Epic Reign First Winner for Freshman Sire Epicenter

Epic Reign delivered a rousing last-to-first performance to become her sire Epicenter's first winner May 28 at Churchill Downs. Epic Reign broke last and trailed the six-horse field under rider Keith Asmussen. Unhurried as By Her Decree set fractions of :23.24 and :47.38, she swung wide coming out of the turn and closed relentlessly in the stretch, overtaking her rivals and drawing away to win by 4 1/2 lengths. Epic Reign ($9.62) completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:06.17 on a fast main track. In a fitting milestone victory, Epic Reign broke her maiden for the same connections that campaigned Epicenter: trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Winchell Thoroughbreds. During a championship season at 3, the son of Not This Time captured the Risen Star Stakes (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) before gallant runner-up finishes in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1). He avenged those losses with victories in the Jim Dandy (G2) and Travers (G1) stakes before sustaining a condylar fracture during the running of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He was retired with a 6-3-0 record in 11 starts, $2.9 million in earnings, and 2022 champion 3-year-old male honors. Retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in 2023, Epicenter stands the 2026 season at the Versailles, Ky., farm for a $25,000 fee. Epic Reign is a third-generation homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds. A half sister to stakes-winning Gun Runner filly Wakuda, she is out of the stakes-placed American Pharoah mare Simply Sovereign.