Oaklawn: Asmussen trio set for Opening Day Smarty Jones

By Rick Francis —-

A formidable trio from the Steve Asmussen barn look to continue their march to the First Saturday in May when they face-off against five fellow three-year-olds in the Smarty Jones Stakes from Oaklawn Park; carded as race eight, let’s have a look at the contenders.

OAKLAWN PARK

Race 8) Smarty Jones Stakes 3yo 1 Mile Post Time 3:52 CST

1) Long Range Toddy (Asmussen/Eramia); enters on a 3-race win streak, with of those three wins two at today’s distance. Take Charge Indy colt has been working quickly over the Oaklawn oval and would expect another forward move here.

8) Gray Attempt (Fires/Bridgmohan); exits perhaps the strongest last outing when this son of Graydar wired a solid Sugar Bowl Stakes field last month at Fair Grounds, an effort that produced the highest speed rating of this group. If they let him loose on the lead they won’t catch him.

5) Boldor (Asmussen/Vazquez); makes first start since a troubled fifth in the Churchill slop back in November; as with his stablemates, he’s been working quickly over the surface.

7) Bankit (Asmussen/Santana); the last of the Asmussen trio closed from well back in the Springboard Mile only to miss by a neck. Central Banker colt has faced the toughest competition of the bunch, and if the pace is hot chances are he’ll be setting it.

Selections: 1, 8, 5, 7