Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Asmussen’s big names put in drills
There are six Grade 1 stakes scheduled at Saratoga on Aug. 24, and trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing horses to five of them. Early Monday morning, Asmussen had several of those runners put in their major workouts over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for those events.
Midnight Bisou and She’s a Julie, both pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, worked five furlongs together in 1:00.80, getting their final quarters in 23.84 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.06 and seven furlongs in 1:28.06. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard Midnight Bisou, though he is expected to ride She’s a Julie. Wilson Fabian was aboard She’s a Julie, who was on the inside. Asmussen’s exercise riders wear a watch on their wrist that they check to see how fast they are going.
“I thought that they worked beautifully,” Asmussen said. “We’ve worked them in company multiple times, not with each other, but they both handled real well and I thought they both worked great today.”
Midnight Bisou is the leading older dirt female in the country, having won all five of her starts this year, including Grade 1 fixtures the Ogden Phipps and Apple Blossom. She’s a Julie, second in the Alabama last year, won the Grade 1 La Troienne this year and most recently was third in the Grade 3 Shuvee here.
Mitole, the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.88 while working on the inside of another horse. Mitole went his first three furlongs in 36.23 and his last quarter in 24.65. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.59 and seven furlongs in 1:28.59.
Mitole, who had a seven-race winning streak snapped when third in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, is pointing to the Grade 1 Forego.
Asmussen felt Mitole was too aggressive in his workout last week, which he did by himself.
“Sending him in company I thought would make it steadier,” Asmussen said. “Last week, I thought he was overly aggressive. We work horses in company so much. If anything, it settles them down.”
Nitrous, working for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, went five furlongs in 1:02.93. Nitrous finished second to Shancelot in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes earlier this meet.
“I thought we had a great morning this morning with some very important horses,” Asmussen said. “For me, these are the works that matter. Hopefully, it’ll translate into a very good 24th.”
On Sunday, Laughing Fox, whom Asmussen is pointing to the $1.25 million Travers, worked five furlongs in 1:01.69 over the Oklahoma track. He worked with New York Derby winner Bankit, who is pointing to the Albany on Aug. 23.
Mia Mischief, pointing to the Grade 1 Ballerina, went five furlongs in 1:01.73 by herself.
Lady Apple, whom Asmussen is running Saturday in the Grade 1 Alabama, went a halfmile in 50.15.
Asmussen 2-year-olds on roll
Asmussen has unleashed some good-looking 2-year-olds at this meet, perhaps none more impressive than Gozilla, who on Saturday won a six-furlong maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths for Zayat Stables. Gozilla, a son of Flatter, ran six furlongs in 1:09.59 and earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.
Also on Saturday, Asmussen sent out Tumbling Sky to a 1 1/4 length victory in a sixfurlong maiden race. That son of Competitive Edge ran six furlongs in 1:09.86 and earned a 79 Beyer.
Those two join Basin and Shoplifted as maiden 2-yearold males who won for Asmussen at this meet. Asmussen said the Grade 1 Hopeful on Sept. 2 is an option for the colts pending discussions with their owners.
Come Dancing aces gate work
Come Dancing had issues with the gate in each of her last two starts, so trainer Carlos Martin decided to work her from the starting gate Sunday morning as he prepares her for a start in the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24.
Come Dancing, under jockey Javier Castellano, popped out of the gate running and zipped five furlongs in 59.41 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. Come Dancing went her first three furlongs in 35.97 seconds and got her last three furlongs in 23.44. She then proceeded to gallop out six furlongs in 1:12.41, seven furlongs in 1:24.69, and a mile in 1:38.91.
“She was doing a little dance in the gate but she came out like a rocket,” Martin said. “She looked like she was in a high gallop. I think we’re ready to rock and roll. I’m excited.”
Martin said Come Dancing had her head turned before the doors opened prior to the start of the Grade 2 Ruffian, which she still won by 6 3/4 lengths on May 5. Come Dancing stumbled at the start of the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps in which she finished second to Midnight Bisou. Martin said he also wanted Castellano, who will ride her for the first time in the Ballerina, to get acquainted with Come Dancing in the gate.