Extra Anejo having finally won his first stakes race, the Grade 3 Commonwealth on April 8 at Keeneland, he’ll try to win another next month at Churchill Downs.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Extra Anejo, off his 1 1/2-length tally in the seven-furlong Commonwealth, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Churchill Downs Stakes on May 3. Another good showing there could lead to the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap on June 5 at Saratoga.
Five-year-old Extra Anejo won his debut, a seven-furlong,184-foot maiden, two Octobers ago at Keeneland like a Grade 1 kind of horse, but in three previous stakes tries he’s twice finished fourth, once seventh.
“We’ve always been expecting it,” Asmussen said of the stakes success.
Extra Anejo, following two previous layoffs, ran his best race in his comeback, which is why Asmussen put him in a Grade 3 for his first start since September. Last May, Extra Anejo won another comeback race, a Churchill allowance, running fast and hard on a very hot day.
“It was too much too soon, he overdid it, and I don’t think I ever really got him back last year. This time, a nice cool day, and he ran good, but not a lifetime best,” Asmussen said.
On Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, Asmussen sent out Tiztastic for his first work since winning the March 22 Louisiana Derby, and Publisher for his first breeze since a second-place finish on March 29 in the Arkansas Derby. The two, both headed to the Kentucky Derby, worked together, Tiztastic inside Publisher, both officially clocked in 1:00.80 for five furlongs.
“They handled well, did it comfortably, went along at a really good clip, and did it easily. I thought they were both well within themselves and very relaxed,” Asmussen said. “From a numbers point, we’re right on the outside looking in, but it’s not like it’s two or three lengths, and I think the last eighth of a mile is going to make the difference with both of them.”
Think Big possible for Twin Spires Turf Sprint
It took some tinkering, but trainer Michael Stidham and owner-breeder Godolphin finally found the right kind of race for Think Big. The 4-year-old in his fifth start tried his first turf sprint, winning a Dec. 7 first-level allowance at Fair Grounds with speed to spare. On Feb. 7, Think Big easily bested second-level allowance foes at Fair Grounds, and on April 8 he made it three wins from three turf sprints with a half-length victory in the Grade 2, $400,000 Shakertown.
Think Big not only earned a career-best 100 Beyer, he put himself in the race sooner than in the Fair Grounds wins.
“He definitely was a little closer, and what I loved was at the half-mile pole he wasn’t even asked to be there,” Stidham said.
Think Big will be considered for a start on Derby Day at Churchill in the $600,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint.
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