Asmussen one-two in Alysheba

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Forty Grams won the $100,000 Alysheba Breeders' Cup by a length and three-quarters over stablemate Takedown to give their trainer, Steve Asmussen, a one-two finish in the one-mile race for 3-year-olds at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

It was Asmussen's fourth win in the Alysheba.

Forty Grams ($3.20) picked up his first stakes career stakes win. He settled in fourth behind Gold Wonder, who led the field through six furlongs in 1:11.79 while pushed along by Crosstown. Forty Grams overtook those rivals in the stretch under Cliff Berry, and went on to cover the distance over a track rated fast in 1:38.79.

"He was away easy, and down the backside he was exactly where we'd hoped he would be," said Asmussen. "He picked them up when he needed to, and finished good to the wire."

Forty Grams had picked up checks in five consecutive stakes heading into the Alysheba.The win, which was his third from 10 career starts. He has now earned $283,175. Forty Grams races for George Bolton, Allen Pesch, and Fog City Stables. He is a son of Distorted Humor.

Takedown finished a neck in front of third-place finisher Strong City. The remaining order of finish was Crosstown, Gold Wonder, and Cherokee Wind.

Asmussen's other winners in the Alysheba, which has been run at distances of six furlongs to a mile, are Abajo in 1999, Overdone in 2000; and Santana Strings in 2005.

Locke sweeps first two spots in Oaks

On the undercard, trainer John Locke accounted for the first two spots in the $50,000 Lone Star Oaks when Alice Belle closed with a rush for a half-length win over entrymate Katys Gold Touch. It was another half-length back in third to Kid Majic.

Alice Belle ($6) closed from fifth to first during the stretch run, which featured five horses across the track with a sixteenth of a mile to run. She covered the mile and a sixteenth over soft turf in 1:44.62. Richard Eramia rode Alice Belle.

"She had a pretty good trip," said Locke. "We just wanted to sit off the speed and see if we could finish down the lane and that's the way it turned out."

Alice Bellehas now won four of six career starts and has earned $71,820. Alice Belle races for Peggy and Albert Serviss. She is a daughter of Street Cry.