Booth Flaunts Speed in Whitmore Romp

In scoring at first asking by 5 1/4 lengths at Keeneland in October 2023, Booth ran like a horse with the makings to become a graded stakes winner. That potential was ultimately realized March 15 when the speedy Mitole colt led from start to finish in the $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park. His 2 1/4-length victory further provided journeyman Erik Asmussen, last year's Eclipse Award-winning apprentice jockey, with the first graded stakes win of his short riding career. Breaking alertly and quickly clearing the field without urging from Asmussen, Booth always appeared on his way to victory on Saturday. In a performance similar to his romp in the Commodore Overnight Stakes last month at Oaklawn, Booth sustained his speed to the finish, timed in 1:09.79 for six furlongs on the fast track. "He ran huge," Asmussen said, before crediting his father, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen for Booth's preparations. Fractions of :22.13, :45.18, and :57.27 were legitimate but easy for Booth, who withstood splits of :21.93 and :44.98 in taking the Commodore in 1:08.64 Steve Asmussen won the Whitmore for the second year in a row after success in 2024 with Jaxon Traveler. The latter also competed in Saturday's race, finishing last of seven. Giant Mischief chased Booth to finish second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of late-running Tejano Twist in third. Booth races for owners Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Terry Green's Jackpot Farm, and Carrol Castille's Whispering Oaks Farm. He paid $7 as the slight favorite. "It's truly just a blessing to get it done for Mr. Heiligbrodt and Mr. Green, who have supported me since I've started my career. To get my first grade stakes for them is too cool," Erik Asmussen said. Booth was one of three consecutive winners on the Saturday card for the young rider. Booth is a son of Mitole, who Steve Asmussen trained to become the champion male sprinter in 2019 for the Heiligbrodts before Mitole went to stud at Spendthrift Farm. One of the leading third-crop sires in North America, Mitole stands at Spendthrift this year for $10,000. "Well, I think it's like his daddy (Mitole)—with time, with time," Steve Asmussen said. "It's his 4-year-old year, which was when Mitole became Mitole. Those are two really impressive races against some very nice sprinters." Bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms, Booth is a 4-year-old chestnut out of the stakes-winning Bellamy Road mare Sophia's Song. He is a half brother to grade 1 winner Bright Future and grade 2 winner Musical Mischief. The Heiligbrodts and Jackpot Farm purchased Booth for $225,000 from the Wavertree Stables consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in 2023.