March Meets Talented Group in Amsterdam
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Two-time graded stakes winner March will try to tackle a talented group
of sophomore sprinters, including Chick Lang hero Holy Boss and Grade 3
Hutcheson winner Barbados, in the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, kicking
off a trio of graded stakes on the Jim Dandy undercard on Saturday at
Saratoga Race Course.
With his only off-the-board finish coming in his stakes debut in the
Grade 3 Withers this winter at Aqueduct Racetrack, Robert LaPenta's
March has been consistent in five lifetime starts since his launching
his career last winter and will look to add another Grade 2 to his
resume en route to the Grade 1 King's Bishop on Travers Day.
The Chad Brown trainee broke his maiden in his second out at a mile and
70 yards before fading to fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Withers on February
7. A dark bay son of Blame, March has thus far found his greatest
success at seven furlongs. He picked up his first of two stakes
victories in the Grade 3 Bay Shore, charging late to corral Lord Nelson
by a half-length on April 4. On Belmont Stakes Day, March engaged Cinco
Charlie in a vigorous stretch duel in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens to
emerge a nose on top.
"He came out of the Woody Stephens in good shape and he's had steady
works since," said Brown. "He's been really sharp, particularly lately.
It's a little bit of a cutback to 6 ½ [furlongs] but I think he can
handle it. I'd rather run him at seven but this is the race that's
available and hopefully the sixteenth less wont' affect him too much. I
suppose a lot will depend on the pace, if the pace is quick enough, he
should be able to get up in time at 6 ½ if he's good enough and, if not,
the timing of the race should still serve as a prep for the King's
Bishop."
Irad Ortiz Jr., who has been aboard March for each of the colt's three wins, will ride from post 3 at 3-1 on the morning line.
Entering the Amsterdam off of a three-race win streak is Holy Boss,
installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for owner Jerry Durant and
trainer Steve Asmussen. A 10-length winner in his debut at Churchill
Downs in September, the son of Street Boss joined the stakes ranks in
his next out, finishing fifth in a sloppy edition of the Grade 1,
one-mile Champagne at Belmont.
Shortening back to six furlongs, the chestnut colt found his stride
this winter at Oaklawn Park, first taking an optional claiming event by
five lengths and then posting a half-length score in the Bachelor Stakes
on April 10. Holy Boss went on to win the Chick Lang at Pimlico by two
lengths in his most recent effort, earning a career-best Beyer Speed
Figure of 100.
"He's put three really good races together in a row and now we'll kind
of step back up here," said Asmussen. "I thought that he ran really well
at Oaklawn and then the race at Pimlico really validated that spring
form, and I thought that off of that race we could seriously consider
the marquee 3-year-old sprint races."
Holy Boss, installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, will be ridden by Ricardo Santana from post 7.
Suzanne Stables' Barbados will make his first appearance at the Spa for
trainer Mike Tomlinson. The son of Speightstown put together a pair of
wins after joining Tomlinson's barn last fall, including a half-length
score in the Grade 3 Hutcheson on January 24. Soon after, knee chip
surgery forced the colt to skip a planned spring campaign that included
longer-distance stakes races, possibly with an eye towards the Triple
Crown trail.
Barbados made his return in the Grade 3 Carry Back on July 5 at
Gulfstream, after more than a five month layoff. Trailing the leaders by
7 ½ lengths at the half-mile call, Barbados gained ground in the
stretch to finish second, a length behind Grand Bili and 4 ½ lengths
ahead of Juan and Bina in third.
"It was a very speed-biased track that day," Tomlinson said. "I was
very proud of his race but a little disappointed in the outcome. But he
was the only horse that came from seven or eight lengths off the pace
that day and got anywhere close, so we were thrilled with him."
Barbados, set at odds of 7-2, will break from post 5 under Luis Saez.
The only runner in the field with prior experience at Saratoga, Requite (6-1 on the morning line) will be ridden from the rail by Javier Castellano for George Weaver. Marcus Vitali will give Jose Lezcano a leg up aboard speedy Parx Derby winner Bluegrass Singer (20-1), who will break from post 2. Chick Lang runner up Victory is Sweet (5-1) will be ridden by Jose Ortiz for Michelle Nevin, while The Great War (10-1) will be making his first start since February for Wesley Ward, and will be ridden by Joel Rosario from post 6.
Source: NYRA Communications
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