Booked takes rail route to Sanford triumph
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Steve Asmussen readily admitted his concern when he learned his promising 2-year-old Booked had scratched into the one post for Saturday’s $225,000 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga. Booked had ducked in sharply from the inside gate, losing his best chance in the process, when finishing second in launching his career earlier this season at Churchill Downs.
But Asmussen’s fears proved unfounded after Booked broke straight under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr., sprinted to the lead along the rail and never looked back en route to a very convincing and popular six-length victory over Vissino and four other over-matched juveniles in the Grade 3 Sanford.
“First time he just took a left away from there from the one hole and just eliminated himself that day,” Asmussen said. “But obviously he’s learning a little bit at a time. His first jump isn’t great, but Ricardo did a great job to get him away from there from the inside.”
Booked broke mid-pack, then was hustled along the inside to take control of the six-furlong Sanford after the opening furlong. The son of Yaupon readily disposed of the pace pressing California invader Pocket Listing leaving the turn, then steadily extended his advantage despite remaining on his left lead down the stretch.
Vissino raced near the rear of the compact lineup for over a half-mile, angled out to the middle of the track for the stretch run and finished willingly enough to easily best the others while never threatening the winner. It was another 10 1/2 lengths farther back to the tiring Goodbye to Romance, who ran third.
Three of the nine horses originally entered for the Sanford, Ashcroft Lane, Jack’s Golden Goal and Waggley, were scratched.
Booked, who won his maiden over the local strip four weeks ago, completed the distance over a fast track in 1:11.24 seconds and paid $4.74.
“He looked like he was traveling pretty easily in the middle,” Asmussen said of Booked’s performance. “He’s a big colt with a lot of size and Ricardo said he was just looking for everything down the stretch. He’s just kind of a curious guy. And I think he’ll start finishing his races off a little better with experience.”
Asmussen said he expects to bring Booked back in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special going 6 1/2 furlongs here August 1.
“He has a very quiet demeanor, he doesn’t do much in the morning, and I think he’ll need races,” Asmussen explained. “And the spacing of these (2-year-old stakes) races here the last couple of years makes it doable.”
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