Epicenter was thought to be the best 3-year-old in the country since before the Kentucky Derby, but something always seemed to get in the way of earning that title. That all changed Saturday when the Steve Asmussen-trained colt easily won the $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York.
It was the first Grade 1 win for Epicenter and the likely ticket to being named 3-year-old Male Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards. It was his fourth win in seven starts this year and sixth lifetime win.
“We walked over [Saturday] with a tremendous amount of confidence in the horse,” Asmussen told the New York Racing Association media team. “But ... we felt exactly that way walking over for this year’s Derby.
