Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: Shipping no problem for Committee of One
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The Indian Summer Stakes was inaugurated at Keeneland in 2018 as a prep toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, the newest race on the Breeders’ Cup program. No horse yet has won both races. Last year, trainer Steve Asmussen came pretty close, as Indian Summer winner Private Creed was third, beaten just more than a length, in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, hosted at Keeneland that year.
Private Creed has trained on in the division, and, off a graded stakes win at Kentucky Downs, is bound for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. One day prior, Asmussen will take another shot at the Indian Summer-Juvenile Turf Sprint sweep with Committee of One, who won his maiden in style in the stakes on Sunday at Keeneland.
“The difference is the travel,” Asmussen said. “This horse has run three times on three different racetracks. He’s very mature for his age, takes everything really well, and we’re excited about the opportunity.”
Committee of One came into his stakes debut still a maiden after two previous starts. He was up for the place in his first start at Ellis Park, then was beaten just a half-length when second Sept. 7 at Kentucky Downs. The colt was sixth in a close pack in deep stretch of the Indian Summer, but was up on the outside to best favored Amidst Waves by a nose. Amidst Waves, already a two-time stakes winner on turf, had worked her way into a winning position after breaking a bit slowly and is still considered part of a strong trio for trainer George Weaver for the Breeders’ Cup, along with Crimson Advocate and No Nay Mets.
Awaiting the shippers at host track Santa Anita will be Slider, who won the local prep, the Speakeasy Stakes, on Saturday in his turf debut for John Sadler. The colt was much the best, despite running greenly. In front in the stretch, he drifted and lost that lead before refocusing to kick away by 1 1/4 lengths.
The Indian Summer and Speakeasy became the lone points of clarity on what was supposed to be a key weekend for this division. In New York, the picture became more muddled, as the Futurity, won by Book’em Danno, and the sister race, the Matron, won by Jody’s Pride, were both taken off the turf on Sunday at Aqueduct. With the surface switch, the Futurity lost its Win and You’re In status toward the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Other races at Aqueduct on either dirt or turf next month will be under consideration for Book’em Danno.
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