Asmussen has sharp pair for Saratoga Special

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen has won 13 graded dirt stakes for juveniles at Saratoga over the last 18 years. Four of those victories have come in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special.

Sunday, Asmussen has a strong duo of Tight Ten and Sir Truebadour as part of a six-horse field entered in the 113th running of the $200,000 Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs.

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For those who like sheer talent, Tight Ten might be for you. A son of Tapit, Tight Ten won a six-furlong maiden race at first asking by 4 1/4 lengths despite ducking into the rail inside the sixteenth pole.

“He looks at everything,” said Asmussen, who trains Tight Ten for Ron Winchell. “He’s still going to look at everything. He’s a very talented horse. I have not applied a lot of pressure to him. He’s a horse with a very bright future. I don’t want to overdo it too soon.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. rides Tight Ten from post 4.

Sir Truebadour has run three times, winning a maiden race at Churchill in May and the Grade 3 Bashford Manor there on June 30. In between, he finished fourth, beaten two lengths by Our Braintrust, in the Tremont Stakes at Belmont. All four of Asmussen’s Saratoga Special winners have come out of the Bashford Manor, including last year’s winner, Copper Bullet. Asmussen’s barn had a fifth Saratoga Special winner, Chace City, though assistant Scott Blasi was officially credited for the victory in 2006 while Asmussen was serving a suspension.

Joel Rosario rides Sir Truebadour from post 5.

Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won 28 graded dirt stakes for juveniles at Saratoga, sends out Meade and Spinoff. Meade, a son of Street Sense, repelled two challenges to win his debut on July 7 at Belmont by 2 1/2 lengths. He breaks from the rail Sunday.

“Good, professional debut, showed speed,” said Pletcher, who has Jose Ortiz to ride. “Will need to leave well from the gate, obviously.”

Spinoff, a son of Hard Spun, won his debut by 1 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream going five furlongs. The second- and fifth-place finishers from that race both came back to win.

“For a horse that’s bred to run longer, he showed speed, fought off a couple of challenges,” said Pletcher, who has John Velazquez to ride from post 3. “I like the way he’s trained since. My dad liked him on the farm a lot. Hopefully, he continues to progress.”

Call Paul ships in from Delaware for the always dangerous Jason Servis. Call Paul was an easy winner of his debut, receiving an adjusted 80 Beyer Speed Figure. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides from post 2.

Wesley Ward is 0 for 31 in graded stakes at Saratoga. He will try to break that skid with Stage Left, a four-length debut winner going 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland in April.

The Saratoga Special will go as race 8 on a 10-race card that also includes the Grade 3, $200,00 Waya Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race rescheduled from Aug. 4.