Magnitude breezes half-mile for BC Classic following Asmussen's big day at Saratoga
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - The morning after winning three races at Saratoga, two with exciting 2-year-old prospects, trainer Steve Asmussen sent out his stable’s current marquee horse - Magnitude - for his first work in about a month as he steps up preparations for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Just around 6 a.m. with sunrise still 20 minutes or so away, Magnitude breezed a half-mile in 51.66 seconds over the Oklahoma training track. He went his first quarter in 25.76 seconds and his second quarter in 25.90 and was relatively in hand. It was his first work since a disappointing sixth-place finish behind Sovereignty in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 8.
“Just an easy breeze this morning, probably put a couple more in before we head from here to Keeneland with him,” Asmussen said.
With victories in the Dubai World Cup and Stephen Foster earlier in the year, Magnitude was the top older dirt male in the country entering the Whitney. But as was the case last year when Magnitude faced Sovereignty in the Travers at Saratoga, Sovereignty was too good, winning the Whitney by 4 3/4 lengths. Magnitude finished sixth, beaten 15 1/4 lengths.
“The acceptable reason is the two worst races of his life are at Saratoga,” Asmussen said, referring to the 2025 Travers, where Magnitude was beaten 20 3/4 lengths. “Good news is the Breeders’ Cup is not run here. Who would you bet on against Sovereignty at Saratoga, but do you feel the same anywhere else?”
Asmussen said after the Whitney that he planned to simply train Magnitude up to the Breeders’ Cup, pointing out how well he’s run fresh in the past such as in the Stephen Foster, which came off a three-month layoff following his Dubai win over Forever Young, last year’s BC Classic winner.
Asmussen gave Magnitude an easy period following the Whitney and said he planned two more workouts at Saratoga before shipping to Keeneland in mid- to late September.
“I think we’re all aware of the style a horse has that has success at Keeneland and you could see a scenario where that’s extremely favorable to Magnitude,” Asmussen said. “But no doubt, with the level of competition, he has to be at his best to do it.”
Meanwhile, Asmussen was still basking in his three-win Saturday at Saratoga that was highlighted by Summer Starlet’s dominant 4 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies. Unlike her debut in which she came from next to last, Summer Starlet sat an up-close third early on in the Spinaway, was tipped three wide turning for home by Ricardo Santana Jr., and ran away from the competition. She earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance.
“It’s quite obvious the filly is special and she is now a Grade 1 winner,” Asmussen said.
Summer Starlet’s time of 1:22.72 was the fourth-fastest time for the Spinaway since it was moved to seven furlongs in 1994. Asmussen has trained three of those fillies including Echo Zulu, who in 2021 covered the distance in 1:22.51 and, after winning the Grade1 Frizette at Belmont, won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar to be crowned champion.
With the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland and with Summer Starlet giving off vibes that she could be better around two turns, Asmussen said he plans to run Summer Starlet next in the Grade 1, $650,000 Alcibiades, at 1 1/16 miles, at Keeneland on Oct. 2.
“I was surprised and extremely pleased with how handy she was,” Asmussen said. “I thought in her maiden race she broke well, but it took her a bit to get on her feet. Yesterday, she broke sharp and was in hand and looked unbelievably comfortable in the middle. It bodes extremely well for a two-turn race being handy and where you want to be to have success at Keeneland - woo! I feel really good about her.”
Asmussen also felt good about the debut performance of Pharocity, a 2-year-old son of American Pharoah, who won his debut in front-running fashion by 5 3/4 lengths. His final time of 1:23.02 was solid enough to earn a 93 Beyer Speed Figure. It was overshadowed by the performance of the 2-year-old colt U.S.S. Valor, trained by Shug McGaughey, who ran the same distance in 1:22.04 and earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure - the fastest Beyer by a 2-year-old this year.
“He had worked like he was that horse and man it was good see,” Asmussen said. “He’s another one the farther we go, the better we’ll do. Nice long, gaited horse.”
Asmussen said he would likely target the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Oct. 3 with him.
Asmussen also ran one-two Saturday in a first level with Preside beating the New York-bred Iron Dome by 1 1/2 lengths. It was his second straight win at Saratoga, both at 1 1/8 miles and it was the second straight race in which he earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure. Plans for his next start have not been determined.
Going into the final two days of the meet, Asmussen had 18 wins at the meet, one shy of his personal best of 19 accomplished here in 2021.
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