Preside delivered on his considerable promise Thursday at Saratoga, overcoming a stumble at the start and wearing down Hadrian’s Wall to win a $115,000 maiden special weight by 2 1/4 lengths.
Making his third career start, Preside recovered quickly under Irad Ortiz Jr. and settled in third behind a contested pace. He advanced into second on the far turn, challenged Hadrian’s Wall approaching the quarter pole and took command entering the stretch. Hadrian’s Wall continued to fight along the inside, but Preside responded through the final furlong and gradually edged clear for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., completing 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track in 1:49.25. The performance earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He was gritty and determined coming off what was a big effort at Churchill,” West Point’s Jason Blewitt said from the winner’s circle on Saratoga Live. “Steve had him prepped perfectly, and the trip was beautiful with Irad. I was a little nervous because the horse on the inside did not go quietly into the night.”
Preside had signaled his potential in his previous start, finishing second by a half-length at Churchill Downs and earning a 95 Beyer. Afterward, trainer Steve Asmussen confidently declared that the colt should win for his connections at Saratoga. Preside rewarded that confidence Thursday by taking another step forward.
The victory was especially gratifying after Preside required considerable patience early in his development. A hat tip goes to Becky Maker for her expertise and patience in guiding him through several stops and starts as a 2-year-old before he began thriving again this year.
“He was a bit of a project and a problem child after we bought him. It was just one little thing after another,” Blewitt said. “I remember Steve saying before his first start, ‘The talent’s there. It’s just going to take him a few races to really get going.’ After his second race, I thought, ‘We might really have something here.’”
Preside is a Louisiana-bred son of Tiz the Law, campaigned with Spendthrift Farm, St. Elias Stable and LVD Racing.
Jason Blewitt interviewed on Fox Sports:
Preside capped a super month for Steve Asmussen’s group of West Point runners, which consisted of 3 wins and one second-place finish from 4 starts in the month of July.
Run Away Rojo contributed a memorable and game triumph to that collective on Wednesday when he and Steve’s son, jockey Keith Asmussen, fought off all comers in an Indiana-bred allowance at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Inside the stretch, Run Away Rojo was hit in the eye from a rival jockey’s whip and the same horse tried to bite him a few jumps later. Despite all that and some contact between those two horses going past the eighth pole, “Rojo” kept finding more and was game all the way to the wire in securing his seventh career win. Fortunately he escaped a serious eye injury, coming away with only minor swelling.
Run Away Rojo
