Asmussen 3-year-olds Tapizar, Astrology gearing up
ARCADIA, Calif. – With four wins from 19 starters, trainer Steve Asmussen’s California division moved into a tie for 10th in the trainer’s standings at Santa Anita through Friday, even though the stable had considerably fewer runners than many other leading barns.
In coming weeks, Asmussen may creep higher on the list. Next Saturday, Tapizar will be favored to win the $250,000 Robert Lewis Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1 1/8 miles. Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Tapizar won the Grade 3 Sham Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 15 in his stakes debut.
“We love how he’s doing,” assistant trainer Scott Blasi said Saturday.
On Saturday, Astrology, winner of the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes and runner-up in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, both at Churchill Downs in the fall, worked a half-mile in 52 seconds, his first workout of the year. Blasi said that Astrology will continue working every six days for an undetermined goal.
Owned by Stonestreet Stable and George Bolton, Astrology has won 2 of 5 starts and $152,893.
“He needed some freshening, but he’s got a lot of seasoning,” Blasi said.
Asmussen’s most recent winner was Regally Ready, who stormed down the hillside turf course Friday to win an allowance race by 3 1/4 lengths over the stakes winner Gallant Son. Regally Ready was third in the Grade 3 Daytona Handicap on the hillside in January, his first start on the course. Asmussen had described Regally Ready as “a little lost” in the running of the Daytona, but the 4-year-old gelding ran a perfect race Friday.
“He was within himself in the first quarter-mile and finished within himself,” Blasi said.
Regally Ready will continue racing on the hillside, with the $100,000 San Simeon Handicap on April 16 as a long-term possibility.
Field for Lewis taking shape
Tapizar may have six rivals in the Grade 2 Lewis.
The other candidates include Anthony’s Cross, who was third in the Sham; Riveting Reason, who was third in the Norfolk Stakes and Del Mar Furutity last year; Thirtyfirststreet, winner of the California Breeders’ Champion Stakes in December; Wegner, a maiden winner; Ten Devils, who was second in the Eddie Logan Stakes in December; and possibly Awesome Patriot or Classic Legacy.