Jackie's Warrior, Clairiere Among Asmussen's BC Workers

While Racing Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen called a small audible—moving workers scheduled for 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Oct. 31 at Keeneland—it was all systems go for a group of workers preparing for Breeders' Cup led by champion Jackie's Warrior   and two-time grade 1 winner Clairiere .

The time change for the workouts allowed the track to be upgraded from sloppy to good as Jackie's Warrior officially breezed three furlongs in :37 3/5 under exercise rider Wilson Fabian while Clairiere, with Carlos Rosas up, completed an easy four furlongs in :50. Asmussen said the Keeneland surface has been terrific all fall and that continued today, despite some overnight rain.

"One thing that has stood out to us is how good the surface at Keeneland has been to put the kind of work that we've put in and for (the horses) to feel like they've thrived and improved," Asmussen said. "There's very few surfaces where you can put in this kind of work and continuously feel that you're in this good of shape."

Jackie's Warrior wrapped up serious preparations for the Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with Monday's short burst, his fourth timed workout of the month. Campaigned by J. Kirk and Judy Robison, Jackie's Warrior is trying to bounce back from a runner-up finish in the Forego Stakes (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course when Cody's Wish  surged past him late.

But that's been the lone setback this year for the 2021 champion sprinter as he's won his four other starts this year, including victories in the Albert G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga and the Churchill Downs Stakes presented by Ford (G1). 

As accomplished as Jackie's Warrior is, the 4-year-old son of Maclean's Music   has not delivered his best in previous Breeders' Cups, despite being favored in both his previous starts. 

In the 2020 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1), Jackie's Warrior led in the stretch before fading to fourth. He largely has been pointed to sprints since that effort. In last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint, Jackie's Warrior faded to sixth after a taxing early duel with Special Reserve . With all four of those October works completed at Keeneland, Asmussen is confident Jackie's Warrior can deliver a top effort this year.

"He's been training so well here," Asmussen said. "Looks lovely...We brought him in fresh this year because (last year) he obviously didn't respond well off of a 2 Ragozin (a fast speed figure effort) at Parx Racing before shipping all the way out to California. That said, there's so many variables year to year in a Breeders' Cup."

Asmussen said one of those variables last year was a season that saw Jackie's Warrior start the season in a Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) prep race, the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, before making the move to shorter races. This year the focus has been on sprinting, and Jackie's Warrior already has delivered some memorable wins—the Vanderbilt secured his place in history as the first horse to win grade 1 races three seasons in a row at Saratoga.

"It's a little sad to think this is the last time we get to run him," Asmussen said. "He's given us so much; we're just proud of who he is."

Also Monday, Clairiere looked like she was getting over the track well during her easy half-mile breeze as she wrapped up serious preparations for the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

"She's just an unbelievable mare; she really is," Asmussen said. "We love how she's doing here. It's a tremendous field but we feel like we have a tremendous horse and we love having her run in it."

A 4-year-old homebred for Stonestreet Stables, Clairiere turned heads in June when she defeated a pair of champions—Malathaat  and Letruska —to win the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. The daughter of Curlin   will try to bounce back from a fifth-place finish in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) Aug. 27 at the Spa.

Monday's breeze marked Clairiere's fifth move this month at Keeneland.

Asmussen's other two Breeders' Cup workers Monday were Gunite , pre-entered in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and Wicked Halo , pre-entered in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

As both are coming off recent wins at Keeneland, Asmussen said neither needed much work. Gunite completed a half-mile in :51 3/5 while Wicked Halo posted four furlongs in :52 3/5. 

Asmussen said he wanted to give each horse—both homebreds for Winchell Thoroughbreds—the opportunity to compete in the Breeders' Cup after seeing how well each looked in winning recent races at Keeneland. Gunite won the Perryville Stakes Oct. 22; the same day that Wicked Halo secured the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2).

"We're very pleased with how the horses for the Breeders' Cup are doing," Asmussen said. "We feel that they're extremely well suited for it."