The epicenter was in front of Runhappy Travers S. | Sarah Andrews
Purebred Winchell’ epicenter (Not this time–Silent Candy, by candy ride {Arg}), the leading contender for the 3-year-old championship title, will be entering in 2023 at Ashford Stud. He will stand for $45,000.
Bred at the Westwind Ranch by Mike, Brent, and Kevin Harrises in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the Epicenter was sold to Team Winchell for $260,000 during Keeneland’s September 2020 sale and was eventually turned over to trainers. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. The first winner in second place claims to go a mile at a time at Churchill Downs, the bay passed 6 1/2 lengths to become the first bet winner in the tournament. gunman S. at the Fair Grounds last December before making the narrow decision to launch graded bets in the GIII Lecomte S. The GII Risen Star S. all-round winner in February, Epicenter showed off a new dimension in the GII Louisiana Derby, tackling the pace a little further before ramping up for the home team to score a 2 1/2 difference.
Epicenter’s winter efforts made him a 4.10-1 favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby and he raced better than midfield, taking the lead in the long-court. and was overtaken by Rich Strike (Keen Ice). He was similarly unlucky not to win GI Preakness S., runner-up in the recent Coolmore Supplement Early Voting (gunman) after a slow start and some heavy traffic, but he redeemed those setbacks at Saratoga over the summer with some powers.
Epicenter was the winner of the GII Jim Dandy S., beating out the 1st place winner Zandon (start), and, at even money, HOLD Runhappy Travers S., where the dual GISW Cyberknife (gunman) is left behind by about 5 1/4 lengths. His 112 on Beyer speed is the highest of any of his generation on dirt roads this year. Epicenter, who was pulled up when the second time selected Flightline (faucet) in the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic and is recovering well from injury, retiring with a 6-3-0 record in 11 starts and earning $2,940,639.
Coach Steve Asmussen said: “Epicenter has been solid all year and Travers was the breakout performance he needed and deserved, and he made it clear. “He put everything together on one big stage.”
Ron Winchell, foal racer, said: “He is an outstanding horse with the best racing days still ahead. “Born on the reverse side of gunman‘S candy ride/ Crossing the Giant’s Causeway, he is a stallion with extremely interesting prospects.”
“Epiccenter is the best son of the best son of Giant’s Causeway Not this time and not the winner of the bet by the father of gunman,” said Dermot Ryan of Coolmore. “His combination of speed and stamina has made him a powerful force and he is a very nice horse to boot. Breeders will love him.
One of three top level winners and one of nine ranked winners for his stallion, Epicenter is the highest performing pony from the dam that wins the bet and his Rank III, who raked in $625,000 bringing a full sibling to Epicenter at Keeneland this November’s revenue. Westwind bought Silent Candy for $130,000 for Scat Daddy at KEENOV in 2014.
WATCH: The epicenter of the storm dissipates in GI 2022 Runhappy Travers S.
Not a subscriber? Click here to subscribe to PDF or daily alerts.
This story was posted in Top News and tagged Ashford Academy, epicenter, Gunman S., Race, Jim Dandy S., Kentucky horse race, Lecomte S., Louisiana match, Not this time, Preakness S., Resurrection star S., Runhappy Travers S., stallion, Steve Asmussen, Purebred Winchell.
