Churchill Downs Update: Asmussen Primed for Big Weekend to Close Year at Churchill Downs; Barnes Earns 88 Brisnet Speed Rating in Debut Victory Wednesday

Nov 28, 2024

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen is poised to close out 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 $600,000 Clark presented by Norton Healthcare (Grade II) and Tiztastic in the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (GII).

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.

“It’s the last weekend of the meet here at Churchill, and we have a lot of opportunities,” Asmussen said. “I’m very anxious to run several of the 2-year-olds we have in and expect good things from all of them.”

Red Route One, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, will compete in the premier race of the meet, the Clark, a 1 1/8-mile test that drew a deep and competitive field of 10 older horses. Last seen winning the Cornhusker Handicap (GIII) in early 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, who was aboard for the Cornhusker victory.

“I think the further the better,” Asmussen said. “It’s a very solid field. Cristian (Torres) won the Cornhusker last time aboard him, so he knows him extremely well. He’s been training very nicely going into it.”

The Clark, scheduled as Race 11 on Friday’s 12-race card, will go to post at 5:48 p.m. (all times Eastern). The field includes top contenders Hit Show (3-1), Most Wanted (7-2) and Crupi (4-1). First post is 1 p.m.

Asmussen will also be well-represented in Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club, where he’ll send out Tiztastic for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore partners Mr. and Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. Tiztastic, a winner on turf earlier this year at Kentucky Downs, finished second in the Street Sense Stakes (GIII) on Oct. 27. The 2-year-old colt will take another shot on the dirt, aiming to continue his Road to Kentucky Derby 151.

“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 Stars of Tomorrow II 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 firmly secured him as Churchill Downs’ leading trainer by both starts and wins for 2024.

 

BARNES EARNS 88 BRISNET SPEED RATING IN DEBUT VICTORY WEDNESDAY – Talented 2-year-old colt Barnes earned an 88 Brisnet Speed Rating for his narrow debut victory Wednesday at Churchill Downs which marked the first start for trainer Bob Baffert beneath the Twin Spires since he was suspended in 2021.

“It’s a great day to be here, I just asked (jockey) Martin (Garcia) if he felt the thousands of pounds of pressure on his shoulders coming down the stretch,” Baffert said following the race. “It was a very important moment for me because I have great memories from Churchill Downs. To be here today, with my wife and a couple of my sons with me, it’s nice to be back.

“Down the road I think he’s going to be better with more distance. He showed today he’s a beautiful horse. He handled the ship. I want to thank (trainer) Rodolphe Brisset who handled him here for me. I think he’s a horse that will get better with age. You can see his just a big, massive, beautiful horse. He looked like that as a yearling that’s why he cost so much. We have a barn full of nice horses this year. We know he likes Churchill Downs but I think my other ones are going to like it as well. So, hopefully we’ll keep him healthy and be here on the first Saturday in May.”

Barnes was tabbed at 25-1 in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2, which runs Thursday-Sunday featuring 38 individual betting interest along with options for All Fillies from the 2022 Foal Crop and All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2022 not listed.

Running concurrently with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is the lone Kentucky Derby Sire Future Wager, where fans can wager on sires of Derby prospects.

The four-day pools, featuring $2 Win and Exacta wagering, will open Thursday at noon (all times Eastern) and close Sunday at 6 p.m.

Fans can visit www.kentuckyderby.com/futurewager for free past performances and live odds for each future wager pool.

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – Thursday’s Thanksgiving Day program had an early 11:30 a.m. post time for the 12-race card featuring the $400,000 Falls City (GIII) and $300,000 Cardinal (GIII). The Derby City 6 Jackpot, spanning Races 7-12 had a $186,799 carryover. There will be a mandatory payout in all wagers on Sunday. … Fans at Churchill Downs on Black Friday will have the opportunity to honor one of the brightest stars in horse racing, Thorpedo Anna, the 2024 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner and one of the favorites to win 2024 Horse of the Year honors. The standout 3-year-old filly will be paraded in the Churchill Downs paddock during Race 9, from approximately 4:25-4:50 p.m. Thorpedo Anna will join the field for Race 9 during the walkover to the paddock and remain there throughout the race. The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2025 Churchill Downs calendar sponsored by Humana … Artist Tyler Robertson will sign prints of his 2025 “Official Art of the Kentucky Derby” on Friday in the Churchill Downs Store, located just inside the Paddock Gate, between 2-4 p.m. … Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will make special appearances at Churchill Downs Friday and Saturday. Friday they will visit the Turf Club from 12:30-2;30 p.m., the Finish Line Suites from 2:50-3:50 p.m. and in the 2nd Floor Clubhouse from 4-5:30 p.m. Saturday they will be in the Jockey Club Suites from 12:30-2:30 p.m. and the 2nd Floor Clubhouse from 3-5 p.m. … For more information about the Fall Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.