The Amsterdam (Grade 2)- $150.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
August 29, 2020
There are two great sprint races at SAR on Saturday, with the highlighted race being the Forego. However, three year olds will also get a chance to race amongst themselves in the 18th running of the Grade 2 Amsterdam, a six furlong race on the main track. Last year, the race was won by Kill Command, for Fractious, a horse that just recently was claimed away from him for $40.000. Personally, it was an enjoyable race for me as it was the last hurrah, really, for Socotra Island (who was third), enjoying my brief time of having a graded stake caliber horse that could perform well. The second place runner in the race, Blowberg, was also a $40.000 claim this year, going to Fractious, instead of from him. So, this year’s class will hope for success and may hope to find themselves in a better spot then the top three from last year now find themselves in. The gate is full, let’s meet the field!
#1- Carnoustie (Smokey Stover, ridden by J Alvardo)- The Ye Charley gelding has been quite impressive early in his career with six wins in nine races, but he was not able to step up to graded competition in his last race, the Grade 1 Crosby. That’s not an easy way to make your graded debut, so if he just needed the one race, then expect him to be better here because he has shown that he knows how to get to the winners circle.
#2- Grond (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- He has won his last two, putting him at three for twelve in his career, so it is interesting to see if he has recently figured something out in terms of winning instead of just running well. It has helped that he has moved away from running long and to sprinting, leaving the KYD trail behind. An allowance win here last month was exceptional.
#3- Gothic Heart (SamIam, ridden by J Lezcano)- A three race winning streak at the start of the year enabled him to move into graded competition and he has responded to the challenge. He almost took the Grade 3 Bay Shore at AQU in April, and he has been within a length in each of his three graded races. Never has a bad race when he is on the main track, so it would be foolish to think he could not have a chance to win here especially with a good post.
#4- Mystery (Fractious, ridden by J Stein)- Carries the flag of his trainer as Fractious hopes to win this race two years in a row. To me, he seems a bit inconsistent in his career, being able to run big as he did in the Wood Memorial, but he will also pull some no shows, and that was before his performance in the BEL. If that is the case, then his name is perfect, because it can be a mystery as to which horse will show up.
#5- Cold Case (Mb Stables, ridden by G Franco)- After winning an optional claimer, Cold Case gets a chance again to run at the graded level and to win one of these races for the first time. He’s been better in the ungraded ranks, but winning the Pasco Stakes at TAM is not a career highlight that will get you stable cred in this barn. Working nicely coming in, especially an effort at MTH two weeks ago.
#6- Iron Return (Alydar Stables, ridden by D Davis)- Bounced back after a dismal showing in the Vigil Stakes to run third in the Grade 1 Jerkens Memorial at the beginning of the month against a few that he sees here again on Saturday. He had been on good form before that, so it’s safe to say we can throw out the Vigil Stakes now, and if we do that then Iron Return looks like a very strong contender here.
#7- Vanderbiltt (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by K Carmouche)- Had a strong showing in what was an unofficial stake last month. That four horse optional claimer also saw Tallamadge Star, and Nav Man take part, so his second place finish there should be seen as a positive. He was also dropped into that race, having won the MD Sprint previously, and now jumps up into the type of field he would be expected to run in.
#8- Keep It Cool (Mb Stables, ridden by J K Court)- Took a four race winning streak into the Jerkens Memorial last month, and proceeded to run fourth in that race. However, he never was a threat for the win there, and just seemed to pass tiring rivals. Those wins previously were not the type that are going to intimidate others here. Has slower works then his stablemate, but never rule out anything from this barn.
#9- Play Along (Royalty Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Still a lightly raced horse, with just five career starts thus far. After winning an allowance at WO, he was advanced into the graded ranks in a big way, being entered in the Grade 1 Stephens at BEL, where he was fourth. Was impressive at the beginning of the month in the Crosby, as his third place effort came from the 12-post, and a likely outside push.
#10- Pookie (Winning Link Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- Here is another horse with five career starts, and has some similar numbers overall to Play Along in their career paths thus far. For his last race, Pooke took on fellow CA-breds in the Real Good Deal Stakes, fresh off of breaking his maiden, and would get the win there as well. Having made that step, the trainer now gets chance to see how he handles a full field at the Spa.
#11- Lucky Quest (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Five starts have been made for this one as well, and like the two to his inside, he has won two of them. This will be his first stake of any sort, so it is a moderate ask for him, but I don’t think this field is so loaded to where it is a difficult task if the horse has the ability. Wish he would have run better in his last start, but maybe the mud is an excuse. By the way, 90% chance of showers here on Saturday as of now.
#12- Bodemister (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by E Jaramillo)- He was on the KYD trail a little bit at the start of the year, but has settled in to become a pretty strong sprinter. His last race saw him place second, as a 25/1 longshot in the Jerkens Memorial, making a move late. Hopefully he will be okay running a little less here, as both of his best wins have been at seven furlongs. Winning from this post is not easy, but doable.
Prediction: 2-3-6-9
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
