Asmussen strong in undercard stakes

ERIE, Pa. - Trainer Steve Asmussen holds a strong hand in each of the $175,000 supporting stakes at Presque Isle Downs on Saturday, sending out Super Frolic in the Presque Isle Mile and He's Got Grit in the Karl Boyes Memorial. Carded as the fifth and sixth races, the two stakes will immediately precede the richest race of the meet, the $400,000 Presque Isle Masters.

Super Frolic finished second in the Grade 2 Californian at Hollywood Park last year and third in the Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic, both Grade 1's. This year, Asmussen has chosen a softer path for Super Frolic. In his first start of the year, on July 14, Super Frolic ran second in the $119,000 Tiznow Breeders' Cup at Louisiana Downs. He came back Aug. 11 to finish second in the $200,000 Evangeline Downs Mile.

Super Frolic will make his third start off a layoff Saturday, and will be ridden for the first time by Julien Leparoux.

Steve Klesaris sends out Master of Disaster in the Mile. Master of Disaster has "come back to his best form," Klesaris said. "We can't wait to try him on this surface."

Master of Disaster signaled his readiness for the Mile with a bullet work over the Tapeta at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland.

The Boyes Memorial will be run at 5 1/2 furlongs. He's Got Grit won his first four races as a 2-year-old in 2005, including the Grade 3 Sapling at Monmouth. He was campaigned only four times last year as a 3-year-old, and has been out only once this year. He's Got Grit has been working here and "doing good," according to Darren Fleming, Asmussen's local assistant. "He came back really well from his first race of the year, he worked well and seems to like the track, but you don't know until race day."

Indian Chant brings a three-race win streak into the Boyes for trainer Tom Amoss, who said he is not pleased with the 125 pounds Indian Chant will have to carry.

"I am a little disappointed carrying all of that weight," he said. "It is written more like a $50,000 race. We are giving a lot of weight to some good horses."

Indian Chant won an allowance race here opening night at 6 1/2 furlongs.

"That is about as far in distance as we want to stretch him," Amoss said. "He should love this distance."

Corey Lanerie retains the mount on Indian Chant.