Z Fortune, Cowboy Cal Winning
Asmussen's Third Colt, Pletcher Trainee Lead Derby Secondary Choices
Steve Asmussen is training an impressive trio this season, with Z Fortune being his third winning entry. 2007 Trainer of the Year Todd Pletcher leads with Cowboy Cal.
While his stablemate, Pyro, takes the headlines, Steve Asmussen trained Z Fortune is making a name for himself as well. Todd Pletcher's Cowboy Cal is lighting up the stable of the 2007 Trainer of the Year.
Z Fortune won the Lecomte Stakes in January, then followed up with a second place finish to Pyro's win in the Risen Star Stakes in February. Asmussen's two colts are an interesting act behind the lead of 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin, who won his prep in Dubai this past weekend and awaits the world's richest race on March 29, the Dubai World Cup Classic.
With the Kentucky Derby two months away, some sorting of fortunes and leaders on the Triple Crown trail have already taken place. While War Pass and Pyro have captured the spotlight and may be headed for a showdown at Churchill Downs, other contenders have made statements, too.
Thirty Thoroughbreds have stamped themselves as worthy of early Triple Crown trail mention. Only twenty will make it to the Kentucky Derby lineup.
Here's a look at the early returns thus far:
- El Gato Malo --- Won San Rafael Stakes, Jan.12, Santa Anita --- 2nd in Sham Stakes, Mar.1, Santa Anita
- Why Tonto --- Won Hallendale Beach Stakes, Feb.16, Gulfstream --- 2nd in Tropical Park Derby, Jan.1, Calder
- Cowboy Cal --- Won Tropical Park Derby, Jan.1, Calder --- 2nd in Hallendale Beach Stakes, Feb.16, Gulfstream
- Z Fortune --- Won Lecomte Stakes, Jan.12, Fair Grounds --- 2nd in Risen Star Stakes, Feb.9, Fair Grounds
- Yankee Bravo --- Won California Derby, Jan.27, Golden Gate
- Ez Dreamer --- Won Rattlesnake Stakes, Jan.20, Turf Paradise --- 2nd in Turf Paradise Derby, Feb.9, Turf Paradise
- Crook's Bodgit --- Won Sportsman's Paradise Stakes, Mar.1, Delta Downs --- 2nd in Triple Sec Stakes, Jan.18, Delta Downs
- Carson's Legacy --- Won Dixieland Stakes, Jan.18, Oaklawn --- 2nd in Mountain Valley, Feb.23, Oaklawn
- Halo Najib --- Won Ocala Breeder's Sales Championship, Feb.11, OBS --- 3rd in Hutcheson Stakes, Jan.5, Gulfstream
- Victory Pete --- 2nd in Sham Stakes, Mar.1, Santa Anita --- 3rd in California Derby, Jan.27, Golden Gate
- Massive Drama --- 3rd in San Rafael Stakes, Jan.12, Santa Anita --- 3rd in San Vicente Stakes, Feb.10, Santa Anita
Crown of Thorns, after winning the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on February 2 at Santa Anita, went off the Triple Crown trail with an injury. Bill Mott trained Majestic Warrior, an A.P. Indy colt, has yet to capture a win.
In the next two months, these winning and placed three-year-olds will battle for a spot in the world's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, on the first Saturday in May.
