Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Otto the Conqueror

Dec 18, 2023 John Mucciolo

Three Chimneys Farm’s Otto the Conqueror earned 10 qualifying points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby following his three-quarters of a length tally in the $300,000 Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park on Dec. 15. The winner clocked one mile on the muddy dirt surface in 1:39.91 with Tyler Gaffalione in the stirrups.

“He fired a big one,” Gaffalione said of Otto the Conqueror. “He never gave it up.”

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the son of Street Sense was unveiled on Aug. 13 at Ellis Park and finished runner-up in a seven-furlong maiden special weight dash. The colt graduated in his second assignment at Churchill Downs while traveling the same distance on Sept. 22, and he preceded his stakes triumph with an impressive allowance triumph over subsequent Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner Honor Marie beneath the Twin Spires on Oct. 29. His lifetime line reads 4-3-1-0, $337,360.

Otto the Conqueror and @Tyler_Gaff work hard to score in the Remington Springboard Mile. Congratulations to trainer Steven Asmussen and owner @Three_Chimneys!

📽 @RemingtonPark. pic.twitter.com/7XCvp7qvRc

— Jockey Tyler Gaffalione (@TGjockey) December 16, 2023

Otto the Conqueror was bred in the Bluegrass State by Hoolie Racing Stable and brought the gavel down at $450,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was produced from the Shackleford mare Dream It Is, who captured the 2017 Schuylerville S. (G2) at Saratoga. This is the same female line as two-time English champion Bosra Sham.

The bay juvenile has posted Brisnet Speed figures of 81-78-96-82 from a quartet of lifetime races to date. He did not come home especially fast in his first run at two turns last time out, but I believe that he is quite talented and has a lot of room to improve throughout his sophomore campaign.

Asmussen indicated that the winner would be routed to Oaklawn Park, with a start in the $800,000 Southwest S. (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 27 as his next potential landing spot.