Epicenter, Jackie's Warrior Return to the Work Tab

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Epicenter  worked five-eighths in 1:01.13 July 18 over the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Race Course, dominating his company, the 3-year-old maiden Flute Master  (1:03.12). 

Epicenter, a Not This Time   sophomore, boasts a record of 8-4-3-0 for purse earnings in excess of $1.9 million. He is targeting the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2), a nine-furlong test for sophomores July 30.

"Visually impressive is what he is," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "He's an extremely talented horse and he's doing well. His work Monday was as good of a work as I've seen from him, and I've seen some impressive works from him. It's a good time to be doing well."

Epicenter enjoyed a pair of grade 2 wins over the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, taking the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) in February and the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) in March. He was sent to post as the 4-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) in May, finishing a close second when defeated just three-quarters of a length by Rich Strike . He enters the Jim Dandy from a rallying second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 21 at Pimlico Race Course. 

J. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior , the reigning Eclipse Award-winning male sprinter, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.72 July 17 over the Oklahoma dirt training track in company with 3-year-old maiden winner Favorite Outlaw  in preparation for a start in the $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) July 30. 

He will also potentially start later this summer in the $600,000 Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 27 as part of his path toward a return engagement in the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) in November at Keeneland.

The 4-year-old Maclean's Music   colt is a perfect 3-for-3 this year, boasting wins in the Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) in April at Oaklawn Park, the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by Ford (G1) in May, and a five-length romp last out in the True North Stakes (G2) June 10 at Belmont Park.

"It's so rare to have a champion colt be back in training and not only that, his three runs this year have been visually impressive," Asmussen said. "He had a nice work here on Sunday and we're on target for the Vanderbilt."

Jackie's Warrior, bred in Kentucky by J & J Stables, is a perfect 4-for-4 at the Spa, including juvenile scores in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) and Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) along with wins last summer in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) ahead of a game neck score over eventual Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good  in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial.

"We want more of the same from him. He's 4-for-4 here which is an unbelievable record," Asmussen said. "His win here in the Allen Jerkens against Life Is Good was as good of a horse race as I've been involved with. It was wonderful to come out on the right side of that."

Jackie's Warrior made the first of seven sophomore starts on the Kentucky Derby trail, finishing third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn before returning to one-turn races with aplomb with a head score in the Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs. He followed with a good second when defeated a neck by Drain the Clock  in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (G1) at Belmont in a campaign that culminated with a win in the Gallant Bob Stakes (G2) in September at Parx ahead of a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.