time colt as a yearling.

“We thought that about him all along, right from the beginning,” Winchell said. “He seemed to be put together like a Derby horse. You just have to come here and kind of get that done.”

Winchell said the March 26 running of the Louisiana Derby (G1) would be next for Epicenter, for whom he said “it’s all good at the moment.”