Asmussen 2-year-olds keep showing up

Hall of Fame trainer Steve 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 six-furlong 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-year-old males who won for Asmussen at this meet. Sunday, Asmussen won a maiden race for juvenile fillies with Lotta Ott, who ran down hot favorite Mundaye Call in a six-furlong race she ran in 1:10.61.

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“We were unbelievably impressed with them all spring all summer and, knock on, wood, they continue to do well,” Asmussen said of his 2-year-olds. “They’re tremendous pedigrees, with great physicals and a ton of ability. Feel great about what we got.”

Asmussen said it is not definite where the 2-year-olds run next, but obviously the Grade 1 Hopeful here on Sept. 2 will be among the options seriously considered for the colts.

“We’ll have discussions with the ownership groups of what they would like to do next,” Asmussen said. “That will undoubtedly sort it out a bit. Our biggest concern is their health and how they go back to the racetrack. That will be the determining factor where they run next.”

On Monday, Basin and Shoplifted worked five furlongs together in 1:00.98, with a final quarter of 24.77 seconds.