Super Majesty rounding into form for Iowa Distaff
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has long expressed admiration for Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, and it’s the Hollendorfer-trained All Star Bub whom the Asmussen-trained Super Majesty probably has to beat in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff on Friday night at Prairie Meadows.
Hollendorfer, in fact, trained Super Majesty last year at 3 as the filly emerged as an exciting California-based prospect, winning her first two starts by more than 20 lengths combined. Super Majesty won the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill in September, then finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, her final start at 3, and was trained by Asmussen when she showed up again this season.
Super Majesty’s 4-year-old debut came in a tough spot, the Grade 1 Madison over seven furlongs at Keeneland, and after pressing the pace for a half-mile, she stopped, finishing 10th. She was much better going two turns in the Allaire duPont on May 20 at Pimlico, finishing a close fourth, and could be getting back to her best form.
“I think this is a really good spot for her,” said Asmussen, who trains Super Majesty for LNJ Foxwoods. “I think she got a lot of out her last race, and I like how she responded.”
Super Majesty and jockey Florent Geroux break from the fence and should go straight to the front. Super Majesty was beaten a nose by the good mare Kyriaki in her only two-turn try and is bred to stay the Iowa Distaff’s 1 1/16 miles.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Super Majesty. Trainer Steve Asmussen is 24-3-3-2 with a $0.55 ROI over the past five years in routes at Prairie Meadows. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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All Star Bub, also a 4-year-old, is set at 8-1 on the track’s morning line but could wind up being the second choice for Hollendorfer and jockey Martin Garcia. All Star Bub has won only three of 17 starts but appears to have improved this year and comes off a third behind the mighty Beholder in the Grade 3 Adoration at Santa Anita.
“We hope she’s getting better,” said Hollendorfer. “She ran against really good horses last time, and I think she should be pretty competitive.”
A neck separated Ribbon of Darkness and Ghost Locket in the local prep for the Distaff, but both will need to improve to run down an in-form Super Majesty.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Ghost Locket. Trainer Don Von Hemel is 38-11-9-10 with a $3.12 ROI over the past five years in routes at Prairie Meadows with Shane Laviolette aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan