Big names from Asmussen barn drill for upcoming stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are six Grade 1 stakes scheduled at Saratoga on Aug. 24, and trainer Steve Asmussen is pointing horses to five of them. Early Monday morning, Asmussen had several of those runners put in their major workouts over the Oklahoma training track in preparation for those events.

Midnight Bisou and She’s a Julie, both pointing to the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, worked five furlongs together in 1:00.80, getting their final quarters in 23.84 seconds and galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.06 and seven furlongs in 1:28.06. Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard Midnight Bisou, though he is expected to ride She’s a Julie. Wilson Fabian was aboard She’s a Julie, who was on the inside. Asmussen’s exercise riders wear a watch on their wrist that they check to see how fast they are going.

“I thought that they worked beautifully,” Asmussen said. “We’ve worked them in company multiple times, not with each other, but they both handled real well and I thought they both worked great today.”

Midnight Bisou is the leading older dirt female in the country, having won all five of her starts this year including Grade 1 fixtures the Ogden Phipps and Apple Blossom. She’s a Julie, second in the Alabama last year, won the Grade 1 La Troienne this year but most recently was third in the Grade 3 Shuvee here.

Mitole, the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner, drilled five furlongs in 1:00.88 while working on the inside of another horse. Mitole went his first three furlongs in 36.23 and his last quarter in 25.55. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.59 and seven furlongs in 1:28.59.

Mitole, who had a seven-race winning streak snapped when third in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt, is pointing to the Grade 1 Forego.

Asmussen felt Mitole was too aggressive in his workout last week, which he did by himself.

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“Sending him in company I thought would make it steadier,” Asmussen said. “Last week, I thought he was overly aggressive. We work horses in company so much, if anything, it settles them down.”

Nitrous, working for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, went five furlongs in 1:02.93. Nitrous finished second to Shancelot in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes earlier this meet.

“I thought we had a great morning this morning with some very important horses,” Asmussen said. “For me, these are the works that matter. Hopefully, it’ll translate into a very good 24th.”

On Sunday, Laughing Fox, whom Asmussen is pointing to the $1.25 million Travers, worked five furlongs in 1:01.69 over the Oklahoma track. He worked with New York Derby winner Bankit, who is pointing to the Albany on Aug. 23.

Mia Mischief, pointing to the Grade 1 Ballerina, went five furlongs in 1:01.73 by herself.

Lady Apple, whom Asmussen is running Saturday in the Grade 1 Alabama, went a half-mile in 50.15.

Eight or nine expected for Alabama

A field of eight or nine is expected for Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama Stakes, the signature race at the meet for 3-year-old fillies.

On Monday at Saratoga, Champagne Anyone, winner of the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, worked five furlongs in 59.81 seconds under jockey Chris Landeros. She got her last quarter in 23.89 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.84. Champagne Anyone, trained by Ian Wilkes, most recently finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks.

Also Monday, at Delaware Park, Indiana Oaks winner Street Band worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds after which trainer Larry Jones confirmed that she would run in the Alabama. Sophie Doyle will retain the mount.

Mother Goose winner Dunbar Road and Black-Eyed Susan winner Point of Honor figure to be the top two choices in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama. Lady Apple, Ulele, Off Topic and Afleet Destiny are considered definite, while Classic Fit is possible.

Entries for the Alabama will be taken Wednesday.