Long Range Toddy submits first work toward Ohio Derby
Long Range Toddy, the Willis Horton Racing homebred involved in the controversial Kentucky Derby disqualification of Maximum Security, returned to the work tab Sunday morning at Churchill Downs toward his first race since then.
Horton said JACK Thistledown's Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby set for June 22 is the next target race for the son of Take Charge Indy, who faded from a forward position to hit the wire 17th in the Derby. Stewards promoted Long Range Toddy to 16th, one spot ahead of Maximum Security, after contact near the 5/16ths pole led jockey Jon Court to lodge an objection.
Sunday's breeze was timed in 49 seconds for a half mile.
"He was sore when he came out of the Derby, and we gave him a little time off," Horton said. "But now he's doing great."
Before Long Range Toddy also ran sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1), the colt put together a string of six straight in-the-money finishes, including a Rebel Stakes (G2) victory over Improbable, who went on to be the betting favorite in the Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Steve Asmussen trains for Horton, whose colt was also among four horses -- along with War of Will, Country House and Bodexpress -- involved in Maximum Security owner Gary West's challenge good through the end of the season.
Horton said he's not interested in putting up $5 million in a head to head side bet should Long Range Toddy and Maximum Security meet again.
Asmussen trains a second Triple Crown series runner, Laughing Fox, who finished fifth in last weekend's Preakness Stakes.
“If anything, it was a bit frustrating," Asmussen said in an interview on the Inside Churchill Downs radio show.
Two back, Laughing Fox won the first Oaklawn Invitational. In the Preakness, he ran into traffic and had to shift wide on the track before closing. That, on the day, wasn't the place to make up ground at Pimlico Race Course.
"It wasn’t what we were trying to get done with him," Asmussen said. "He showed how close he is to the top of the division.”
Asmussen said there were no set next race plans for the son of Union Rags.