It’s racing season at Kentucky Downs, featuring a variety of races, including stakes, each with distinct purses. The standout event of the show is the Grade 3 $1 million National Thoroughbred League Dueling Grounds Derby. Horses from all over the country are coming to participate in the equestrian race.

Among these contenders is Red Route One, a three-year-old colt trained by Steve Asmussen. The colt is returning to the turf track after a dirt race, having previously secured victory in the most significant race of his career. This win has propelled him towards performing exceptionally at the derby. Steve Asmussen recognizes the potential in this colt and has strong faith in its abilities, particularly after its triumphant run at Mountaineer.

Red Route One eyes the equestrian derby

Red Route One is all prepared to win the one-mile and five-sixteenth equestrian derby. According to Horse Racing Nation, he arrived after winning the $500,000 West Virginia Derby by a margin of three lengths. While it marked his second win of the year, it was notably remarkable. However, the derby will showcase two horses trained by Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher: Far Bridge and Clever Thought. Additionally, Brian Lynch-trained Highway Robber and Anglophile, who secured second and third positions in the Kentucky Downs Preview Dueling Grounds Derby, are also competing in the upcoming derby. The path to victory won’t be easy for the three-year-old colt, but his trainer maintains unwavering confidence in his abilities.

Speaking on worth $1,045,025 Red Route One, the Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said, “He’s a very athletic horse“. He explained that the horses wanted distance on the ground to open up and they got that opportunity in his previous races on turf.  Rejecting the concern related to his coming back to the green track after running on dirt, Asmussen said, “His versatility has allowed both“. The trainer added that he had been preparing for this type of race since he won his maiden race last September and feels he is ready for the challenge of his racing career.

Red Route One’s equestrian race journey

Red Route One is the son of Gun Runner and Red House. He is owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds. He started his racing career in 2022 and got his maiden win in his second career race at Kentucky Downs. Over his career, he has raced at all the major race tracks of the country from Churchill Downs, and Belmont Park to Saratoga, and had wins at Mountaineer and Oaklawn Park, apart from above mentioned Kentucky Downs.

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Red Route One has two stakes wins in his career, one at Bath House Row and the other West Virginia Derby. In his entire career to date, he had 12 starts of which he won three, placed second in two, and secured third position in one. In his seven starts this year, he has two wins and added $872,450 to his total earnings to date.

Red Route One came to this equestrian race with a major win and is in form. He has not an easy task ahead but his trainer had faith in his ability to pull out the impossible.

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