Barbados sitting on big effort in Amsterdam
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There are only seven entered in Saturday’s $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds at Saratoga, but a good case can be made for almost any member of the field in the Grade 2 test, which serves as the major prep for the Grade 1 King’s Bishop later in the meet.
Barbados and Holy Boss might vie for favoritism in a field that includes two-time graded stakes winner March, the once-beaten and steadily improving Requite, Victory Is Sweet, The Great War, and Bluegrass Singer.
Barbados was one of the most exciting 3-year-olds to run at Gulfstream Park this past winter, winning a pair of stakes, including the Grade 3 Hutcheson. He was then sidelined to repair a small chip in the upper joint of his left knee. Barbados returned to south Florida to launch his comeback in the Grade 3 Carry Back on July 5, finishing second to the speedy Grand Bili as the 6-5 favorite.
“Any time a horse of his quality gets beat, you’re always disappointed,” said trainer Michael Tomlinson. “But after a six-month layoff, to run seven-eighths like he did and dig in and almost get to the winner, I was very proud.”
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Tomlinson said the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam figures to be an even tougher test, but he believes his horse is up to the task.
“Not only is the quality of horses better than he’s faced before in this race, but the track is a little deeper than he’s used to as well,” said Tomlinson. “But he’s doing great, and if he gets the trip, hopefully we’ll get the job done.”
Holy Boss is coming off the best race of his career, a two-length victory over Victory Is Sweet in the Chick Lang at Pimlico on May 16. He received a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure, tying for the best mark in the Amsterdam’s field. The performance followed a pair of wire-to-wire wins at Oaklawn Park this past winter.
“I think his victory in the Chick Lang validated his Oaklawn form,” said trainer Steve Asmussen.
March could wind up the third choice in the race despite coming off a pair of wins in the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct and the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont. Both of those races covered seven furlongs.
Trainer Chad Brown said March has recovered from his effort in the Woody Stephens, and he expects him to run well fresh.
“Six and one-half is a little short for him, but if the pace is strong enough, I think he has a chance to get up,” Brown said.
Key contenders
Barbados (Last 3 Beyers: 96-92-95)
◗ His last work, five furlongs in 59.40 seconds last Saturday at Churchill Downs, is better than it looks on paper, said Tomlinson. “I told the boy to keep him three paths off the fence in the deeper part of the racetrack because I wanted him to get more out of it, so it was even more impressive than the final time shows,” he said.
Holy Boss (Last 3 Beyers: 100-92-93)
◗ Broke sharply and sizzled five furlongs out of the gate in 59.28 on July 21.
◗ Figures to be with the pace throughout from the outside post.
Requite (Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-52)
◗ “It’s a class check,” said trainer George Weaver. “This is kind of the next step to see what he’s got.”
◗ Weaver said he wasn’t too concerned about drawing the rail: “I think he’s better stalking, so I don’t think it should be a problem.”
– additional reporting by David Grening