Disarm works half-mile for Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Extra Anejo’s fourth-place finish in Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell leaves his connections somewhat perplexed on what next to do with the promising 3-year-old colt.

Part of that decision could depend on what happens in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy when those same connections - owner Ron Winchell and trainer Steve Asmussen - run Disarm in that race.

Disarm, fourth in the Kentucky Derby and winner of the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Ellis Park, worked a half-mile in 49.46 seconds Sunday morning over the Oklahoma training track.

Disarm went his first quarter in 25.68 seconds and his second quarter in 23.78 and didn’t do much on the gallop out.

“Little leg-stretcher, good enough reason to scope him and make sure everything’s good,” Asmussen said.

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Disarm’s second-place finish in the Louisiana Derby didn’t appear likely to earn him enough qualifying points to get into the Kentucky Derby field, so the horse ran in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes and his third-place finish there did get him into the Derby field.

He ran a very respectable fourth in the Derby and then came on to win the Grade 3 Matt Winn, a race run at 1 1/8 miles when it was moved from Churchill Downs to Ellis Park.

“Disarm’s been in that [deep] water, now it’s all about how he responds to it and this time of year it’s who can still improve,” Asmussen said.

Disarm will be ridden by Joel Rosario. The field for the Jim Dandy will be drawn Wednesday. The only other three horses expected to be entered are Forte (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Angel of Empire (Flavien Prat) and Hit Show (Luis Saez).

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