The Amsterdam (Grade 2)- $150.000 Purse
SAR- For Three Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
August 29, 2020

Heading into the Amsterdam, there was no question that Carnoustie had plenty of talent. The gelding had six wins in nine starts, but a disappointing finish in the Crosby on the first of the month would cause some concern that he was not stepping up to this level. He also did not run all that well in one of her ungraded stakes earlier in her career. However, the potential was there, with plenty of wins and consistency in overnights, as well as one ungraded stake win to speak of. What Carnoustie really needed to do here was make a statement against some of the better horses in the division. At odds of 32/1, this horse by Ye Charley, an underrated young sire with hopefully more promising two year olds in the wings, would come from behind and get up just in time to get the victory he really needed! Now, he can officially say he was one of the better threats in this division. For Smokey Stover, it is his first win in the race, as it also is for jockey J Alvarado. The time of the victory was 1:11.41 in the mud. Let’s take a look!

(¼ Mile- :23.03)- Four horses are a little more determined to get out to the front then the rest of the field would be. The early advantage would go to Vanderbiltt, from La Canada Racehorses, holding a half length lead over Gothic Heart, who ran to his inside for SamIam. Stalking them here would be Lucky Quest, out of Night Rider Stables, in the third lane as well as the Alydar Stables trained entry Iron Return to his inside. Leading the next group was Play Along, who was starting to show the intention to make an outside move for Royalty Stables as they approached the turn. Next in line were a group of three, and it had our eventual winner, Smokey Stover’s Carnoustie along the rail, three and a half lengths from the front. Beside her are Grond (Mb Stables) and Mystery (Fractious). Behind them are Keep It Cool (Mb Stables) and Pookie (Winning Link Stables), and Bodemister (D J C Racing Stables) was by himself at the back.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Rounding the turn, Vanderbiltt was looking quite strong still, and maintained his half length lead over Gothic Heart. The two of them inched away from Iron Return and Lucky Quest early in the turn, but Iron Return hung in there, and positioned herself for a move in the stretch in the third lane. With several key contenders still behind him, he seemed to have a very good shot still. Lucky Quest, however, was done for the day. Play Along stayed in the outside lane but did not really advance. Carnoustie did not make a move yet, but had an opening on the rail for when he was ready to come through. He actually conceded a length to Grond here, something that for the moment would not have been seen as a positive. Otherwise in the field, not a lot to speak of.

(Finish- 1:11.41)– Carnoustie started looking better early in the stretch, but with just a furlong to go, he still had to make up two and a half lengths. A run was coming, but would he have enough time to get this win? Vanderbiltt, after all, still seemed to be in good form. Carnoustie and J Alvarado would battle it out, completing the pass of Gothic Heart and the move for the lead was made. Vanderbiltt did not have a response to him, or to Iron Return, who kept battling him hard on the outside. Just before the wire, Carnoustie’s effort would be rewarded, getting a nose in front at the wire to win the race over Iron Return as Vanderbiltt settles for third. Fourth place Grond was within a half a length of them. Rounding out the order, it is Gothic Heart, Play Along, Bodemister, Keep It Cool, Mystery, Lucky Quest, and Pookie.

About The Winner- Carnoustie, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden by J Alvarado, is a three year old gelding by Ye Charley and is out of Happy Clapper. He was bred in California by Smokey Stover as a first quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout. The win is his seventh in ten starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $320.510.

Track: Muddy
Time: :23   :46²  :58³  1:11²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 6 Paid 1,061.60
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 6 – 7 Paid 1,615.10

Scratched: Cold Case

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES