Epicenter Prevails as Champion 3-Year-Old

Four graded stakes victories and two seconds in America's Triple Crown series gave Epicenter   the gravitas required to beat out Taiba  by virtual open lengths (155 first-place votes to Taiba's 66) during a high-profile chase for the title of champion 3-year-old male.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' son of Not This Time   has steadily been one of the nation's top sophomores since he began his 2022 campaign with a runner-up finish by a head in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Epicenter followed the performance with a 2 3/4-length win in the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and a 2 1/2-length win in the Louisiana Derby (G2) that helped make him the 4-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He looked the winner in deep stretch of the Run for the Roses but got caught late by longshot Rich Strike . Epicenter would next finish second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) to a fresh Early Voting  , who skipped the Derby.

Trainer Steve Asmussen gave Epicenter a two-month break and was rewarded with a solid performance over a short field in the Jim Dandy (G2) that set up the colt for a redeemer in the Travers Stakes (G1), where he beat Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Cyberknife   by 5 1/4 lengths. Also beaten in the Travers field were Rich Strike, Early Voting, and Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon .

Punters identified Epicenter as the most likely Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender to defeat heavy favorite Flightline   and made him second-choice at 6-1 when the starting gates sprung. Tragically Epicenter would be pulled up midway down the backstretch with a lateral condylar fracture to his right foreleg. The injury was successfully repaired, and Epicenter has been retired to Ashford Stud where he begins his stud career this year.

"Epicenter was solid all year and the Travers was the breakout performance he needed and deserved, and he did it in an emphatic way," Asmussen said after the colt's retirement to Ashford was announced. "He put everything together on a grand stage."

While Taiba attracted strong support from Eclipse Award voters for his victories in three grade 1 stakes—Santa Anita Derby, Pennsylvania Derby, and Malibu Stakes, Epicenter prevailed for his consistency in the highest profile races against the toughest competition. His performances put him among the year's best racehorses internationally, not just in the United States. He was co-ranked fifth on the Longines World's Best Racehorse ranking with a 125 rating alongside Life Is Good   and Vadeni .