Amazonas Makes Keeneland Appearance

Sir Robert Ogden’s homebred Amazonas (IRE) made her first appearance on the main track at Keeneland Wednesday morning after clearing quarantine upon shipping to Kentucky from Europe.

“She had a good first day,” said Andrew Stringer, assistant to trainer Edward Dunlop. “She shipped well and is eating well and is very healthy.”

A winner in her first start and Group 1 placed in England, Amazonas returned to the races off a 10 1/2-month layoff to win a stakes at Haydock Park.

Although she trains on an all-weather surface at Newmarket, Amazonas has made all six of her starts on grass, a surface on which she will stay in Saturday’s First Lady (G1).

Joe Rocco Jr. will have the mount on Amazonas in the First Lady and break from post position eight as one of two 3-year-olds in the accomplished field.

“Hopefully she will run well enough Saturday to be invited (to the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup for 3-year-old fillies on Oct. 12),” Stringer said.

Under exercise rider Alice Haynes, Amazonas jogged once around and then had a light gallop before the morning renovation break.

“She’s fit,” Stringer said. “We didn’t bring her here to get her fit. Probably Friday, we will let her do a two-minute lick with a two-furlong blowout through the lane.”