Sonneman, Casino Grande try more sensible spot in Easy Goer

ELMONT, N.Y. – It would have been ambitious, but not surprising, if Sonneman or Casino Grande had run in either the Belmont Stakes or Woody Stephens last weekend at Belmont Park.

However, their connections opted for the more conservative route, and the pair of promising 3-year-olds instead head a field of six entered in Thursday’s $80,000 Easy Goer Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds at Belmont.

Sonneman, a son of Curlin, makes his first start for trainer Steve Asmussen after owner Donald Adam transferred him from Mark Hennig. Sonneman won his last two starts, a maiden race going a mile at Belmont last October and a first-level allowance going seven furlongs at Gulfstream on April 4.

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Asmussen said the Easy Goer made more sense than either of last Saturday’s graded stakes as he tries to learn just what kind of horse he has in Sonneman.

“I think we need to know who he is for us and what kind of race to expect,” Asmussen said. “You jump off in the middle of everybody, I think there would be way more questions than answers.”

Asmussen is quite familiar with Sonneman’s pedigree. He trained Curlin and watched the mare Zardana beat Rachel Alexandra in her 4-year-old debut in 2010. Asmussen trained Rachel Alexandra.

Sonneman, who breaks from post 4 under Jose Ortiz, is a closer and would benefit from a lively pace.

Casino Grande, a son of Cairo Prince trained by Christophe Clement, has been forwardly placed in both of his wins, a seven-furlong maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs in April and a one-turn mile allowance at Gulfstream in May.

Clement, who is 10 for 47 at the Belmont meet, said in both of his wins Casino Grande “looked good at every stage of the race.”

Clement said Casino Grande is “still mentally a little bit weak” and notes that when he takes him through the paddock in the morning the colt gets worked up.

“He’s okay to come to the paddock, it’s just when you take the two turns [around] he goes nuts,” Clement said. “I think on raceday, I’m just going to saddle him and get him out of there.”

Toy, a gelding by Tapizar, looks to build on his recent success, which includes a first-level allowance win at Laurel going a one-turn mile on May 31 for trainer Michael Trombetta.

Prodigious Bay was supplemented to the Easy Goer by owners John and Louis Cella and trainer Ron Moquett. Prodigious Bay won a 1 1/16-mile race in the slop at Oaklawn in April, then finished fourth in an Oaklawn allowance on May 2. He figures to be part of the pace under Joel Rosario.

Celtic Striker pressed the pace in both the Grade 3 Gotham at Aqueduct and Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, but faltered in both spots.

Informative, well beaten in his last three starts, completes the field.

The Easy Goer goes as race 8 on a card that begins at 1:15 p.m.