After winning the July 5 Sanford Stakes (G3) by 10 1/2 lengths, Leland Ackerley Racing's undefeated Obliteration will look to add to his resume Aug. 2 when he battles Ewing and three other juveniles in the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2).
A son of Violence trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Oblieration stretches out to 6 1/2 furlongs after scoring by 7 1/2 lengths on debut June 12 at Churchill Downs in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race, and then romping in the six-furlong Sanford.
"His maiden win was very impressive and what's made it even more impressive is the couple of winners that have come out of it since," Asmussen said. "The Sanford—he looked like we were hoping he would."
Asmussen will attempt to win his sixth Saratoga Special, a feat that would tie him with James G. Rowe Sr. for most wins in the race. His last win came in 2020 with 2021 champion male sprinter and now stallion Jackie's Warrior .
"He's trained really well," Asmussen said of Obliteration. "He's very proud of himself. Ideally, he would be a similar 2-year-old to what Jackie's Warrior was for us up here a few years ago. That's what we will try to emulate with him through the Saratoga meet."
On the same day Obliteration secured his first graded stakes win, D. J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Kenneth Freirich's Ewing made his first start at the Spa with an eye-catching, 12-length victory in a maiden special weight race.
The son of Knicks Go was purchased from the Hidden Brook consignment for $585,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by D. J. Stables and West Point. He had previously failed to meet his reserve at last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, stopping at a bid of $37,000.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse calls him a happy horse who "does everything just effortlessly."
"When we bought him, I gave him an A and I don't give a lot of A's," the trainer added. "He's an athlete. He's more like a good running back than a basketball player. He's average-sized, great neck and shoulder. He's big when he gets on the track. This is just a step forward, and we're hoping he's a Breeders' Cup horse."
Late Night Stables' impressive maiden winner Dazzle d'Oro, who looked to provide Obliteration and Ewing with some competition Saturday, was euthanized July 28 after suffering a catastrophic injury during morning training, reducing a scheduled field of six to five competitors.
Trainer Tom Amoss posted on X, writing: "Everyone in our barn feels a deep loss and our thoughts and prayers are with the owners and all who worked with him."
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 2, 2025, Race 3Entries: Saratoga Special S. (G2)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Ewing (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 Mark E. Casse 8/5 2 2Comport (KY) Luis Saez 120 Eddie Kenneally 8/1 3 3Thunder Chuck (KY) Madison Olver 120 Jorge Delgado 30/1 4 4Dazzle d'Oro (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Thomas M. Amoss 5/2 5 5Camigol (FL) Jose Lezcano 120 Antonio Sano 20/1 6 6Obliteration (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Steven M. Asmussen 7/5
