Sunday, August 2, 2009

Quality Road Returns in the Amsterdam

Saratoga Race Course

You know you are at Saratoga when there is a Grade II race as the feature on Monday afternoon. The $150,000 Grade II Amsterdam for tree year olds at 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track highlights the end of week 1 of the 6 week Saratoga meet.

Horses to Watch in the Amsterdam

Quality Road
With a hard fought win over Dunkirk in the Florida Derby, Quality Road established himself as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby but a quarter crack sidelined him throughout the Triple Crown series. In the meantime, he was moved from the barn of Jimmy Jerkins to the barn of Todd Pletcher. Recent works indicate that he is ready and the Beyers in the spring were sensational. Johnny Velasquez rides for Todd Pletcher.

Everyday Heroes
He was a sharp 2nd to Munnings in his last in the Woody Stevens at Belmont in June. Other than that, he has won all four of his other races and sprinting actually seems to be his game. He is making his first start for the Kiaran McLaughlin barn and Alan Garcia rides.

Capt. Candyman Can
Couldn't handle Quality Road in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream but then won the Big A's Bayshore and an ungraded event at Churchill after that. He has been off since May but has been pointed to this race since then. Javier Castellano rides for Ian Wilkes.

Custom For Carlos
He won the Jersey Shore at Monmouth by 6 lengths in his last and ran 3rd in the Swale at Gulfstream in his only other stakes race. He seems to have plenty of talent and reunites with Julian Leparoux who rides for Eddy Kenneally.