Amy's Challenge has trainer Robertson impressed

Trainer Mac Robertson put it simply when asked to talk about Amy’s Challenge, the 2-year-old filly he trains.

“That one can run,” Robertson said.

That she can. Debuting against males in the seventh race Aug. 6 at Canterbury Park, where Robertson is leading trainer, Amy’s Challenge went to the front and never looked back – and if she had, she probably wouldn’t have seen any horses. She won by 16 1/2 lengths and ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.89, a time good for a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, among a handful of 90-plus Beyers earned by 2-year-olds so far this year.

Amy’s Challenge is by Artie Schiller and is the second foal to race produced by the Jump Start mare, Jump Up, who went 3 for 3 and won a route race in her brief career on the track. She is owned by the Novogratz Racing Stable of Joe and Amy Novogratz who, Robertson said, already have turned down lucrative offers and plan to keep their filly. Amy’s Challenge obviously has speed and precocity, but Robertson believes she will comfortably extend beyond sprints.

“We had her in Hot Springs since January and always liked her,” he said. She’s a fast filly that goes smooth and looks like a route horse.”

Robertson watched in amazement, he said, when Amy’s Challenge had her first half-mile workout June 23 at Canterbury.

“That was the best work I’ve ever had on a 2-year-old by far. She’s been good since day 1. However many times she’s worked, it’s always been special,” Robertson said.

Since Amy’s Challenge raced fast and worked fast before her race, Robertson said he has been going slow this week. There are no set plans for her next start, but Robertson said he would prefer one more sprint before a try at a longer trip.

“We always try to develop horses, and I’m more worried about next year than next week,” he said. “But if she’s the fastest one right now, I do want to take advantage of that.”