Casse has two for Saratoga's Amsterdam; Hog Creek Hustle to wait

Trainer Mark Casse will saddle two John Oxley color bearers for the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam set for July 28 with Strike Silver and Super Comet. 

A dark bay son of Violence, Strike Silver was a recent fourth, beaten 1 ½ lengths at 31-1 odds in the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park, which was his first start on the main track since a runner-up effort in last summer's Grade 2 Sanford. A first-out maiden winner over the Churchill Downs main track last June, Strike Wilver won his stakes debut over the turf at Keeneland in the Indian Summer.

"I was pleased, he ran hard," Casse said of Strike Silver's Woody Stephens run. "He's kind of a funny horse. He's tough to get a good gauge on. Super Comet trains like a really good horse, Strike Silver trains like he's just OK but he does run hard."

Super Comet is slated to make his stakes debut in the Amsterdam and has won both of his two career starts, both of which took place over the Churchill Downs main track. After a first out graduation on June 2 by 4 ¾ lengths going seven furlongs, he shortened up to 6 ½ furlongs and bested a field of 10 at the Louisville oval, including stakes winner Classy John and graded stakes placed Market King. 

The homebred son of Super Saver out of graded stakes placed Sky Dreamer takes the logical next step up in class in the Amsterdam. 

"I thought his maiden win was really impressive because he got away a little slow," Casse said. "He was running seven-eighths, which is always difficult for a first time starter, but he kind of had to rush up and he was wide and I figured he might flatten out a little bit and run third or fourth, but he took off which was amazing.

"I came back and ran him a little quicker than I would like two and a half weeks, especially off of that effort, but it aligned well with the Amsterdam, so I already had that race in mind. Hopefully, his biggest race is his next one."

Casse said perhaps his career debut took a little bit out of the horse, but that he was simply good enough to wheel back and win after 2 ½ weeks. 

"I think it did a little bit but he's just so good that he came back and did it again," Casse said. "I knew it was a little risky but for timing I wanted to do it."

Meanwhile, after scoring her first Grade 1 win as a trainer when saddling Hog Creek Hustleto victory in the Woody Stephens at Belmont Park, trainer Vickie Foley will likely await the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy on August 24.

The 3-year-old Overanalyze dark bay owned by Something Special Racing was nominated to the Amsterdam.

"We're going to wait for the Allen Jerkens," Foley said from her Kentucky base. "It's just too much hauling up there and back. Having to bring him back in 30 days and it's also hot. He's doing fine, but I would rather just wait."

Hog Creek Hustle is a three time winner of nine career starts. He was a first out graduate over the main track at Ellis Park last August before defeating winners at Churchill Downs two starts later. After racing in all three of Fair Grounds' preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, he raced in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile, where he was second beaten 5 ¼ lengths to Mr. Money.

Honest Mischief, a Juddmonte Farm runner, is also probable for the Amsterdam.