Asmussen Sends Out Pair in Riley Allison Derby

Steve Asmussen, who recently achieved 1,000 career stakes wins Jan. 18, will try to add to that growing tally Jan. 26 when he sends out a pair of runners in the $100,000 Riley Allison Derby Stakes at Sunland Park.

Leading the charge with 9-5 morning-line odds is Rowdy Yates, an Oklahoma-bred colt by Morning Line with three stakes wins under his belt. Campaigned by L and N Racing, the 3-year-old impressed early on in his juvenile season last year, placing second in the Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs in only his second start. He went on to wire the field in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes at Ellis Park, but finished off the board next out in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) in his return to the Louisville oval. 

Sent to Remington Park, Rowday Yates returned to form to score successive stakes wins in the Oklahoma Classics Juvenile Stakes and Don C. McNeill Stakes, but closed the year with an off-the-board finish in the Remington Springboard Mile. 

Rowdy Yates will break from post 6 in Sunday's one-mile dirt test and will partner with Luis Contreras.

Breaking next to his stablemate in post 5 will be Calumet Farm's Code Runner, a son of Honor Code  and half brother to stakes winner Figarella's Queen. Winless in his first four starts, Code Runner broke his maiden at the end of 2019 in a six-furlong sprint at Remington, where he was placed first by the stewards after he was bumped late and beaten a nose. The Riley Allison will be the first step up to stakes company for the 3-year-old bay, who will partner with Alfredo Juarez Jr.

Also of note in Sunday's field is Todd Fincher trainee Competitive Idea, a gelded son of Competitive Edge . Bred and campaigned by Kirk and Judy Robison, Competitive Idea enters off  a Dec. 31 allowance win at Sunland. Prior to that win, the gelding placed third in the Zia Park Juvenile Stakes at Zia Park. 

Competitive Idea will break from post 4 with Ry Eikleberry aboard. 

Side Street Dave, Old Trafford, Arizona Jeremy, and Top Draw will complete Sunday's field.

Entries: Riley Allison Derby S.

Sunland Park, Sunday, January 26, 2020, Race 9

• STK
• 1m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 3:50 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Side Street Dave (CA)	Ken S. Tohill	118	Shawn H. Davis	15/1
2	2Old Trafford (KY)	Shane Laviolette	118	Justin R. Evans	8/1
3	3Arizona Jeremy (AZ)	Francisco Arrieta	124	Molly J. Pearson	6/1
4	4Competitive Idea (KY)	Ry Eikleberry	118	Todd W. Fincher	3/1
5	5Code Runner (KY)	Alfredo J. Juarez, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	4/1
6	6Rowdy Yates (OK)	Luis Contreras	124	Steven M. Asmussen	9/5
7	7Top Draw (KY)	Elvin Gonzalez	118	Miguel L. Hernandez	12/1