Archidust comes through for new barn in Wolf Hill Stakes

Archidust won his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen with a stalking trip in Saturday’s $82,500 Wolf Hill Stakes for turf sprinters at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Hector Diaz, Jr., Archidust was third on the backstretch and turn, stalking pacesetter American Sailor. Archidust trailed 8-1 American Sailor by two lengths with a furlong remaining, but closed with determination to win by 1 1/4 lengths over that rival.

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Archidust ran 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:01.26 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. American Sailor finished two length clear of Shekky Shebaz, who was fifth early.

The stewards conducted an inquiry into the stretch run, reviewing whether 5-2 Shekky Shebaz cost 18-1 Coop Tries Harder a better placing when he drifted to the inside with about a sixteenth of a mile remaining. Even though Coop Tries Harder was checked and bumped with 5-2 favorite Dubini, who was also checked in the incident, there was no change to the order of finish.

Coop Tries Harder finished sixth, while Dubini was eighth in the field of 11.

Archidust, who races for Crawford Farms, was previously trained by Jorge Navarro, who was arrested in March in conjunction with a federal investigation into administering illegal medications to horses.

Archidust, a 4-year-old colt by Verrazano, has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $308,400. When trained by Navarro, Archidust won three sprint stakes from mid-July to late November last year.

The Wolf Hill Stakes was the first start for Archidust since a third in the Silks Run Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Gulfstream Park on March 7.