Asmussen colts make notable moves on Derby leaderboard in big week for barn

Jan 27, 2020 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

It was quite a week for Steve Asmussen. On Thursday, the Hall of Fame trainer celebrated the honoring of Midnight Bisou and Mitole as 2019 Eclipse Award champions in the older dirt female and male sprinter divisions, respectively. He closed out the weekend on Sunday watching Lady Apple capture the Houston Ladies Classic (G3), a race won last year by the Saudi Cup-bound Midnight Bisou.

In between, on Friday, the Asmussen-trained Gold Street, Shoplifted, and Silver Prospector were the only noticeable movers on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard after their respective first-, second-, and fourth-place efforts in the $150,000 Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park, the final Road to the Kentucky Derby prep of them month.

Gold Street, the third longest price of the barn's four Smarty Jones entries, led throughout in the one-mile test contested over a muddy track, conditions similar to what he had won over in his prior two starts. The victory was worth 10 qualifying points and puts him temporarily in 12th place ahead of the three-prep afternoon on Feb. 1.

Shoplifted, who previously accounted for the Springboard Mile in December, earned an additional two points and is currently in fourth place with 12 points. Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Silver Prospector edged up a few spots to sixth place with an additional point from his modest run in the Smarty Jones.

Asmussen trainees have placed four times in the Kentucky Derby, but have yet to grace the winner's circle in the first American classic.

The trio of Derby preps this coming Saturday are all of the 10-4-2-1 variety: the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream at 1 1/16 miles, the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct at 1 1/8 miles, and the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita going 1 1/16 miles. Present leaderboard notables pointing for races this weekend include Champagne (G1) winner Tiz the Law in the Holy Bull, Remsen (G2) victor Shotski in the Withers, and Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner Thousand Words in the Bob Lewis.

(Coady Photography)