Asmussen eyes Kentucky stakes for promising juveniles
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Stablemates Echo Again, arguably the most impressive debut-winning 2-year-old colt at this meet, and Grand Love, a debut-winning 2-year-old filly, returned to the Saratoga worktab Sunday morning, breezing five furlongs together in 1:00.64 over the Oklahoma training track.
The two Steve Asmussen-trained progeny of Gun Runner went their first quarter in 24.96 seconds and their final three furlongs in 35.68 while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.46.
Asmussen said that Echo Again and Grand Love would make their next starts in Kentucky. The two are nominated to the Iroquois and the Pocahontas, respectively, at Churchill Downs on Sept. 17, and will be nominated to the Breeders’ Futurity (Oct. 8) and Alcibiades (Oct. 7) at Keeneland. All of those races are run at 1 1/16 miles.
“One or the other, probably not both,” Asmussen said.
On Aug. 20, Echo Again won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 6 3/4 lengths, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest among 2-year-olds at the meet. The following day, Grand Love won her debut, also going 6 1/2 furlongs, by 4 3/4 lengths. She earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.
Asmussen said he has backed off on the 2-year-old Disarm, who won his maiden here on Aug. 6. He said Disarm would not run again until the Fair Grounds meet, which opens Nov. 18.
“We felt Echo Again was obviously more precocious than Disarm and we had zero intent of pointing them to the same race [this year],” Asmussen said.
Meanwhile, Echo Zulu, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, continues working toward her return after having been scratched moments before post time of the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont Park on June 11
On Sunday, Echo Zulu worked five furlongs in 1:01.81 in company with the maiden 2-year-old filly High Class. It was the fourth published workout in 19 days for Echo Zulu and her first going five furlongs.
“She’s coming back beautifully,” Asmussen said. “Her last two works have been excellent.”
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Asmussen said he has not finalized where Echo Zulu would make her return. She is eligible for the Grade 3, $275,000 Dogwood Stakes, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies at Churchill Downs on Sept. 24. There is also the $160,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the same card.
Asmussen said he is pointing Wicked Halo, winner of last Friday’s Prioress Stakes here, to the Dogwood.
Asmussen said he is planning to keep many of his top horses - including Epicenter, Jackie’s Warrior and Clairiere - in Saratoga for the near future. He hopes to be able to ship several from Saratoga to Keeneland to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 4-5.