Clever Again set to step up off triple-digit Beyer

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Clever Again served notice that his future was bright late last month, when he won the $200,000 Hot Springs Stakes for 3-year-olds over Grade 1 winner Gaming at Oaklawn Park.

Clever Again was making his first start against winners and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101. That’s tied for the highest number put up by a 3-year-old so far this meet, alongside a debut win from Cornucopian.

Clever Again has now won both of his starts at the meet, both at two turns.

“He’s got real talent,” trainer Steve Asmussen said Tuesday. “I thought he couldn’t have looked any better in winning the Hot Springs.”

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Clever Again set the pace and prevailed by four lengths in the Hot Springs, which ended at the sixteenth pole. He covered the distance in 1:37. Clever Again is now 2 for 3, as he won a maiden special weight at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn prior to the March 30 race. In his debut last spring, Clever Again was second by a head in a maiden special weight at 4 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland.

Asmussen said Clever Again is now based at Churchill.

“We’ll get back on the work tab this week,” he said. “His next is undecided at this point, but it will be a step up.”

Clever Again is a son of American Pharoah and the Galileo mare Flattering. He was a $500,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in 2023. Clever Again races for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The Hot Springs was one of two notable offerings Oaklawn had for 3-year-olds on March 30. The other was the $145,000 Southern Hospitality, an overnight stakes for fillies at six furlongs, and Asmussen won the race with Miss Martini.

He said the daughter of Curlin would move to two turns for her next start and that she is being pointed toward the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors at a mile on April 19 at Oaklawn. Miss Martini races for Jackpot Farm.

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