Booth with Erik Asmussen up walking to the winner’s circle for the Maryland Sprint Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. (TMJC)
With 22 Entries Across Final Three Days
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen’s barn will be bustling with action across the final three days of the Churchill Downs Spring Meet with 22 horses entered including stable stars Booth in the $250,000 Kelly’s Landing (GIII), Tiztastic in the $250,000 American Derby (Listed) and Lagynos in the $500,000 Wise Dan (GII).
Booth, a speedy son of Mitole, will ride a four-race win streak into the Kelly’s Landing and is tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite.
“He shows a lot of Mitole obviously with his talent, speed and how he is away from the gates,” Asmussen said. “He’s a lovely horse and comes into the race with a four-race win streak and hoping to add to it.”
Stablemate Otto the Conqueror is also entered in the race and will attempt to win his first start since his 3-year-old season.
“We’re trying to get ‘Otto’ back in form,” Asmussen said. “He has three wins here at Churchill Downs but as a 4-year-old he has not matched his 3-year-old form to date.”
Run at 6 ½ furlongs, the Kelly’s Landing will go as the ninth race on the 12-race program at 4:58 p.m.
One race later in the Wise Dan, Asmussen will saddle the ultra-consistent Lagynos as he attempts to turn the tables on likely favorite Brilliant Berti.
“He’s been very competitive and does have a graded stakes win over this turf course in the Commonwealth,” Asmussen said. “On the turf, the trip is just so important. He has a better draw this time and hopefully will sit a better trip.”
The Wise Dan, run at 1 1/16 miles on turf, was carded as Race 10 with post time of 5:31 p.m.
In the finale on Saturday, Tiztastic will return to the turf as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the American Derby (Listed) after finishing 10th in Kentucky Derby 151.
“We’re just trying to get him back in the winner’s circle,” Asmussen noted. “He accomplished a lot last year on the turf with at Kentucky Downs. He had a nice win in the Louisiana Derby (GII) but his affinity for the turf and the rest of the summer with a lot of money available on there, this was a good starting point.”
The American Derby, run at 1 1/16 miles, goes at 6:32 p.m.
Asmussen Entries at Churchill Downs
