Amundson back with statebreds for John Morrissey Handicap

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Many of the usual suspects among the elite of the New York-bred handicap division will be on hand Thursday at Saratoga for the $85,000 John Morrissey Handicap. But there could be a new sheriff in town by sundown if Amundson continues to perform as he has in his three previous starts this season.

Amundson returns to statebred company for the first time since leading throughout to upset the six-furlong Hollie Hughes at Aqueduct while making his 2020 debut in February. In two subsequent outings, Amundson has finished third and second, respectively, against open optional-claiming company. In his most recent appearance, Amundson disputed the pace before succumbing late to the once-beaten Fortin Hill while stretching out to seven furlongs for just the second time in his career, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Morrissey will be decided at seven furlongs.

Aside from being in peak form, Amundson appears to have a pace advantage in the Morrissey and could get loose on an easy lead under jockey Jose Ortiz.

“We’re happy to get him back with New York-bred company, although obviously there are some solid horses in there, many of which are cutting back from a mile or a mile and one-eighth,” said Amundson’s trainer, Horacio DePaz. “He’s been improving each time he’s run, and cutting back to seven furlongs, he should be the speed. That’s his style, and if he can get away with a pace that isn’t too sharp, he should be tough.”

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Familiar names from the division who figure to be major players in the Morrissey include Funny Guy and Bankit, first and third respectively in the one mile Commentator last month at Belmont Park; Pat On the Back, looking for his first victory since capturing the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap last September at Belmont; and defending champion Celtic Chaos.

Pat On the Back and Bankit were assigned co-high weight of 123 pounds, one more than Funny Guy, three higher than Amundson, and four more than Celtic Chaos.

Funny Guy opened his 2020 campaign by rallying to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Commentator, his first outing since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby more than eight months earlier. Funny Guy won a pair of statebred stakes at 3, including the 1 1/8-mile Albany. He finished second in the Mike Lee in his only previous try going seven furlongs.

Pat On the Back comes off what trainer Jeremiah Englehart believes was a much-needed outing when finishing a tiring sixth in the Commentator in his first start since finishing far back in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile in his 2019 finale.

“I definitely think he needed the race, I’m finding a lot of these horses we brought back from the farm just didn’t have enough works into them yet when we ran them the first time,” Englehart said. “I feel pretty comfortable with how he’s been working, he had a good work in company with Captain Bombastic last week. Dylan [Davis] was happy with him.

“The way the track is playing, drawing the one hole doesn’t worry me. Hopefully, he can save ground and Dylan can find his way from there.”

Bankit is winless in eight starts since capturing the New York Derby a year ago at Finger Lakes, although he has been stakes-placed four times this season highlighted by a near miss in the Grade 2 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Celtic Chaos rallied to defeat Build to Suit by a half-length in the 2019 Morrissey, a race carded at 6 1/2 furlongs last summer. He has not won in four subsequent starts and has been idle since checking in a non-threating sixth in the Say Florida Sandy on Jan. 11 at Aqueduct.