FRANKLIN, Ky. - It is always nice for a trainer when a horse they run for their major client wins a rich stakes race at the track in which that client has an ownership stake. So it was Sunday at Kentucky Downs, where Aspenite went wire to wire and won the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile.  Aspenite was ridden by Cristian Torres, who never had ridden at this quirky European-style course until 2023, but had five wins on the meet and three on Sunday alone after Aspenite crossed the finish 3 1/4 lengths in front of Tough Little Nut. Torres was wearing the silks of Ron Winchell’s Winchell Racing, for whom trainer Steve Asmussen has won countless important races. Winchell is part of the group that owns Kentucky Downs, and Aspenite was making the most of this brief seven-day meeting.  Aspenite debuted Aug. 5 at Saratoga and finished second in a maiden route race carded for turf but rained onto dirt. He showed up Aug. 31 here at Kentucky Downs in a $250,000 race restricted to 2-year-old Keeneland sales graduates, took a clear lead into the final furlong, and got run down in the last two strides.  “I thought he got lost more than anything else,” Asmussen said. “He lost his momentum by looking up, and then he was too tired to pick it back up.”  :: Bet the races with a $250 First Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. Aspenite bounced out of the race and trained with vigor and spirit at Kentucky Downs. The colt was doing so well, Asmussen decided to enter the one-mile Juvenile. Racing a longer distance, Aspenite might be able to go clear and relax, and finish even better than he had sprinting.  “That was my plan entering, and then I was concerned with how much speed was in the race,” Asmussen said.  On paper, there was a lot of speed, but none of it showed when the gates opened and Aspenite, breaking from post 2, quickly was clear. He set lively splits of 22.59 and 45.25 but was doing it easily.  “I know we were going a decent pace, but he was relaxed, he wasn’t pulling on me,” Torres said. “I waited the most I could to ask him to run, and as we turned for home he was still in hand.”  Aspenite increased his lead from the quarter pole to the stretch call and coasted home an easy winner. Tough Little Nut was second by two lengths over 5-2 favorite Mozlzil, who fell much too far off the pace in the early stages and finished third coming from 11th. Aspenite clocked 1:38.19 for a mile on firm going and paid $15.06.  Bred by Glen Hill Farm, Aspenite fetched $375,000 at Keeneland’s 2022 yearling auction. The colt is by Constitution out of Aspening, by Candy Ride. Plans for his next start are on hold. Aspenite has done a lot in the last 11 days.  :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.