Booth gives Asmussens another Whitmore win at Oaklawn

Booth didn’t run as fast Saturday in Oaklawn’s $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) as he did in the $145,000 Commodore Stakes in his previous start. He didn’t have to.

The 4-year-old son of champion male sprinter Mitole gave trainer Steve Asmussen his second consecutive Whitmore win and his son, jockey Erik Asmussen, his third win on Oaklawn’s Saturday card.

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Going straight to the lead out of the gate in the six-furlong race, Booth led the field through fractions of 22.13 and 45.18 seconds on his way to a final clocking of 1:09.79, more than a second slower than his 1:08.64, meet-fastest clocking in winning the Commodore on Feb. 24.

Booth finished 2 1/4 lengths in front of runner-up Giant Mischief, who was 3 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Tejano Twist. Happy is a Choice, Closethegame Sugar, Miles Ahead and 2024 Whitmore winner Jaxon Traveler completed the finish in that order. Glengarry and Durante were scratched.

Booth returned $7.00, $4.00 and $2.80; Giant Mischief $4.60 and $3.00; and Tejano Twist $2.80.

A $225,000 purchase in 2023, Booth is owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm and Whispering Oaks Farm.