Volatile's route to Breeders' Cup Sprint not yet determined

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Volatile came out of his victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in good order, according to trainer Steve Asmussen, and while the six-furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 7 at Keeneland is his year-end goal, there is not yet a plan mapped to get him there.

The choices are most likely the Grade 1 Forego here Aug. 29, though that race is at seven furlongs, or the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park, a six-furlong race typically run five weeks out from the Breeders’ Cup. The New York Racing Association has yet to release the Belmont fall stakes schedule.

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Volatile won the Vanderbilt with a front-running ride under Ricardo Santana Jr. He was able to get away with an opening quarter of 23.46 seconds and cruised home to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Volatile covered the six furlongs in 1:09.61 and received a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We’d seen brilliance by the horse, now there’s a Grade 1 by his name,” Asmussen said. “Extremely significant.”

Next Saturday, Asmussen will run a trio of horses in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens for 3-year-old sprinters. Already set to run Echo Town and Shoplifted, Asmussen added Sonneman to the mix Sunday. Asmussen was hoping Sonneman would use the Easy Goer Stakes as a stepping-stone to a route race. But the Easy Goer scratched down to a match race, and Sonneman, a closer, was at a huge disadvantage to the speedy Celtic Striker and was beaten 18 3/4 lengths.

“I think the Easy Goer scratching down to two, making it a match race, did zero for us,” Asmussen said. “With what happened, starting again is the right move with a horse that has some talent that hasn’t proven he stays.”

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On Sunday, Sonneman worked a half-mile in 50.24 over the Oklahoma training track. Jose Lezcano will ride Sonneman.

The Jerkens figures to have a competitive field that should include Captain Bombastic, Echo Town, Eight Rings, Liam’s Pride, Mischevious Alex, No Parole, Tap It to Win, and Three Technique.