by Steve Myrick

Steve Asmussen has about 200 horses in training at major tracks throughout the country. He has been setting new records and reaching new milestones at a prolific pace. The Horse of the Year has resided in his barn the past two years, and he is very likely to make it three in a row this season.

But in this year's Breeders' Cup, Asmussen will saddle just one runner. Longshot Jungle Tale is slated to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday at Santa Anita Park for the 2008 Eclipse Award-winning conditioner.

Another Asmussen charge, Vinery Stable and Fox Hill Farm's Kodiak Kowboy, was withdrawn from the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) after a workout Monday morning.

“He worked well, but scoped bad,” said Scott Blasi, top assistant to Asmussen. “He has to go on antibiotics and will be unable to run.”

By midweek, Blasi had left Santa Anita, while Asmussen has not been sighted at the Arcadia, California track all week.

Also missing from Santa Anita Park is Asmussen’s most famous charge—BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra.

The spectacular filly bested all of her competition, both male and female, in eight starts this year. But she will not test her mettle on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

Owner Jess Jackson's distaste for what he calls “plastic” prompted him to keep his probable Horse of the Year in her stall at Churchill Downs. Not even a $1-million sweetener added to the winner's share of the purse if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta met in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) could sway Jackson.

Jackson has said, however, he intends to campaign the filly as a four-year old.

Fans who wished to see Rachel Alexandra at Santa Anita will have to hope for good fortune and good health next year when the 2010 Classic will be contested on Kentucky dirt at Churchill Downs.

Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based correspondent for Thoroughbred Times