Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Asmussen will lead over a pair for Woody Stephens
ELMONT, N.Y. – While trainer Steve Asmussen was to finalize his plans for the Belmont Stakes over the weekend, he is pretty set on whom he is going to run in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, a sevenfurlong race for 3-year-olds on the same card next Saturday.
After failing to excel around two turns, Shoplifted will cut back to seven furlongs and one turn in the $250,000 Woody Stephens. Asmussen also will run Echo Town, a recent allowance winner at Churchill Downs.
Last summer, Shoplifted won his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, then came back to run second to stablemate Basin in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga. Since then, Shoplifted, a son of Into Mischief, has raced six times around two turns with a victory in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park his only success. Most recently, he finished fifth in the Oaklawn Stakes on April 11.
“Backing up to one turn, it’s a very good opportunity for him,” Asmussen said. “I think he ran a good race in the Springboard Mile, got paid handsomely for it, but probably his Hopeful was his best run; just a closing oneturn horse.”
Jose Ortiz will ride Shoplifted in the Woody Stephens.
Echo Town, a son of Speightstown, has won 3 of 5 starts, most recently a secondlevel allowance on May 25 at Churchill Downs. All five of his career starts have been at six furlongs.
“He’s got plenty of ability and a lot of grit,” Asmussen said. “I am concerned about seveneighths, but he deserves this opportunity.”
Echo Town will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.
Others pointing to the Woody Stephens include Mischevious Alex, No Parole, Fore Left, Meru, and potentially Premier Star.
Meanwhile, Asmussen said he still was to speak with his owners about whether to run Basin and/or Pneumatic in the Belmont. Basin is coming off a second-place finish to Charlatan in the Arkansas Derby, while Pneumatic is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs.
If only one of the two run in the Belmont, the other is likely to start in the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11 at Keeneland.
Asmussen on Friday did confirm that Jungle Runner will start in the Belmont Stakes. Jungle Runner, a son of Candy Ride owned by Calumet Farm, won the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington last year. He is coming off back-to-back 22-length defeats in the Mine That Bird Derby and Arkansas Derby.
Reylu Gutierrez will ride Jungle Runner in the Belmont.
Presumptive Belmont favorite Tiz the Law was to have his final workout Sunday morning. Dr Post, Farmington Road, and Max Player were scheduled to work Saturday as well as possible Belmont starter Modernist.
Tap It to Win and Sole Volante will not work before the Belmont, both having come off recent victories.
Casual tries to one-up her mom
It’s been 17 years, but the 2003 Acorn Stakes where Lady Tak got beat a head by Bird Town still irks trainer Steve Asmussen.
“You mean she should have won?” Asmussen said.
Perhaps Casual, Lady Tak’s seventh foal, can give Asmussen his first Grade 1 Acorn victory when she runs in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Belmont.
Casual has won her first two starts, a six-furlong maiden race at Oaklawn Park and a seven-furlong allowance in May at Churchill Downs. Asmussen is hoping that being by Curlin, Casual will be able to stretch out to the mile.
“Curlin gives her a little more bottom,” Asmussen said. “Lady Tak was just a freak talent, like a high-density balloon – how you used it and when you used it, it all came out at once.”
The Acorn field will draw the Grade 2 Las Virgenes winner Venetian Harbor as well as the unbeaten Gamine (2 for 2) from California. Lucrezia, Perfect Alibi, Pleasant Orb, and Water White also are expected.
Perfect Alibi, last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway winner, worked a half-mile in 50.99 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont main track.
Pure Sensation in Jaipur work
Pure Sensation won the Jaipur Stakes in 2016 when it was a Grade 3 stakes. Next Saturday, the now 9-year-old Pure Sensation will attempt to win the Jaipur in its second year as a Grade 1.
On Friday, Pure Sensation worked a half-mile over the inner turf course in 49.37 seconds, striding out nicely while working by himself.
“I thought he worked great,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “I’m not worried about the work when I send him to turf. I’m more worried about him coming back to the barn. See how he comes out of it today and see how he is tomorrow morning. When he’s right, he’s an outstanding horse.”
Pure Sensation has won 14 of 35 starts and just less than $2 million. He has run in three editions of the Jaipur, finishing fourth in 2017 and third in 2018, both times to now retired stablemate Disco Partner.
Clement also has taken over the training of Shekky Shebaz, third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint when in the barn of Jason Servis. Clement said Shekky Shebaz also is under consideration for the Jaipur.
Also working Friday for Clement was Decorated Invader, who went a half-mile in 50.39 over the Belmont turf. He went in company with Gufo, another 3-year-old stakes winner.
Decorated Invader figures to be favored in next Saturday’s $100,000 Pennine Ridge at Belmont. Gufo has three options for his next start, including the Pennine Ridge.