Booth, Zeitlos speed to Pimlico wins for Asmussen

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen got his Preakness Day off to a literal fast start on Saturday by saddling the first two stakes winners on the card, both in dirt sprints.

Booth was one of the most likely winners on the Pimlico card and came through at odds of 9-10 in the $148,500 Maryland Sprint (G3). Breaking on top, the son of Asmussen's sprint champion Mitole led throughout while maintaining a lead of between one and 1 1/2 lengths.

Ridden by the trainer's son, Erik, Booth covered six furlongs in 1:10.39 over a track labeled fast but obviously slow-playing following heavy rain late Friday afternoon.

"He was on cruise control the whole way around," Erik Asmussen said. "When we went the first quarter in 23, he did that so easy, it felt like I was on a morning gallop with him."

Epic Ride came closest to Booth, losing by one length while 6 3/4 lengths ahead of Celtic Contender. S S Sinatra was the last across the wire, while Concrete Glory was pulled up early after turning his head at the start and virtually walking out of the gate.

The Maryland Sprint was the fourth consecutive stakes win for Booth, who landed a triple at Oaklawn earlier this year in the Commodore S., Whitmore (G3), and Count Fleet Sprint H. (G3). He's won seven of 11 of his lifetime starts.

"He's making his dad, Mitole, proud," Steve Asmussen said. "He showed a lot early in the fall of his two-year-old year, just got out of rhythm, things not being ideal. Then for him to reach this form – I think that's four stakes wins in a row at four – you think back that Mitole didn't get great until he was four."

Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farm, Booth races for William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Jackpot Farm, and Whispering Oaks Farm.

Asmussen also had reason to celebrate following the $125,000 Skipat S. for fillies and mares, as Zeitlos fired big off of a layoff to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Striker Has Dial. Even-money favorite One Magic Philly settled for third after a poor start.

A five-year-old daughter of Curlin, Zeitlos covered six furlongs in 1:11.20 under Jose Ortiz and paid $8.40.

Owned by breeder Stonestreet Stables and Peter Leidel, Zeitlos was a four-time stakes winner last season, including the Thoroughbred Club of America (G2) at Keeneland. However, in her season finale, she was a nondescript seventh in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar.

"I thought this was the perfect spot to start her season," Asmussen said. "We obviously want to get back to the Breeders' Cup with her. We'll work from there backwards. We started a little later this year, so we can be stronger at the end."

Bred in Kentucky, Zeitlos has now won nine of 18 starts.

Retribution made his stakes debut a winning one with a rally from midpack in the $150,000 Chick Lang S. for three-year-olds.

Winner at first asking in February at Fair Grounds and most recently third in a first-level allowance at Keeneland, Retribution stormed to a 1 3/4-length over fellow 9-1 chance Touchy. Ancient World finished third, while 2-1 favorite One Nine Hundred weakened to fifth in the field of 11 after setting the pace.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Retribution covered six furlongs in 1:11.27 and paid $20.

A son of Vekoma, Retribution is owned by a wide-ranging partnership that includes Belladonna Racing and Woodford Racing. The Kentucky-bred is trained by Cherie DeVaux.