Another solid twelve race card is set for Sunday, with the Grade II Amsterdam being the feature, for three year olds going six an d a half furlongs. Let’s get down to business immediately.
1st race: 6 Furlongs. ‘Mdn 78k Purse $78,000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Stanford (3) – Very good works for his debut run. Shug is not known for winning first time out, but the colts that have experience have not shown that much yet. Dylan Davis has been cold as ice, but he is a very nice rider, and I expect better numbers as the meet progresses.
Three Jokers (1) – Terranova has a good ROI number with firs time starters and Rosario preferred this debut runner over the number 2, who already has a third place finish. Works have been good, not great, and that customary for Terranova.
Cleon Jones (4) – Ignored by Dylan Davis to ride my top pick, he failed as the favorite in his only race so far. He can improve, but I think the race goes thru the first time starters.
2nd race: 7 Furlongs. Clm 14000n3L Purse $32,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES.
Air on Fire (2) – Trainer Jason Servis hits at a 53% clip with claim repeaters, and that last race, although he was the 1/5 choice, he crushed his opposition and Irad gets back on his saddle. Will be a very tough beat.
Laser Loop (8) – Diodoro and his connections are looking for a quick $3,000 earning here (14+19 of the prize, minus the 30 the paid). He hits at a 37% rate doing this movement, and in the Spa you will see this every day. Has two good works in preparation for this race.
Stink Man (1) – Rosario gets on board on a 12-1 morning line proposition. He is also taking a big drop in class, and his trainer numbers doing this kind of trick are good enough to consider him as part of the selection.
3rd race: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) Alw 50000s Purse $60,000 (UP TO $10,440 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Lundquist (7) – This race has tons of speed signed in, and I think its sets up nicely for this horse, who wanted to get into the turf last time out only to see the race taken off. Saez rides for the third time in a row and I like the confident step up in class. Stamina should not be an issue, as he has run as far as eleven furlongs already, love the cutback to five and a half.
Our Last Buck (2) – Coming from close to six months out, speed figure wise he is the horse to beat. However, the big question is how well he handles the grass after a year plus without running on it. Lezcano will be sitting chilly with him on a stalking position and should make his presence felt late.
Tenure (6) – Maiden winner at Monmouth, generally shippers from Jersey don’t do that well here, but Rosario takes the call and his post in the gate allows him to sit just off the pace in here.
Off Turf: 2-1-7
4th race: 7 Furlongs. ‘Alw 80000n1x Purse $80,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Runningwscissors (5) – Emerald Downs shipper, now under the care of the very knowledgeable Tom Amoss. This horse ran at Santa Anita in open company and won, now against NY Breds his chances are extremely good. Jose Ortiz, leading rider so far, takes the call.
Daddy Knows (6) – Won his maiden two weeks ago here at the Spa at nine furlongs, getting away in the stretch. Now he takes a healthy cutback in distance and Lezcano does not lose him after the win. After four races at a mile or farther, he will need to out him in contention right from the gitgo.
Kazmania (1) – Was a bit of a disappointment in his most recent, but he now returns to his original trainer, one of my favorite angles. With only five races lifetime, he still has good upside and Carmouche is a nice jockey upgrade.
5th race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) Clm 30000n2L Purse $48,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $8,352 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Clyde’s Runner (5) – Don’t see much speed in here, so coming from three consecutive races at six furlongs, he should be at or near the lead, and the grass has been kind to speedsters this week. Lezcano won already with him.
Quality Choice (7) – He is now in a much more realistic spot than in his most recent race. Irad will be outside lurking to make his presence felt late, 8-1 seems to be a very high morning line for this guy.
The Sinner is You (3) – Just broke his maiden in career start number for, and the way he moves suggest he will be a very good router, at least in these mid class claiming events. Still much upside potential in him.
Off Turf: 7-9-6
6th race: 1 1/8 Mile. Clm 40000 Purse $65,000 (UP TO $11,310 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Super Dude (7) – Gary Contessa puts blinkers on him and drops him to the class just below where he lost in his most recent commitment. Already ran at the meeting and put on a work to check on his condition, and he passed with flying colors. Castellano preferred Turco Bravo, but Irad is a more than able replacement.
Turco Bravo (6) – This grizzled old 10 year old veteran gave some signs of life after a so so race in his come back. 50 out of 79 times lifetime he has been in the money, so you know he always gives a good account of himself, and the group is softer than the one he faced last time out.
Candy Promises (3) ‘ If there is a horse that can gp wire to wire here is this son of Twirling Candy. Carmouche has been hos regular rider and his style fits this horse to a Tee.
7th race: 1 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™Mdn 90k Purse $90,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Global Exchange (10) – Trainer James Toner experiments with blinkers now, looking for his filly to be at or near the lead, and with not that much pace signed in, she can be long gone with speed specialist Luis Saez.
Queen Medb (4) – No question that, speed figure wise, she is the filly to beat. But she has four second place finishes in five starts, and that is a very dangerous pattern, one that I simply cant ignore. Irad Ortiz will try again with her after failing as the favorite.
New and Improved (6) – Its Chad, Klaravich and Javier Castellano once again with a first time starter with nice breezes to show for. Just by the connections, the filly stands a good chance for a debut win.
Off Turf: 9-1-6
8th race: 6 Furlongs. ™‘Mdn 78k Purse $78,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Blame It on Mom (8) – She ran great in her return to the track after an eight month rest. Rosario repeats on her saddle and should have some pace to run against. Has two solid breezes that signal readiness for a win.
Amos (7) – She got caught very close to the wire in her last race, and something very similar happened the race before. Maybe the cutback in distance will do the trick. Jose Ortiz gets back to the well and should be forwardly placed from the start.
Nasty Affair (1) – Her works do not say that much but Irad is taking the call here for Linda Rice, and she knows a thing or two about winning at the Spa.
9th race: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) Alw 50000s Purse $75,000 (UP TO $13,050 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Discretionary Marq (9) – Extremely consistent gelding that comes from a very favorable post and should have plenty of pace to close. Carmouche guided him to a close win last time out and gets back on him for trainer Robert Falcone.
Fixed Point (2) – Gets a relief in class in comparison to the last time he ran on the turf. He should be part of that early flight and Saez will have to send him hard form that one post. If he gets a clear lead, watch out,
Macho Blue (8) – Has three victories in four lifetime races. It is true that stakes get much higher now, but he has shown lightning fast speed, and if they don’t go after him, he can take them wire to wire.
Off Turf: 1-8-2
10th race: 1 3/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™OC 25000n1x Purse $92,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $16,008 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Night of England (7) – I think she is by far the best filly in this group, it is just a question of how well she is coming from an eight month stay in the shelf. There is not much pace here, so she should be forwardly placed from the start and Chad Brown is taking no prisoners.
Dyna Passer (3) – Seems to me that the eleven furlongs will be no problem at all for her. With some improvement, she can be a very formidable opponent for my top pick. Leading rider Jose Ortiz takes the call for veteran trainer Tom Albertrani.
Giant Zinger (9) – Likes to be in the lead and establish very slow paces. She has held her own against tougher fillies than these, but needs to prove she can do it without getting an easy lead. Rajiv Maragh looks to get off the schneid.
Off Turf: 3-6-5
11th race: 6½ Furlongs. Amstrdam-G2 Amsterdam S. Grade II. Purse $200,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
Super Comet (3) – Plenty of speed has signed in for this Grade II, and that plays into the hand of this colt, which is 2 for 2 so far in his young career. Shaun Bridgemohan travels to keep the mount for Preakness and Belmont winning trainer Mark Casse.
Nitrous (6) – He is maybe the most seasoned horse in this field, having placed in two Grade Is already. This is supposed to be a lighter group than in the Woody Stephens, so his chances of overcoming that Graded level hump are real.
Shancelot (12) – He is also 2 for 2, with both wins coming in wire to wire fashion. He still needs to prove he can do it from just off the pace and against better horses, but the talent shown is nothing short of ample. Emisael Jaramillo makes the trip from Florida to ride him, with a convenient outside post.
12th race: 5½ Furlongs. (Turf) ™‘MC 40000 Purse $48,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Freudycatfever (12) – Dropping from straight maidens to maiden claimers, the 10/1 morning line seems high. I don’t expect her to go that high, but anything close to 5/1 or better is good enough. Ricardo Santana Jr. climbs the saddle and the post is much better than in her debut.
Fusi (7) – She was claimed by Brad Cox from a 0% trainer. That alone is enough motive to put her on your plays. Another reason: Rosario takes over from Joe Bravo. Expect a good performance from her.
Deja Raconte (5) – First time starter that should be considered a contender because the ones that have raced so far haven’t shown much ability. Gargan hits at a 31 % clip with maiden claimers and her works indicate she should be on the engine from the latch.
Off Turf: 3-5-4