Big Drama looks like fine spot for Reride

Trainer Steve Asmussen has had some success with the offspring of Candy Ride.

Well, that would be an understatement.

Asmussen has the best Candy Ride out there in Gun Runner, the $8.9 million earner who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November. He also trains a promising Candy Ride colt named Reride who runs Saturday night at Delta Downs.

Reride should vie for favoritism in the $60,000 Big Drama, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds that will be run around two turns. The field of seven also includes Land Battle, winner of the Sugar Bowl last out at Fair Grounds, as well as sharp debut winner Bobby’s Wicked One.

The Big Drama is one of two stakes on the card. The $50,000 Fremont is for 4-year-olds and up at five furlongs and the field of eight includes stakes winner Laughingsaintssong, who is making his first start since July.

Reride has won 2 of his 3 starts, taking a maiden special weight in June at Churchill Downs and an entry-level allowance in October at Keeneland. He comes into the Big Drama off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 25 at Churchill. He was with the pace and finished in front of more than half the 14 horses in the field.

“He ran hard in the Kentucky Jockey Club,” Asmussen said. “I think the race at Delta is the right spot for him. Obviously, I’m hoping for a good race from him.”

Reride will break from post 6 under the meet’s leading rider, Diego Saenz. Reride has been within a couple lengths of the early lead in all three of his races.

“He can be anywhere Diego wants,” Asmussen said.

Land Battle won the $50,000 Sugar Bowl wire to wire Dec. 16 at Fair Grounds, his first stakes victory after placing in three stakes earlier in his career. He will be making his two-turn debut on Saturday when he breaks from post 7 under Tim Thornton. Scott Gelner trains the son of Istan for Norman Stables.

Bobby’s Wicked One also is getting his first two-turn test in the Big Drama. He won his debut by three-quarters of a length Nov. 25 at Fair Grounds, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 81 that he earned is the best number in the field Saturday. Following the score, Bobby’s Wicked One was flattered when runner-up Drena’s Star came right back to win a maiden special weight at Fair Grounds, earning a Beyer of 71. Miguel Mena rides for trainer Al Stall Jr.

Bourne in Nixa is seeking his third straight win after taking a maiden special weight in October at Indiana Grand and a first-level allowance in November at Churchill. Roberto Morales has the mount for trainer Steve Margolis.

Laughingsaintssong is returning to Delta for the Fremont after making his last start at Evangeline in the Louisiana Legends Sprint. He finished an eighth, the first time in his career that he failed to run first or second in a race. Laughingsaintssong is 2 for 3 at Delta, with both of those wins coming at the five-furlong Fremont distance. Kerwin Clark has the mount for trainer Allen Landry.