RACING FESTIVAL OF THE SOUTH

Tapiture’s trainer embattled, undeterred

HOT SPRINGS - There is already a little bit of a Kentucky Derby feel around trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn at Oaklawn Park.

Asmussen still has a top Kentucky Derby candidate in Tapiture, the 9-5 program favorite for today’s $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby. But the atmosphere surrounding the mega-successful Asmussen has clearly changed in thepast 3½ weeks following well-chronicled allegations levied against him by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, including animal cruelty.

Oaklawn’s response to the potential PETA powder keg became visible shortly after the allegations, outlined by the New York Times, began to generate national attention March 20.

Oaklawn locked a gate in front of the track kitchen that provided public access to the backstretch and stationed security guards outside Asmussen’s barn.

Security guards are the norm for horses running on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. (Kentucky Derby),not for horses running on the second Saturday in April in Hot Springs (Arkansas Derby).

“Thank, gosh,” Asmussen jokingly said during training hours Friday morning.

Asmussen, the second-winningest trainer in North American history, isn’t commenting on the PETA allegations but said he hopes to eventually address the issue publicly at an appropriate time. Fallout from the controversy includes the trainer losing at least two major clients and voting on his nomination to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame tabled this year.

“Right now, I think that our responsibility is the preparation for an opportunity like this,” Asmussen said, referring to Tapiture. “We take that very seriously.”

Tapiture can solidify his Kentucky Derby credentials with a victory in the Arkansas Derby, which anchors today’s closing-day 12-race card.

Probable post time for the 78th Arkansas Derby, the 11th race, is 6:07 p.m. TVG and HRTV will provide live coverage.

Racing begins at 12:10 p.m., with the Arkansas Derby preceded by the $100,000 Northern Spur Stakes, $100,000 Instant Racing Stakes and the $600,000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.

The infield will be open today.

Tapiture is among nine horses entered in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, although Knock Em Flat is scheduled to scratch in favor of the Northern Spur, trainer Donnie K. Von Hemel said.

The Arkansas Derby brings back Tapiture, Ride On Curlin and Strong Mandate, the 2-3-4 finishers, respectively, from the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 15.

Hoppertunity emerged from a rough stretch run to edge Tapiture by a half length.

“He never gave up,” Asmussen said. “I was very pleased that he ate up that night and he went back to the track the same horse. He’s an excitable sort. He’s very reactive, but it didn’t completely throw him off his game.”

Tapiture was coming off a 4 1-4-length victory over Strong Mandate in the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes on Feb. 17. Ride OnCurlin finished third.

Tapiture, a Kentucky-bred son of Tapit, closed his 2-year-old campaign with a 4 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs.

Ricardo Santana Jr., Oaklawn’s leading jockey the past two years, has ridden to Tapiture in his past five starts, but he gets Joel Rosario today.

Rosario won last year’s Kentucky Derby aboard Orb.

“We’re dreaming the dream like everybody else,” Asmussen said. “We’re just trying to put ourselves in position to have success.”

Tapiture has worked twice since the Rebel, with his most serious move March 31 when he covered 5 furlongs in 1:00.80. Sabercat, a 5-yearold multiple stakes winner of more than $800,000, has been Tapiture’s workout partner.

Asmussen said Tapiture’s breezes have been designed to try and make him less keen early in the race.

“The race in the Rebel was not ideal,” Asmussen said. “What do we want him to do different? You want him to settle better and save himself just a bit.”

Tapiture’s biggest challenge could come from unbeaten Bayern, a wire-to-wire threat for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Bayern, the 2-1 second choice in the program, will be making his stakes debut after winning his first two starts by a combined 18 1/4 lengths.Bayern easily beat Hoppertunity, also trained by Baffert, in their Jan. 4 career debuts at Santa Anita near Los Angeles.

“Physically impressive horse, with two brilliant races,” Asmussen said of Bayern. “If he gets loose … Bob comes prepared. He does not run a short horse.”

Asmussen already has the favorite for the $1 million Grade I Kentucky Oaks on May 2 at Churchill in Untapable. The Kentucky Oaks, the nation’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies, is run the day before the Kentucky Derby.

Sports, Pages 21 on 04/12/2014

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