Friday, July 11, 2008

Asmussen Bids for Second ‘Summit’ Victory in Carry Back

There will be an intriguing subplot in play going into Saturday’s renewal of the $250,000 Carry Back Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds on the ‘Summit of Speed’ card at Calder Race Course with North America’s leading trainer Steve Asmussen sending out Padua Stable’s Carson’s Legacy with jockey Edgar Prado aboard in the field of eight.

The morning-line favorite in the Carry Back at odds of 8-to-5 is Vinery Stable’s Lantana Mob, a son of Posse that was developed and trained through his first nine career starts by Asmussen until recently when Vinery transferred him to the care of trainer Michael Trombetta, based at Laurel Park in Maryland.


Lantana Mob has won five of nine starts, including both of his outings this year, capturing the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park in early April and the Hirsch Jacobs Stakes (G3) last out at Pimlico on Preakness Day, May 17. Lantana Mob posted his final workout for the Carry Back at Laurel on July 5, drilling a ‘bullet’ half-mile in 48 flat.

Carson’s Legacy is rated third choice on the morning-line for the Carry Back at 4-to-1 after finishing third last out in the Tall Ships Stakes run on the Tapeta synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs on May 10. The son of Carson City made the first four starts of his career last year at Calder for trainer Gerald Procino, including a 6 ¾ lengths victory in the Birdonthewire Stakes in October and was sold privately thereafter to Padua and placed with Asmussen.

Asmussen himself is expected to be otherwise occupied Saturday sending out 2007 Horse-of-the-Year Curlin in the $500,000 Man ‘o War Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park. Asmussen has done well with five previous starters in the ‘Big Four’ Graded stakes at the ‘Summit’ with Padua’s 3-year-old filly Dazzle Me winning the 2004 Azalea Stakes (G3), Bwana Charlie third in the Carry Back that year, and Lady Tak and Savortime third in the Princess Rooney in 2004 and 2005, respectively.

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