Breeders' Cup 2022: Steve Asmussen on Epicenter and Beating Flightline in the Breeders' Cup Classic

We're on the grounds at Keeneland interviewing the top connections for this year's Breeders' Cup. Steve Asmussen, trainer of Travers Stakes winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up, Epicenter shares his thoughts on the BC Classic and just how much his horse needs to improve in order to beat the favorite Flightline.

[@elizabethferguson7002]

Prayers for Epicenter and Domestic Spending!!!

[@indychoate8350]

Singleness of purpose! Steve and his team are as good as any in History! Epicenter would have run second if he had been able to finish. We respect you Steve, and May God bless you even more.

[@donaldbowehr]

Steve is well-spoken and articulate. You need to do more interviews JS- you're a natural............

[@PastTheWireTV]

Thank you. Appreciate it.

[@eddy0043]

I like how he corrected you calling Rich Strike’s win a fluke

[@PastTheWireTV]

I don't think he corrected me lol.

[@eddy0043]

@@PastTheWireTV Sure sounded like it

[@PastTheWireTV]

@@eddy0043 nah, not at all....

[@edwinjewell5359]

Going to be Very hard for any of these horses to Beat Flightline.

[@GeorgioSette]

Awesome 👍👍

[@yingyang9414]

People may say Rich strike is a fluke win in the Derby but a win is a win don't mind he get beat bad in the classic he run a dam go race be he beat some good horses in that Race 4th is reasonable

[@suzanne9622]

Epicenter pulled up in the Classic! Poor horse. I hope Steve will address this and let us know how the horse recovers from surgery and his prognosis. He has a lateral condylar fracture. In trying to learn more about this and praying Epicenter will be okay, I read the following: Modifications to training schedules, specifically within the first year of racing, may have a large impact on the risk of fatal lateral condylar fracture on the racecourse. Horses should do some gallop work in training and our results suggest that the minimum distance galloped should be between 201 m (1 furlong) and 1609 m (8 furlongs) per week. The association with age at first race requires further investigation for flat and National Hunt racing separately. A reduction in the number of races taking place on very firm going could have an impact on the number of lateral condylar fractures. Three year olds running against four year olds. I wonder if the extra year running at four lessens the risk of this happening. I wish they would wait until four to run all horses.

[@PastTheWireTV]

He did. All statements are on Past The Wire.

[@joeydimaio975]

Quietly confident....I look for a big race from Epicenter of cause if the 2 big horses do hook up .....

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Can Flightline romp in the slop on Saturday? Looks like we might find out.

[@panchomunoz3]

The forecast for Saturday is sunny.

[@tysonfelix4861]

WEATHER MODIFICATION

[@mojesus680]

Epicenter beats Flightline Steve will be crying happy❤️

[@panchomunoz3]

West Coast trifecta...Flightline, Taiba, Hot Rod Charlie.

[@question_it_701]

No one is a lock. Spectacular Bid, Secretariat, Cigar, Zenyatta, American Pharoah, Point GIven, Ghost Zapper... all lost. As far as there being "as close of a thing to a lock there is", yes...Flightline fits that category. Life is Good could cook him (and himself), Flightline could get boxed in, miss the start, have an illness that is unknown at the start, lose a shoe, or...being he is a living thing, just not "feel it" on the day of the race. That being said....I think Flightline wins. Anyone who says they actually think another horse is going to beat him, really have no rationale. There is NOTHING anyone has seen from any other horse or from Flightline to say "I truly think _______ will beat Flightline."

[@pjibbas12]

@@vernonlingenfelter4847 Point Given won the Preakness Stakes and lost the Kentucky Derby. He also went on to win the Belmont Stakes.

[@vernonlingenfelter4847]

@@pjibbas12 whoops I forgot the order.

[@joebarr725]

Yes it's true. Zenyatta did indeed lose. Once in 20 starts. By a nose.

[@dabking3611]

Wrong FLIGHTLINE 🛫🛫✈️🛫🛫 UNBEATABLE THE GREATEST EVER FLIGHTLINE ✈️🛫✈️✈️ MY TOP 3 OF ALL TIMES THAT I SAW IN PERSON 1# FLIGHTLINE 🛫🛫✈️ 2# ZENYATTA 3# CANDY RIDE (ARG) 👊 FLIGHTLINE UNDEFEATED BREEDERS CUP CHAMPION 🛫🛫 BETTER THANK SECRETARIAT WHO RAN AGAINST TOMATO CAN'S 🍅 THE MOST OVERRATED TRIPLE CROWN WINNER 👀 TAKE THAT BIG BELMONT WIN AND SECRETARIAT WOULD BE ANOTHER TRIPLE CROWN WINNER 👀

[@question_it_701]

@@dabking3611 Quit the all caps please. Every horse is beatable. I think you got the Secretariat/Belmont thing from me. I think they are in the same conversation for sure. I just don't like it when folks use certain stats to proclaim Secretariat was superior. There are other stats, even through 6 races, that show Flightline was superior. There are probably a dozen horses in the conversation as best ever. Zenyatta, Secretariat, Ruffian, Personal Ensign, Spectacular Bid, Kelso, Man O' War, Kinsceum, Citation, Affirmed, Cigar, I suppose Winx but hard to compare turf horses to Dirt. Dr. Fager, but I don't think he ever ran at 1.25 which is what most categories are judged on, and of course Flightline. Horses now don't run as many races as they did in the 1970's, and those in the 1970s didn't race as much as those in the 1920s and 1930's. Things change. It sucks now, because horses now are not bred to race, they are raced to be bred. As soon as a horse is deemed "Superhorse" they are retired. I'm hoping a Gelding "Superhorse"comes along someday.

[@Cubamara]

Still using Rosario?? The Jockey might have video of Asmussen with farm animals.

[@christinemartin53]

Steve is a good trainer as he's won more races than anyone my problem is he seems to be a sore loser when his horses gets beat watched it many times. If you can't take losing then you shouldn't be in the game.

[@roshankuriakose7403]

Epicenter race to loose the classic

[@question_it_701]

What have you seen that tells you Epicenter will win? ou've said often that you think Epicenter will win. Why? He's a longshot vs Flightline. That's not up for debate. Of course Epicenter could win. Any horse could. Even the trainer of Epicenter says "We will have to improve by 6 lengths to have a shot" -- But why do you think Epicenter will win? And give a well thought, articulate, educated response. Not "Me really thinks Epicenter isss da better horse".

[@roshankuriakose7403]

@@question_it_701 I really like he’s travers Rosario can do whatever with horse midpack or from behind if not he can close and I believe in Steve asmussen. Epicenter is a true Mika and quarter horse

[@alm2122]

Lose***

[@question_it_701]

@@roshankuriakose7403 how did Epicenter do? I wasn't able to see the race. He won it I assume?

[@roshankuriakose7403]

@@question_it_701 he didn’t run his race I hope he’s alright

[@Coldfacts535]

"Saratoga doesn't yielld times" Come on Steve! Arrogate won the Travers in 1:59+ Tiz The Law won theTravers in 2:00+

[@tonykiriakidis5219]

I want LIG to go 22-45 and open up 5. Then have my key to race Hot Rod Charlie must stay away from LIG but jostle with Flighline for position. That’s where I hope taiba and Epicenter and Hot Rod box FL in. Why? Cause I can’t stand Flighline fans. Omg maybe the worst group of fans EVER

[@christopherbristol4598]

Epicenter ain't winning anything he will bring last