Epicenter is Excellent in Louisiana Derby Victory for Asmussen, Winchell

Steve Asmussen has wintered at Fair Grounds for over 25 years. The sport’s all-time winningest trainer had won both the $400,000 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) three times each, but never both on the same day – until Saturday.

Epicenter (Not This Time – Silent Candy by Sandy Ride (ARG) fulfilled that prophecy winning the Louisiana Derby with aplomb by 2-½-lengths over a determined Zozos – 32 minutes after stablemate Echo Zulu remained undefeated in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2).

The progressive colt now is the top contender for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1) with this track record win and 102 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

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It was an epic day for owner Ron Winchell who owns Epicenter and shares ownership of Echo Zulu with L and N Racing LLC.

“Very satisfying day for sure,” Asmussen said after sweeping the last two graded stakes races. “Epicenter has made some great progress over the winter here. He’s done so well over the surface which has aided in his physical development. I just love the opportunity afforded to us with the series of races they have here.”

Epicenter leaves the Fair Grounds season winning three of the four track’s events for his division. He finished off his 2-year-old season with a dominant win in the inaugural Gun Runner Stakes. He followed that up with a hard-luck second, beaten a nose by Call Me Midnight in the Lecomte (G3) in January. He returned to the winner’s circle in front-running fashion in a very competitive edition of the Risen Star (G2). Those combined efforts launched the colt to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 164 points.

With the $600,000 share of the winner’s purse, Epicenter became a newly-minted millionaire. He will forge ahead to Churchill Downs with a gaudy 6-4-1-0 record and $1,010,639 in earnings.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Epicenter proved rateable after winning two races here in front-running fashion. Drawn outside in the sixth post position, Epicenter broke alertly but was beaten into the first turn by Zozos who rolled to the front end in 23.27, 47.35, and 1:11.69 for six furlongs. Epicenter backed off allowing Pioneer of Medina room to chase Zozos entering the stretch. Rosario pointed his colt for daylight in the stretch powering his way past rivals to win by 2-½ lengths in 1:54.38 for a mile and three-sixteenths.

“He took a little dirt today and he didn’t mind it,” Rosario said. “I shifted him out and he did the rest. Not only is he a nice horse, but he also tries very hard. He was off the pace today and inside of horses. It seems like he can be special. The way he did it today, the mile and a quarter shouldn’t be a problem. We will see what happens.”

Making his stakes debut for Barry and Joni Butzow, Zozos held off some late challengers to earn second and more importantly 50 points securing his spot in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby. Pioneer of Medina, shipping for the third time this meet, picked up 20 more points giving him 25 total points as of now. Rattle N Roll finished fourth, earning 10, and now has 20 points.

Galt, Call Me Midnight, Kupuna, Curly Tail and Silent Power rounded out the finish.

“No shame in that effort at all,” Geroux said of Zozos. “That was only his third start and he ran very well. He was digging in late to hold off all challengers. That’s what you like to see.”

Trainer Brad Cox echoed his rider’s words.

“We let him run away from there and establish position,” Cox said. “I was happy with the layout of the race. Maybe a touch quick, but these are good horses and that’s what they do. He stayed on well down the lane. If we choose to go forward to the (Kentucky) Derby he’ll get a lot out of this to propel him forward and that’s what he’ll need to take that path.”

The Louisiana Derby victory was the fourth for Asmussen and the second time Winchell and Asmussen teamed up to win this race following Gun Runner’s score in 2016.

Echo Zulu battles hard to win Fair Grounds Oaks

The Champ is back, but she had to go 15 rounds to remain undefeated and the decision was a narrow one.

In what was her first taste of competition in 4 ½ months, L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu used her inside post position to establish an early advantage and had just enough in the tank late to resist a fast-charging Hidden Connection, winning the $400,000 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots by a diminishing nose.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the Gun Runner first-crop filly from Letgomyecho kept her undefeated record (five for five) intact stopping the clock in 1:42.69 for 1-1/16-miles on a fast main track. Hidden Connection just missed the money finishing 2-¼-lengths better than Florida shipper Favor in third.

Ridden by Joel Rosario, Echo Zulu dictated terms from the one-hole cruising to the front end in 23.79, 47.68, and 1:11.70. Rosario set her down inside the sixteenth pole and the champion wouldn’t be denied holding off Hidden Connection by a diminishing nose.

“She got a little tired, but she got the job done,” Rosario said. “She’s a tremendous horse. She’s a fighter and she likes to run.”

Echo Zulu was pounded at the windows returning $2.20 as the 1-to-9 win odds-on favorite. The bay filly earned 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and should waltz into Churchill Downs as the favorite.

A three-time grade one winner at age two, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filles (G1) at Del Mar in November, Echo Zulu arrived at Fair Grounds in January and Asmussen was in no real rush to get her ready. She progressed forwardly in her works the next several weeks, and Asmussen was pleased enough to give her a go on Saturday.

“She barely made the race and barely won the race, right?” a coy Asmussen said. “I can’t say enough about how proud I am for her. Her 2-year-old season, with three Grade I wins, was a big ask of her. We gave her a necessary break. She came back looking well and she narrowly proved the best.”

Echo Zulu is the 12th named foal for her dam who won three of four starts including the Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes.