Disarm, Extra Anejo Share Similar Path to Stakes Return

“What an incredible opportunity,” Asmussen said. “Their breeding program—the horses they add to it have been and continue to be exceptional—and we’re expecting to have success with them.”

The two colts are on a mirrored path to start their season. Perhaps the most difficult part is not preparing them for their races, but keeping them apart.

“Winchell owning both will factor in the decisions of who runs in what next,” Asmussen said. “Same thing as last year: chose the Haskell for one (Extra Anejo) and the Travers for the other (Disarm).”

Decision-making this time led to Disarm taking the grade 1 challenge of the $1 million Stephen Foster June 29. Extra Anejo will race the following day in the $300,000 Hanshin Stakes. If both run to Asmussen’s expectations, it will be a weekend of celebrations for the team.

Both colts went on hiatus following their summer starts. Disarm returned first with a 1 1/2-length allowance victory at Churchill Downs May 18; Extra Anejo followed 12 days later with a 3 1/2-length allowance score.

“Very different circumstances for the two, both of them with the same idea in mind,” Asmussen said. “Disarm’s allowance was very light, from a competition standpoint, but he took care of business. Extra Anejo comes out of a much deeper allowance race, which created a harder race for him.

“I’m very pleased with how they have trained since their wins and think that both of these races were the next right step for two horses we’re obviously very high on.”

Despite the light competition in his return, Asmussen is confident Disarm’s class will pull through in the Stephen Foster. Citing his fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and runner-up performance in the Travers (G1), Asmussen believes he has the horse to beat.

“He just needs to be at his best,” he said. “We’re expecting a breakthrough performance. He’s been close, it’s time for him to win one.”

Extra Anejo has always been well thought of since his 9 1/2-length maiden victory at Keeneland in the fall of 2022, but has struggled to put multiple races together. He did not race for seven months following his debut and then went on the shelf again for 10 months following his fourth in the Haskell (G1), his first stakes appearance.

“It has to do with how fast he is and how big he is. Just simply the physics of it,” Asmussen said. “He’s excellent right now and we think he’s had the necessary time to move forward.”

Extra Anejo’s May 30 allowance victory came at seven furlongs, and he races in the Hanshin at a one-turn mile. However, Asmussen still expects his best races to come around two turns.

The Breeders’ Cup is on the radar for both colts. Disarm will have the opportunity to earn an automatic berth into the Classic (G1) with a win in the Foster, thanks to the “Win and You’re In” program.

“It’s a good spot to get started in the year,” he said of the Stephen Foster. “Knowing what the year-end goal is, this is one of the necessary steps to get there.”