Asmussen ready to continue Big A roll in Jazil

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen’s first starter at Aqueduct’s winter meet was Vertical Oak, who won the $100,000 Garland of Roses on Dec. 8. The Hall of Fame trainer has continued to send out nothing but live runners this meet and has nine wins and eight seconds from 29 starters.

Saturday, Asmussen – whose New York string is overseen by longtime assistant Toby Sheets – will look to keep the good times rolling when he sends out Title Ready in the $100,000 Jazil Stakes for older males going 1 1/8 miles.

Title Ready, a 4-year-old son of More Than Ready owned by Charles Fipke, is coming off a second-level allowance win going a one-turn mile at Aqueduct on Dec. 21. Prior to that, he finished second, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Plainsman, in the Grade 3 Discovery here going the Jazil distance of 1 1/8 miles.

“It wasn’t really smooth for him early and he ran on pretty good,” Asmussen said Monday. “It was a really weird run race, I thought, for four head, which can happen.”

There looks to be ample speed in the Jazil with Mr. Buff and Thebigfundamental among the seven horses entered Monday.

This year’s Jazil field includes 2017 Jazil winner Sunny Ridge and 2018 Jazil winner Backsideofthemoon. Holiday Bonus and Hero’s Welcome complete the field.

There will be 10 races run Saturday at Aqueduct with first post scheduled for 12:25 p.m.

Among Asmussen’s nine winners at the meet include 3-year-old maiden winners American Mandate, Tikhvin Flew, and, on Sunday, London House, who beat New York-breds by 15 1/4 lengths in the slop.

Tikhvin Flew, a son of Street Sense who won a seven-furlong maiden race by 1 3/4 lengths at first asking, is being pointed to the $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes, also at seven furlongs, Feb. 9, Asmussen said.

Plans are pending for American Mandate and London House.