Disarm, Extra Anejo, Clairiere lead Asmussen workers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Disarm and Extra Anejo put in a strong five-furlong work early Saturday morning as they prepare for upcoming stakes in the 3-year-old division.

Disarm, pointing to the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy here July 29, and Extra Anejo, who will start in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell on July 22, went five furlongs together in 1:00.61. They got their last quarter in 23.33 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.86 and seven furlongs in 1:27.61.

“They work liked that at Churchill together, expected exactly what we got,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Feel really good about them.”

:: Get Saratoga Clocker Reports from Mike Welsch and the Clocker Team. Available every race day.

Disarm finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby and then came back to win the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Ellis Park.

“Thought he ran a beautiful race, he’s a very, very good horse,” Asmussen said. “The Jim Dandy is the appropriate prep for the Travers. The further they go the more you like him.”

Extra Anejo, a son of Into Mischief, was pointing to the Matt Winn until it was transferred from Churchill Downs to Ellis Park. He instead went in and won a one-mile allowance race by 6 1/4 lengths.

“Who we’ve had him with in the morning for a long time gives us a lot of confidence in him,” Asmussen said.

Extra Anejo, who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione in the Haskell, will ship to Monmouth on Wednesday.

Clairiere, a two-time Grade 1 winner this year, worked five furlongs in 1:01.03, a final quarter in 23.99 seconds, in preparation for the Grade 2, $200,000 Shuvee on July 23.

“Training unbelievable this year, has all year, got more of the same this morning,” Asmussen said.

Other works of note for Asmussen Saturday morning were Ryvit and Gunite, who went five furlongs together in 1:00.40, getting their last three furlongs in 35.49 seconds. Ryvit, who has won five consecutive races, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Amsterdam here July 28 while Gunite, winner of the Aristides Stakes June 3, is pointing to the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt here July 29.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.