Holy Boss Cruises in Amsterdam

Jerry Durant's Holy Boss turned in a commanding performance, winning his fourth consecutive race and first graded stakes in the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, the first of four stakes on Saturday's card at Saratoga Race Course.

 

Breaking sharply from the outside post in the field of six, Holy Boss settled on the outside of the pack, behind the pacesetting Victory Is Sweet, who led through the opening quarter-mile in 22.17 seconds and the half in 44.83. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., the Street Boss colt engaged the leader midway on the turn while Requite, ridden by Javier Castellano, moved through along the rail. The trio hit the top of the stretch in unison and dueled briefly before Victory Is Sweet dropped back. Continuing past the sixteenth pole, Holy Boss shook free of the tenacious Requite and drew off to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

 

"It was a perfect race for him," said Santana. "I saw an open spot as I was turning into home. I asked him to go and he did."

 

The winner completed the 6 ½-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds in 1:15.38, returning $6.90 for a $2 win bet.

 

Another 3 ¾ lengths back, Barbados closed late to get a head in front of Victory Is Sweet for third. Bluegrass Singer and March completed the order of finish. The Great War was scratched.

 

Holy Boss boasts a lifetime record of five wins and a second-place finish from eight starts, scoring his last four victories in succession, beginning with a five-length win in an optional claiming event at Oaklawn Park in March. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the chestnut colt graduated into stakes company in his next out, winning the Bachelor at Oaklawn in April and taking the Chick Lang at Pimlico by two lengths on May 16.

 

The $120,000 winner's share of the purse increases his career earnings to $330,490.

 

Having established himself as a top-level sophomore sprinter with a Grade 2 victory under his belt, Holy Boss will be pointed to the Grade 1, $500,000 King's Bishop on Travers Day on August 29.