Asmussen: Iowa Derby winner Magnitude will train up to Travers

Magnitude covered a solo half-mile in 51.68 seconds on Saturday over the Oklahoma dirt training track as he points towards the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers, a 1 1/4-mile test for sophomores on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds, the Not This Time bay was completing his first breeze back since a 9 1/4-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Iowa Derby on July 5 at Prairie Meadows. That effort earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form, which validated a previous 108 when capturing the 1 1/8-mile Risen Star (G2) by 9 3/4 lengths in February at Fair Grounds ahead of a layoff.

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Asmussen said the spacing until the Travers appears favorable compared to next Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2), a 1 1/8-mile test for sophomores.

“He’s a beautiful mover and came out of the Iowa Derby in good shape. It was a beautiful morning today to work,” Asmussen said. “(The Jim Dandy) comes back too quick off that big of a race, so we plan on just training him up to the Travers. We’re just concentrating on him, and I think it’s obviously a very deep and talented group of three-year-olds. Our responsibility is how Magnitude is doing, and we’re just extremely excited about how he’s traveling and how he looks right now.”

Barn newcomer Romeo worked solo over the same course and distance in 51.89 seconds on Saturday. The juvenile Honor A.P. dark bay, last out 3 3/4-length winner of the Bashford Manor on June 29 at Churchill Downs, sold to Mahmud Mouni for $1.7 million at Fasig-Tipton's July horses of racing age sale and transferred to Asmussen’s care from conditioner Jerry Robb.

“Our first move with Romeo. A very straightforward horse and he handled it extremely easy,” Asmussen said. “It’s just him getting familiar with us and us getting familiar with him.”

Asmussen said Romeo will be nominated to the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special (G2) on Aug. 2 at Saratoga but will likely wait until the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) on Sept. 1.

“We’re very fortunate to have him. He does not carry himself or act like a 2-year-old. He’s very professional. We did go ahead and nominate him to the Saratoga Special, but I think with the change after the sale, most likely that will be too soon,” said Asmussen.

Asmussen updated on Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Kentucky homebred Disarm who scratched from the Suburban (G2) on July 4. The dual Grade 1-placed Gun Runner 5-year-old worked five furlongs in 1:01.33 over the Oklahoma dirt on Saturday in company with Gun Party.

“He needed it (the work). We missed some time with him over little things, and he’s put in a couple decent works, but he needed a better work,” Asmussen said. “We used Gun Party for his company, who has always worked extremely well.

“I’m very glad to get today’s work in him and we’ll see how he comes out of it,” Asmussen added.  

Kaleem Shah’s dual Grade 3-placed Benedetta is tabbed at morning line odds of 8-1 in Sunday’s Honorable Miss (G2), a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares. The 4-year-old City of Light bay, who breaks from post 8 with Dylan Davis in the irons, enters from a 3 1/2-length second to Two Sharp at the distance in the Winning Colors (G3) on May 26 at Churchill Downs.

“She’s doing really well,” Asmussen said. “I think the weather this weekend, she’ll benefit from it. It’s nice and cool, she feels good. It’s a very competitive field, but I think she stacks up well in there.”