Engage wears target in Amsterdam Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Engage never seems to run a bad race. And there’s no reason to believe he won’t bring his “A” game again to Saratoga on Saturday, making him the horse to beat in the $200,000 Amsterdam, a 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 dash for 3-year-olds.

Engage has never finished worse than second in six career starts and is already a Grade 3 winner, having captured the six-furlong Futurity in his 2-year-old finale last fall at Belmont Park. He is coming off another big effort in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens. He was overtaken in late stretch by the red-hot Maryland invader Still Having Fun, and was easily second stretching to seven furlongs for just the second time.

“He got a beautiful trip, ran great, and we were very proud of his effort, even though he finished second in the Woody Stephens,” said Chad Brown, who trains Engage for Woodford Racing LLC.

“I believe seven furlongs is in his scope, although 6 1/2 furlongs may be a touch better. He’s doing as well as he ever has coming into this race, and it looks like it should be a good setup. Hopefully he’ll get the same kind of trip he did last time.”

Brown also said he’s not concerned about the possibility of an off track Saturday.

“He’s run well on wet tracks and dry, so that shouldn’t be an issue,” Brown said.

Engage is one of four members of the Amsterdam lineup coming out of the Woody Stephens, along with Promises Fulfilled, World of Trouble, and Strike Power, all of whom raced forwardly placed that day before finishing third, fourth, and eighth respectively.

Promises Fulfilled and World of Trouble engaged for the lead heads apart for six furlongs before the battle took its toll on both. The Woody Stephens was the first start for Promises Fulfilled since his 15th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby and first around one turn since he won an allowance race at Keeneland going seven furlongs early at 2.

The Amsterdam will be World of Trouble’s second start since his third-place finish in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby on March 10. He went postward the 5-2 favorite in the Woody Stephens.

Strike Power was hung out wide and retired prematurely in the Woody Stephens, which marked his first outing since he and Promises Fulfilled engaged in a suicidal speed duel in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 31.

Barry Lee was second to Engage when they met last fall in the Belmont Futurity and could be ready for his best yet making the third start of his form cycle. He’ll receive an eight-pound break in weights from Promises Fulfilled and Strike Power, who will share highweight of 124 pounds under the allowance conditions of the Amsterdam.

Old Time Revival, another potential pace factor, and the Grade 3-placed Soutache complete the field.