Fair Grounds: Proud Strike to get another shot on Derby trail

After breezing five furlongs in 1:02 here Monday, Proud Strike will get another chance to prove he belongs on the Triple Crown trail, trainer Steve Asmussen said. Proud Strike was the surprise early leader in the Feb. 23 Risen Star before fading to eighth, beaten less than four lengths by Ive Struck a Nerve.

“I thought he breezed back real well,” Asmussen said. “We’re nominating to the Rebel,” to be run March 16 at Oaklawn Park, “and if we don’t make that, we’ll probably just wait for the Louisiana Derby.”

Asmussen said he has “not thought about” who will ride Proud Strike next out and that he was “not at all” inclined to blame jockey Gary Stevens for the curious trip in the Risen Star.

“The colt is still pretty immature,” he said.

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