Wooohooo, Wootton Asset (FR)!  The graded stakes winner of the 2021 Virginia Derby reunited with jockey Jose Ortiz today to win their optional allowance going a mile on the Aqueduct turf at the Belmont at the Big A meet. He was making just his second start after an 11-month layoff.

Sent off as the favorite in the ten-horse field, the 4-year-old son of Wootton Bassett (GB) was content to bide his time second-last down the backstretch before switching on the afterburners coming down the stretch under a patient ride by Jose.

“He’s much bigger and stronger,” Jose told NYRA analyst Maggie Wolfendale after the race, “and he really ran huge off the layoff for Graham today.”

This was win number 4 of 13 career starts, bringing Wootton Asset’s earnings up to $317,445. He’s a horse full of personality who leaves quite the impression wherever he goes. Maggie Wolfendale confided after the race, “I’m going to steal him…LOL!!”

Out of Love Liu (FR) by Librettist, he was bred in France by Ecurie Haras du Cadran & Mme. Patrick Ades-Hazan. Congratulations to them and owners Madaket Stables LLC!