Disarm Completes Serious Derby Preparations With Breeze

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out a Kentucky Derby (G1) starter for the 25th time May 6 at Churchill Downs but at some point each year it occurs to him that his runners have no idea of the challenge ahead.

That feeling most assuredly hit the trainer again this year with Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Disarm , who worked four furlongs in :49 1/5 May 1 on a fast track at Churchill.

"We'll just concentrate on keeping him hydrated and feeling loose and get his focus to where it'll be necessary," said Asmussen, who is searching for his first Derby win but has hit the board in the race five times, including a runner-up finish last year with eventual champion 3-year-old male Epicenter  . "The Derby, to us, is high intensity but he hasn't figured that out yet. It's a big deal to us but he hasn't figured that out yet."

Asmussen initially planned to work Disarm during the 7:30 a.m. Monday time slot reserved on the track for Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopefuls, but seeing the threat of rain, he decided to go earlier in the morning to beat any rain, which materialized as just the slightest of drizzles later in the morning.

As no Derby hopeful has a start more recent than Disarm's third-place finish in the April 15 Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, the son of Gun Runner   has not needed much in the mornings. Monday's breeze was his second work since the Lexington race, preceded by a five-furlong move in 1:00 April 24. 

Disarm's breeze ranked 15th of 30 moves at the distance Monday morning at Churchill.

"He's very cooled out, very relaxed," Asmussen said. "I'm glad it didn't wind him up or anything. He's been very good in his stall. Obviously, with a horse of his size he's got a good appetite. I'm really happy with how he came back."

Asmussen likes the steady progression Disarm has displayed in his five career starts that saw the colt out of Easy Tap , by Tapit  , earn a maiden win going seven furlongs in August at Saratoga Race Course, followed by runner-up finishes in an allowance optional claiming race at Oaklawn Park and the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. Still on the outside looking in as far as qualifying points, the connections then started Disarm in the Lexington, where he ran just well enough to land a spot in the field.

While Disarm is still looking for his first stakes victory, Asmussen is encouraged by the steady improvement to give the colt a shot.

"I love that about horse racing: Your resume doesn't win any races," Asmussen said. "You're paid for what you do, not for what you have done. People want to let you know what they know but they are guessing at all times. You handicap off what they've already done and that literally does nothing for them when the gates open."