Asmussen has pair for Woody Stephens

ELMONT, N.Y. – While trainer Steve Asmussen was to finalize his plans for the Belmont Stakes over the weekend, he is pretty set on whom he is going to run in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds on the same card next Saturday.

After failing to excel around two turns, Shoplifted will cut back to seven furlongs and one turn in the $250,000 Woody Stephens. Asmussen also will run Echo Town, a recent allowance winner at Churchill Downs.

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Last summer, Shoplifted won his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, then came back to run second to stablemate Basin in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga. Since then, Shoplifted, a son of Into Mischief, has raced six times around two turns with a victory in the Springboard Mile at Remington Park his only success. Most recently, he finished fifth in the Oaklawn Stakes on April 11.

“Backing up to one turn, it’s a very good opportunity for him,” Asmussen said. “I think he ran a good race in the Springboard Mile, got paid handsomely for it, but probably his Hopeful was his best run; just a closing one-turn horse.”

Jose Ortiz will ride Shoplifted in the Woody Stephens.

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Echo Town, a son of Speightstown, has won 3 of 5 starts, most recently a second-level allowance on May 25 at Churchill Downs. All five of his career starts have been at six furlongs.

“He’s got plenty of ability and a lot of grit,” Asmussen said. “I am concerned about seven-eighths, but he deserves this opportunity.”

Echo Town will be ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr.

Others pointing to the Woody Stephens include Mischevious Alex, No Parole, Fore Left, Meru, and potentially Premier Star.

Meanwhile, Asmussen said he still was to speak with his owners about whether to run Basin and/or Pneumatic in the Belmont. Basin is coming off a second-place finish to Charlatan in the Arkansas Derby, while Pneumatic is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs.

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If only one of the two run in the Belmont, the other is likely to start in the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11 at Keeneland.

Asmussen on Friday did confirm that Jungle Runner will start in the Belmont Stakes. Jungle Runner, a son of Candy Ride owned by Calumet Farm, won the Clever Trevor Stakes at Remington last year. He is coming off back-to-back 22-length defeats in the Mine That Bird Derby and Arkansas Derby.

Reylu Gutierrez will ride Jungle Runner in the Belmont.

Presumptive Belmont favorite Tiz the Law was to have his final workout Sunday morning. Dr Post, Farmington Road, and Max Player were scheduled to work Saturday as well as possible Belmont starter Modernist.

Tap It to Win and Sole Volante will not work before the Belmont, both having come off recent victories.