Asmussen enters two in Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The dearth of depth behind retired Triple Crown winner Justify in the 3-year-old division was quite evident with the short fields drawn for Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes and Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga.

While six were entered for the Curlin, only five – including one from the Curlin – were entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Jim Dandy. Both races are run at 1 1/8 miles and are considered stepping-stones to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 25.

Vino Rosso, winner of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, and Tenfold, third in the Preakness, finished fourth and fifth behind Justify in the Belmont Stakes.

Tenfold, trained by Steve Asmussen, was bothered a bit early by Restoring Hope and was then in tight down the backside, but just ran on evenly to finish 7 1/4 lengths behind Justify. He was 3 1/2 lengths behind Vino Rosso.

“The Belmont was won by a Triple Crown winner,” Asmussen said. “Tenfold was fifth without the trip you were hoping for. For me to expect to win a classic without a dream trip was very unrealistic.”

Asmussen has been pleased with Tenfold since the Belmont and was particularly pleased with his four-furlong work in 48.29 seconds on Monday over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track.

“He’s fast right now,” Asmussen said. “It’s a good time to be fast. I thought he did it very easily. I feel good about him going into the Jim Dandy.”

Asmussen was planning to run just Tenfold in the Jim Dandy. But on Wednesday, he called an audible and opted to also enter Reride, who is entered in Friday’s $100,000 Curlin. Asmussen is hoping Reride, winner of the Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland Park in February, can get a piece of a bigger purse in the Jim Dandy.

Flameaway, winner of the Grade 3 Sam Davis, drew the rail for the Jim Dandy. He was followed in post order by Tenfold, Reride, Sporting Chance, and Vino Rosso.