Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred Epic Reign (2f Epicenter x Simply Sovereign, by American Pharoah) was the first winner for Epicenter on Thursday with an impressive display in a Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight. Trainer Steve Asmussen debuted the filly in this race going 5 ½ furlongs on the dirt with Epic Reign running into a little bit of trouble out of the gate. She took up position as the last place horse down the backstretch, but jockey Keith Asmussen didn’t look concerned. He let his mount settle and swung her wide around the turn to give her clear room for a run in the stretch. Once she was released after the field straightened out, Epic Reign was much the best and found the lead in just a few strides. Taking command as the field entered the final furlong, she coasted home to win by 4 1/2 lengths. [embed]https://www.twitter.com/ChurchillDowns/status/2060123773089501694?s=20[/embed] Epic Reign is the second foal out of American Pharoah’s stakes placed Simply Sovereign, whose first is the stakes winning Wakuda. There are Ashford connections all over Epic Reign’s pedigree with her dam a half-sister to Simple Surprise. A stakes winner herself, Simple Surprise is the dam of Epic Reign’s dual Gr.1 winning studmate Gunite and Gr.3 winner Spice Runner. Another impressive runner out of a Simply Sovereign half-sister is last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Super Corredora. A stakes winner herself, Epic Reign’s granddam Simplify has eight stakes performers under her name with all but two winning stakes. A Champion 3-Year-Old, Epicenter has seen his first juveniles sell for up to $1.95 million in 2026!