Asmussen Has Two Shots at First Sanford

While trainer Steve Asmussen has won Saratoga's GIII Schuylerville S. for juvenile fillies three times, he's never taken the equivalent GIII Sanford S. for the boys. That could all change Saturday as the Hall of Famer saddles a pair of flashy colts. Direct Dial (Too Much Bling) aired by 7 3/4 lengths at Keeneland Apr. 26, but settled for second in Belmont's Tremont S. June 9 after doing all the dirty work. Baffin (Justin Phillip), meanwhile, a $170,000 OBSAPR pick-up, zipped his way to a 4 3/4-length score under the Twin Spires June 22. Both the fifth and eighth-place finishers from that heat returned to score in maiden special weight company. “Baffin broke his maiden very impressively at Churchill in his only start,” Asmussen told the NYRA notes team. “I'm kind of concerned if he got enough out of it. He won very easily and is no stepping up into a stakes [race] but I think he deserves the opportunity… Direct Dial has two nice races in him. A win at Keeneland and a nice second-place finish in the Tremont. I feel very good about how both have trained up here at Saratoga as well. [Baffin's sire] Justin Phillip has been a very good horse for us and this his very first crop [so] it's kind of exciting to see him pass that talent along.” Justin Phillip's signature win came for Asmussen and Zayat Stables in the 2013 GI Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. here.

Todd Pletcher, meanwhile, has won the Sanford six previous times. His representatives in this year's renewal will be Admiral Jimmy (Jimmy Creed), third in the Tremont off a successful Gulfstream debut May 3; and Bal Harbour (First Samurai), a debut runner-up in Hallandale May 12 who broke through with an eventful trip in the slop there June 8.

Psychoanalyze (Overanalyze) belied 14-1 to out-duel another Pletcher juvenile, expensive and well-backed Smash Williams (More Than Ready), at Belmont June 14. He earned a relatively lofty 76 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort, and was further flattered when that race's show horse graduated next out.

Should a hot pace materialize, Free Drop Billy (Union Rags) could take advantage. The Dale Romans trainee, who closed to score by three lengths at Churchill June 15, is one of a number of promising juveniles campaigned by the Albaugh Family Stable.