Amsterdam distance key for Captain Serious
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – With Captain Serious coming off a strong second-place finish going 1 1/16 miles for the first time in the Grade 3 Dwyer, trainer Mike Hushion could easily have been tempted to try his lightly raced gelding in Friday’s Grade 2 Curlin. Instead, Hushion opted to wait an extra day and shorten up Captain Serious to 6 1/2 furlongs to face eight other 3-year-olds in the $200,000 Amsterdam, a highly competitive race that serves as a prelude to Saturday’s main event at Saratoga, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy.
Captain Serious won his first three career starts, all against New York-breds, including the seven-furlong Mike Lee. He then ventured into open company and stretched out in distance for the Dwyer. A son of Successful Appeal, Captain Serious set a pressured early pace, shook well clear in early stretch, but could not withstand the final surge of Kid Cruz, who rallied to a three-quarter-length victory to earn himself a spot in the Curlin.
“It was a very tough beat,” Hushion said of the Dwyer. “I thought it was a done deal at one point. I wasn’t necessarily looking to turn him back in distance, it was just the timing of the race. I don’t think he’s quite ready for the caliber of competition he’d meet going a mile and one-eighth in the Curlin.”[bc_video_id:331140:]
Rock Fall, who has won his last two starts by a combined 12 1/2 lengths, was entered in the Amsterdam but will be scratched, trainer Todd Pletcher said on Friday.
“I wasn’t happy with the way he’s been travelling and I’m going to send him to Kentucky for some tests,” said Pletcher.
Noble Moon’s starting status remained a question mark after he popped a foot abscess on Monday. Trainer Leah Gyarmati said that Noble Moon did not go to the track to train on Thursday.
KEY CONTENDERS
Captain Serious (Last 3 Beyers: 91-97-90)
◗ He owns the second-highest Beyer Speed Figure in the field and highest at seven furlongs, the 97 he posted for his gate-to-wire victory in the Mike Lee at Belmont.
◗ The gelding is versatile enough to win on the lead or from a stalking position. “I was very happy to see him get the perfect post position,” trainer Mike Hushion said.
Coup de Grace (Last 3 Beyers: 95-89-90)
◗ He is versatile, having won at distances ranging from six furlongs to a mile while also showing the ability to overcome adversity to win the Grade 3 Bay Shore.
◗ Appears to be maintaining his best form after posting a bullet work at Delaware Park earlier this week. He did the same thing four days prior to winning his first start since joining trainer Larry Jones’s stable.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Coup de Grace. Trainer Larry Jones is 8 for 18 with a $2.85 ROI over the past year in dirt sprints following a win. Click for more details. – Dan Illman
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Noble Moon. Trainer Leah Gyrmati is 0 for 27 over the past five years going from route to sprint with horses coming off a layoff of 30 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 9 Trainer Michael Dilger is 6 for 9 with a$11.58 ROI with horses switching to blinkers on. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts