SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Steve Asmussen has won five editions of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and three runnings of the Grade 1 Hopeful. Amazingly, the Hall of Fame trainer who is closing in on 11,000 career victories has yet to win the Grade 3 Sanford, the first of three graded races for 2-year-olds held annually at Saratoga. It’s not for a lack of trying. Starting in 2002 and going through last year, Asmussen has run 18 horses in 15 editions of the Sanford. Asmussen has three seconds and five thirds. Gold Sweep, the lone favorite Asmussen has run in the race, finished second at 1-5 in 2023. Saturday, Asmussen could have his second Sanford favorite when he sends out impressive debut winner Obliteration against five opponents in the $175,000 Sanford at six furlongs. :: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports Obliteration is one of just three winners in the field for the Sanford, carded as race 3 on a 12-race program which begins at 12:35 p.m. and includes two turf stakes topped by the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks. Obliteration, a son of Violence owned by Leland Ackerley Racing, was purchased for $200,000 out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March auction. Asmussen said he kept right on going with Obliteration, who won his debut by 7 1/2 lengths going 5 1/2 furlongs June 12 at Churchill Downs. “Ocala Stud was who he was purchased off of and he never missed a day,” Asmussen said. “He’s very straight-forward, very mature. He obviously delivered. Traveling to Saratoga and the stage that it’s on won’t be overwhelming. I think he will run his race.” In his debut, Obliteration raced inside early, stalked the filly She’s On a Roll and then drew away impressively under Erik Asmussen, Steve’s son and the Eclipse Award winning apprentice of 2024. Erik Asmussen has engagements in Texas on Friday so Flavien Prat picks up the mount. “From one Eclipse Award winner to another,” quipped Asmussen, referring to the fact Prat won last year’s Eclipse for outstanding journeyman rider. Mark Casse sends out the pair of Strategic Risk and Blinging It Back in the Sanford. Strategic Risk, a son of Noble Bird, won his debut by 8 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream on June 7. Casse said Strategic Risk had missed some training time earlier in the spring, which is why he started him at Gulfstream and at five furlongs. “I sent him down there because I didn’t think I’d have to train him quite as hard and he won impressively,” Casse said. Blinging It Back is one of three maidens in the field but the 85 Beyer Speed Figure he earned for running second to the filly Mythical in the Tremont Stakes here on June 5 is the field’s best. “If he runs back to that I don’t think they’ll beat him,” Casse said. Romeo, third in the Tremont, came back to win the Bashford Manor Stakes last Sunday at Churchill Downs and could be here for the Saratoga Special on Aug. 2. Fistfulofmoney won a 4 1/2-furlong maiden race at Presque Isle Downs on June 3, following a second-place finish in a restricted maiden race at Churchill Downs. Honey Dutch, by Knicks Go, is a first-time starter sent out by Whit Beckman while Imagine John finished third in his debut going 5 1/2 furlongs for trainer Jena Antonucci here on June 8. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.