Asmussen sends three in My Dear
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Steve Asmussen has taken a "strength-in-numbers" approach for Monday's $150,000 My Dear Stakes by entering the trio of A Day for Dancing, Fanci Candi, and Juliet's Spirit in the five-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies.
A Day for Dancing was a prominent second when she debuted at Keeneland in April and was subsequently shipped here to Asmussen's Woodbine assistant, Steve Flint. She won her local debut comfortably on May 17 in 51.48 seconds, a time that lowered the 4 1/2-furlong track record.
"She had an impressive beginning here and came out of it well," Flint said. "She's had a lot of recover time. I think she's had enough time between races that it will be a benefit to her. She blew out well before the race. She's ready to go."
Flint described A Day for Dancing as having the build of a Quarter Horse.
"She's a well-put-together filly," he said. "She's compact, very strong and very muscular."
Fanci Candi graduated second time out here May 3 in a two-furlong event, in a time of 21.54 seconds.
"It's really hard to get a line on a 2-year-old that won going a quarter of a mile," Flint said. "She's a big, tall filly. She's very quick, but she doesn't look like a typical speedball. She's an enigma wrapped in a riddle.
"The distance will obviously be a question with her, because we really don't know how far she can go. We were happy with the way she worked a half-mile the other day. She has to go out and prove that she can go that far against a quality field of fillies."
Juliet's Spirit came on strongly from a stalking position to capture her 4 1/2-furlong debut with a 72 Beyer Speed Figure here June 7.
"She did everything right first-time out, and she came out of the race well," Flint said. "She's going to excel as the distances go farther. She has the best mind of the three of them."
Flint said there is no firm strategy for the threesome in the My Dear.
"They all have assets," Flint said. "We'll let them fall into their own stride and not force them into doing anything that they don't want to do."
Royal Card, based at Saratoga with trainer Todd Pletcher, beat A Day for Dancing when she won her only start at Keeneland, on April 19.