Phoenix Thoroughbreds celebrated an American double on Wednesday, September 16, thanks to a pair of Steve Asmussen trainees.
Both Spyglass and Weekend Fun were involved in exciting finishes at Kentucky Downs and Remington Park respectively as the Dubai-based group’s most prevalent trainer closed in on 9000 career wins.
Co-owned with Winchell Thoroughbreds Spyglass got the ball rolling on Turf debut at Kentucky Downs.
The son of Gainesway’s Tapit edged out his rivals under a well-judged and determined ride form Ricardo Santana Junior on just the colt’s second career start. In the vanguard throughout the one-mile Maiden Special Weight Spyglass travelled with purpose and edged to the lead at the top of the stretch. The race developed into a match in the final stages with Conquest Rainycity coming to join the Phoenix owned runner. The pair pulled away from the field and duked it out to the finish. Despite being briefly headed Santana Junior kept his head and produced is mount at the right time, getting his nose in front in the final strides.
It was a tight affair too for Weekend Fun who needed the confirmation of a photo finish before being awarded the victory at Remington Park.
The More Than Ready filly had Stewart Elliott on her back for the five-furlong maiden and pair settled towards the rear of the field through the opening few furlongs. Rolling forward under Elliott’s urgings on the turn for home the filly briefly hit traffic problems before finding racing room. Once threaded expertly through the gap, she sprinted on and hit the front in the shadow of the post.