Asmussen out to win fourth Iroquois

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs has been among the rungs Steve Asmussen has climbed on his quest to becoming the winningest Thoroughbred trainer in North American racing history.

As the 11-day September meet began Friday, Asmussen, behind only Dale Baird on the all-tim wins list, had won 660 races at Churchill and a record 19 meet titles. Three victories for the Hall of Fame trainer have come in the Iroquois Stakes (2009, 2010, 2014), and a record-tying fourth could come Saturday when he sends out the uncoupled duo of Tight Ten and Tobacco Road in the 37th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 race.

Tight Ten, with Ricardo Santana Jr. to ride, will break from post 4 in the 1 1/16-mile Iroquois, a Win and You’re In event toward the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill and the first qualifying points race (10-4-2-1) toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby. The speedy Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred has raced twice, dominating a June 28 maiden race at Churchill prior to finishing second last month in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

Tobacco Road (post 6, Julien Leparoux) is owned by L and N Racing, which owns 2017 Kentucky Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee. Tobacco Road has followed a path nearly identical to what Lookin At Lee traveled early in his career. The late-running Tobacco Road lost his debut at Churchill, then won twice at Ellis Park, first in maiden company, then in the Ellis Juvenile. Lookin At Lee was a distant second to Not This Time in the 2016 Iroquois.

Among the chief threats to the Asmussen pair in this lineup of 12 are Pole Setter, going turf to dirt for trainer Brad Cox; Synthesis, still a maiden after finishing third in the Grade 2 Best Pal for trainer Keith Desormeaux; Manny Wah, beaten less than a length when third in the Ellis Juvenile; Cairo Cat, getting first-time Lasix off an Aug. 11 maiden win at Saratoga; and four colts entered off a debut victory – Royal Urn, My Sixth Sense, Hog Creek Hustle, and Everfast. Rounding out the cast are Mr Wrench It and Drunk as a Skunk.

Manny Wah, like most of the others, will be making his first two-turn start. Trainer Wayne Catalano is optimistic.

“This is the right spot to get points for the Derby and a spot for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile right in our backyard,” said Catalano.

The Iroquois goes as the 10th of 11 Saturday races. Bill Mott holds the race record among trainers with four winners (1983, 1990, 1991, 2007).

Asmussen, 52, entered the week with 8,136 wins, a little over 1,300 behind the late Baird (9,445).