Six owners will be sending out nine entries here at the Spa in hopes of capturing this years Gr. II Amsterdam. It will be a big task for the single entries out of stables like Estero Farms, Sharis Stables and Nynl Stables to negotiate traffic, but they are all talented trainers and will find a way.
- Amsterdam- Gr. II – Purse $200.000
- Saratoga Race Course- For Three Years old
- Six and one half furlongs – Main track
- July 28th, 2019
As mentioned in the opening, three stables will be putting forth single entries and we are going to analyze those runners first. From the three hole will be Estero Farms’ Blowberg , who two starts ago won his first of the season taking home the $200 Lang Stakes at Pimlico going six furlongs. He has attacked major events like the Withers, Wood Memorial and OH Derby, but those events were all at a mile and an eighth and they were unproductive as far as winning. What productivity came out of those events was his trainer realizing that sprint affairs was the way to go, that’s why he is entered here. Horse and rider have yet to team up, but this could make for an interesting combo.
Next from the five slot will be Sharis Stables Aggravating who seems to have found a liking to his new home since his purchase back in mid May. Has a second and a victory in his most recent Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream. He is another who seems to enjoy the dirt surface and a mile or shorter, and he earned a 96 SRF in that most recent victory. Has some talent in his bloodlines so could dictate the pace in this event if he gets out early.
The final single is leaving from gate eight by the name of Socotra Island (Nynl Stables ) who just competed in the Gr. II Nerud earlier this month missing by three quarters of a length to the winner, while earning a 99 SRF figure. Has the services of jockey Maragh Ro in the irons, and he has known to surprise on mounts from time to time. This sophomore has been attacking the graded company in his past six starts, and this shorter distance over those efforts should be right in his wheelhouse.
Three other trainers are sending out two runners each on Sunday. The first will be Fractious who will being going from post 1 with Shadowsilver, and outside from gate nine with Kill Command. My preference between these two talented runners would be Kill Command. Won three starts ago in a Clm20 and was snatched up by his new interest. This trainer has brought him back to two more victories going six furlongs in both, one being the Danzig Stakes at PEN. Record is 8 ( 4-2-2 ) in his career, so he gets things done. Like his chances today. His stablemate Shadowsilver was unsuccessful at the Gr. I Stephens two starts ago, and in his most recent he finished second by a nose going five and a half in a blistering time of 1:02 and four. His wet record is 3 (2-1-0 ) but it will be a hot and sticky afternoon, so hopefully he can maintain control of the rail early leaving no doubt in the lane.
If there is a stakes race in town you know Mb Stables will have his nose in the business. Sending out the likes of Final Verse and Fear The Dragon from the six and seven holes respectively, I’ll give a slight edge to Fear The Dragon. Not because he competed in this seasons Triple Crown races, but i think that Dan will dust off the books from when LionKing owned this sophomore and may use those instructions to compete here. Went gate to wire in two races before the purchase and could use that running style to his advantage in this shorter event. As for Final Verse, all four of his career wins have come at seven furlongs or shorter, so he knows a thing or two about sprint racing. Does well if he is just a couple off the front runner, so if he breaks cleanly and is up near the front early, can steal this one away.
Final pair of runners will come from the John Henry barn by the names of Table Rock and Di Bug. Of these entries i would focus more on Di Bug and jockey Lezcano from the four pole. An acquisition for this trainer in mid April, he has been showing all the late kick talent in his past three starts. Won the Gr. III Day Mile in the slop. then followed that effort up with two show finishes in the Stephens and the Dwyer. In all those events Johnny V was in the irons, so can his new rider get him up just a little bit quicker? As for Table Rock, he placed sixth in the Hutcheson just a length shy of the lead, then followed that up with a sixth place in the Lang behind Blowberg who he will face once again here. Has his work cut out for him in this event.
July 28th- This date in History-
Fractious– After not competing for three summers ( 2014, 15, 16 ) this trainer would finally compete on this date and place himself in the winners enclosure with River Queen in a Starters Allowance 15.5 race at ELP. The grey mare had a decent career record of 10 ( 4-2-3 ) in her career and would produce two foals. One, Deadly Amazon is still active over at Blue Ridge Racing.
Sharis Stables – Just last season on this date as a juvenile a horse by the name of Brady Is A Lady would lose in a photo to Martyparty’s Surviving Son in an MdSpWt9 race. Surviving Son went the claiming route following this event, while Brady Is A Lady had Lasix added to his regiment. Much to his liking , he would go runner-up in two non Graded restricted N. Y. Stakes events, then 4th place finishes in three back to back Grade II races before winning the Gr. III Peter Pan. His last effort came in this years Belmont Stakes finishing just two lengths shy of the winner. Has not raced since but will be one to watch when he pops back up again. Dreams are possible!!!
Duffer
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
