Asmussen off to quick start with plenty more to come
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen got his Saratoga summer off to a fast start winning four races from his first 14 starters, including the unveiling of a pair of 2-year-olds and the second start of a very promising 3-year-old.
The 3-year-old Beau Liam validated his 7 1/2-length debut win at Churchill on May 29 with a gritty nose victory Saturday over fellow second-time starter Witsel in a seven-furlong first-level allowance race. Beau Liam, a son of Liam’s Map, ran seven furlongs in 1:22.90 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 106, as did Witsel.
“He’s not just quick, he’s got plenty of quality to him,” Asmussen said. “I thought he handled early pressure well down the long run down the backside from the one hole, and was engaged by a horse that looked like he was going by him and was unable to get by him. We’re very proud of his effort.”
Asmussen did not sound as if he was in a hurry to get Beau Liam into a stakes race but a decision on his next start will be determined later.
Asmussen has a couple of stakes-winning 3-year-old one-turn horses in Jackie’s Warrior and Mighty Mischief. Jackie’s Warrior, last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful and Grade 1 Champagne winner, is pointing to the Amsterdam here on Aug. 1 and then the H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 28.
Asmussen doesn’t belief Beau Liam is strictly a sprinter.
“I think Beau Liam will go further,” Asmsusen said. “He handled being off of horses first time out. He broke fine, he laid about third just as comfortable as could be, went to them without pulling. He didn’t grab the bridle or anything and loped away in the lane.”
Echo Zulu, a 2-year-old half-sister to Grade 1 winner Echo Town, won her debut on Thursday’s opening-day card by 5 1/2 lengths and earned a 92 Beyer Speed Figure. Asmussen said she could be a candidate for the Grade 2 Adirondack on Aug. 8. Asmussen mentioned that Wicked Halo, third in the Debutante at Churchill Downs following a maiden victory at Lone Star, is also possible for the Adirondack. Both horses are owned by Ron Winchell.
Chattalot, a son of Midnight Lute, won a maiden race by a neck over a sealed track on Saturday.
“He’s way better than that, which is good. He’ll jump forward,” Asmussen said. “I don’t think he was handling the sealed racetrack.”
Asmussen’s other winner was Gun It, who is by Tapit out of the Grade 1 stakes-placed mare Miss Besilu. Gun It won a second level allowance and will likely point to a next-condition allowance.
Asmussen doesn’t have as much action early this week. He does plan on running Clairiere in Saturday’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks. Clairiere, winner of the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra and fourth in the Kentucky Oaks, is coming out of a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Mother Goose at Belmont on June 26.
“The Mother Goose wasn’t the best of her,” Asmussen said. “I believe she’s better than that.”