Amberjack makes belated return in Friday allowance
ELMONT, N.Y. – When last seen, Amberjack was being turned back in midstretch by Escapefromreality in the Albany Stakes at Saratoga last August, denying his bid to win the Big Apple Triple, a Triple Crown of sorts for New York-bred 3-year-olds.
Eleven months later, Amberjack returns to the races in a $75,000 New York-bred allowance race that serves as the feature on Friday’s nine-race card. Friday’s card is the fourth and final twilight racing program of the meeting; first post is 3 p.m.
Amberjack, a son of Indygo Shiner, might have found the 1 1/8 miles of the Albany a tad too far, but he should find the 6 1/2 furlongs of Friday’s race to his liking. He is 3 for 4 in one-turn races, including a 1 3/4-length victory in the Mike Lee Stakes at seven furlongs here in May 2013. Though he handled 1 1/16 miles around two turns in the New York Derby at Finger Lakes last July 20, he might have been aided by a sloppy track that he had showed he relished.
Amberjack, owned by John Fort’s Peachtree Stable, was in training last fall before trainer Mike Hushion pulled the plug on the colt, saying “he looked like he wasn’t himself.” A brief freshening turned into a longer layoff, though Hushion said Amberjack did not have any serious physical issues.
Amberjack shows a dozen works for his return, including a strong five-furlong move in 59.46 seconds on June 30 followed by an easy half-mile in 50.11 seconds Monday.
“He’s a big, heavy horse, and he’s heavier this year, so he needed it,” Hushion said of the rigorous works. “Hopefully, he’s fit enough.”
Junior Alvarado rides Amberjack from post 5.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 5 Amberjack. Trainer Michael Hushion is 1 for 8 with only $0.58 ROI over the past five years with horses going from route to sprint on dirt after a layoff of at least 180 days.Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Hushion also sends out I’m Stoked, who won the George Barker Stakes at Finger Lakes on May 26. The runner-up from that race, Bug Juice, won a starter allowance here Friday.
“I know he ran fast,” Hushion said about I’m Stoked. “He has those days where he’s impressive. Six and a half is a little scary with him, but if he runs his ‘A’ race, I don’t know if it matters.”
Trainer Phil Serpe sends out Weekend Hideaway, hoping to avoid going winless at the meet. Weekend Hideaway finished third behind Zivo and Big Business in the Commentator at a mile here May 31. Zivo came back to win the Grade 2 Suburban, while Big Business galloped home in a third-level allowance race here.
Weekend Hideaway, a stakes winner at 2 at Belmont, finished second to Amberjack in the Mike Lee here last year.
“I think the cutback will help him,” said Serpe, who was 0 for 25 here entering Wednesday’s card. “He’s been doing really well.”
Jose Lezcano rides Weekend Hideaway from post 4.
West Hills Giant, Night Maneuver, and Warrioroftheroses complete the field.