Asmussen has ammo for sweep
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Steve Asmussen came within a neck of sweeping the two New York Stallion Stakes for 3-year-olds in April at Aqueduct. Asmussen hopes to make up the difference when both No Reason and One Way Flight return in Sunday's two $75,000 stakes for progeny of New York-based sires at Belmont Park.
, who won the Park Avenue Stakes for fillies at Aqueduct, heads a field of seven entered in the Cupecoy's Joy. One Way Flight, who was run down by Prince of Peace in the Times Square for males, renews acquaintances with that rival and five others in the Spectacular Bid. Both of Sunday's races will be contested at a mile, a furlong farther than the races at Aqueduct.
The added distance should not be a problem for No Reason, who rallied from off the pace to win the Park Avenue by three-quarters of a length. That was her second straight win against restricted company and a nice rebound from a poor sixth-place finish in the Busher.
Toby Sheets, who runs Asmussen's Belmont Park stable, said No Reason wasn't even fully cranked for her last race. "We were getting to where we wanted to be,'' he said. "She came out of that race well, and hopefully we can duplicate it.''
is the only horse in the field to have won at one mile, but she is winless in three starts at Belmont.
One Way Flight could be vulnerable at one mile in the Spectacular Bid. He has not raced beyond seven furlongs and has not won beyond six. He was part of a blistering pace in the Times Square Stakes last month, but did well to hold on for second behind Prince of Peace.
Sheets said he felt that would have been better served that day by sitting off the other speed horse in the race. "He doesn't have to be pushed on,'' Sheets said.
Garrett Gomez will replace Channing Hill aboard both No Reason and One Way Flight.
Though Prince of Peace may be the horse to beat in the Spectacular Bid, looms an interesting play. After losing his first seven starts, Running Dog has won two straight, including a 6 1/2-furlong dirt race and a 1 1/8-mile turf race.
Jimmy Jerkens, the trainer of Running Dog, said the key to the horse's recent success has been getting him to come from off the pace.
With Norberto Arroyo Jr. serving out a suspension, Mike Luzzi will ride Running Dog.