Asmussen looking to tie Lukas’ Debutante, Bashford Manor
records
Trainer Steve Asmussen is no stranger to success with two-year-olds at Churchill
Downs, and he will be looking to continue such success on Saturday.
Asmussen plans to start Areolite (Tapit) and Adhara in the $100,000
Debutante S. for two-year-old fillies, and
Sapphire Storm (Primal Storm) and Show Bound (Warrior’s Reward) in the $100,000 Bashford Manor
S. (G3) for two-year-olds. Both races are run at six furlongs on the main
track.
Areolite and Adhara, both Winchell Thoroughbreds homebreds, are coming into the race
off maiden victories at Churchill Downs, winning by one length and 6 3/4 lengths,
respectively.
The juvenile fillies were seen on the fast track at Churchill Downs Sunday
breezing a half-mile ahead of their forthcoming starts in the Debutante.
Areolite was caught in :49 3/5 while Adhara traveled in :50 1/5 Sunday.
Both fillies look to give Asmussen his fifth win in the
Debutante, which would tie Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ five-win record
in this race. His previous success in the Debutante came with Cashier’s Dream
(2001), Effectual (2005), Richwoman (2006) and Rated Fiesty (2007).
Sapphire Storm (Primal Storm) will enter the Bashford Manor off a
maiden victory second time out at Indiana Grand, with his first race being a
third-place effort against Texas-breds at Lone Star Park. Still a maiden, Show
Bound will make his second start in the Bashford Manor after finishing third in
his June 7 debut on the Belmont Park turf.
Like the Debutante, Asmussen is looking for his fifth
Bashford Manor victory which would tie Lukas’ record in the race. Asmussen has
found previous success in the Bashford Manor with Lunarpal (2004), Kodiak Kowboy
(2007), Kantharos (2010) and Cinco Charlie (2014).
“I think they’ll handle it (the distance) real
well,” Asmussen said. “This year, it seems like we have some really nice
two-year-olds. I hope that this success continues on.”
Other probables for the Debutante include maiden Cosmic
Evolution (Prized Citizen), who was second behind Areolite last out; debut
winner Langstars Charmer (Langfuhr); second-out scorer Sheza Fine
Justice (Regal Ransom); and maiden victress Tia Chuy (Archarcharch).
Probables for the Bashford Manor include maiden romper He’s Comin In Hot
(Early Flyer) as well as maidens Dothat Dance (Louis Quatroze) and
Justanothermorgan (Zavata).
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