Though very much hard to classify as a sprinter, the most intriguing entrant
in Monday’s $150,000
Amsterdam S. (G2) at Saratoga is TO HONOR AND SERVE (Bernardini), the Bill
Mott-trained colt who was one of the pre-season favorites for the 2011 classics.
The Live Oak-owned colt returns from a four-month layoff in the 6 1/2-furlong
Amsterdam, which for most of the other three-year-olds in the field serves as a
prep for the August 27 King’s Bishop S. (G1).
Dynamic winner of the Remsen S. (G2) and Nashua S. (G3) to conclude his
juvenile season, To Honor and Serve’s star began to tarnish even before he was
sidelined prior to the Kentucky Derby (G1) due to an injured suspensory
ligament. In two starts over the winter at Gulfstream, To Honor and Serve was a
well-beaten third in both the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) and Florida Derby (G1),
running well below the form he had displayed as a two-year-old. The Amsterdam
will be the shortest race of To Honor and Serve’s career thus far; he debuted at
Saratoga 11 months ago in a seven-furlong maiden, finishing second to subsequent
Grade 3 winner and classic-placed Astrology (A.P. Indy).
Also cutting back from longer distances is CALEB’S POSSE (Posse), whose
earlier stakes wins include the Ohio Derby (G3) and Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn.
Though unlucky when enduring several troubled trips this season, the Donnie Von
Hemel trainee had no visible excuse when a distant fourth in the Iowa Derby (G3)
last out.
Among the sprint specialists in the Amsterdam field are JUSTIN PHILLIP (First
Samurai), who skipped through the mud on Belmont Stakes Day to take the Woody
Stephens S. (G2) by a commanding 3 1/4 lengths. He is one of two trainer Steve
Asmussen will saddle for Monday’s feature, the other being WINE POLICE (Speightstown),
an impressive 7 3/4-length debut winner at the Spa last summer. Third
subsequently in the Hopeful S. (G1), Wine Police was out of action more than 10
months before returning to take a June 24 allowance at Churchill Downs by 2 1/4
lengths.
Swale S. (G2) hero TRAVELIN MAN (Trippi) dueled himself into submission in
both the Derby Trial S. (G3) and Woody Stephens, but might appreciate the
cutback in distance and a dry track if he can get one. Also exiting the Woody
Stephens, as the beaten favorite, is Ziggy’s Boy S. winner ARCH TRAVELER (Sky
Mesa). The Amsterdam field is rounded out by stakes debuter REDEEMED (Include),
whose taken three straight including a pair of allowances during the Belmont
spring stand.
The $75,000
Rachel Alexandra S., restricted to fillies and mares that have non won a
graded stakes this season, marks the return to Saratoga of LISA’S BOOBY TRAP (Drewman),
the Finger Lakes-based filly who trounced her opposition by six lengths in the
Loudonville S. last season. Graded stakes mainstays BELLE OF THE HALL (Graeme
Hall), DECELERATOR (Dehere), BUCKLEUPBUTTERCUP (Najran), KID KATE (Lemon Drop
Kid) and AILALEA (Pulpit) are among the other likely contenders.
The stakes action kicks off Monday with the $75,000
Smart and
Fancy S., a 5 1/2-fulong Mellon turf dash for fillies and mares. STRIKE THE
BELL (Mizzen Mast), a Grade 3 winner last fall, shortens up after a pair of dull
efforts at Belmont and Parx Racing. Among the one-turn specialists, QUEBRADA
SHINER (Arg) (Indygo Shiner), AHVEE’S DESTINTY (Rizzi), KARAKORUM ELEKTRA
(Freud) and LEGALLY BLANCA (Northern Afleet) merit the most attention.