Gunite holds off Accretive in Amsterdam Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Steve Asmussen knew by the end of last year Gunite wasn’t going to be a horse he would try down the Triple Crown trail this spring. So, in mapping out a 3-year-old campaign for the colt, Asmussen wanted Gunite to be prepared and be at his best this summer at Saratoga, where last summer he won the Grade 1 Hopeful.
On Sunday, in his return to Saratoga, Gunite dueled early with Pinehurst, put Pinehurst away and held off a late run from the upstart Accretive to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-olds by a neck.
Accretive, making just his second career start, finished 4 1/4 lengths clear of Runninsonofagun. Pappacap was fourth, followed, in order, by My Prankster Hoist the Gold, Surfer Dude, Pinehurst, and Corniche, the champion 2-year-old of 2021 and 8-5 Amsterdam favorite.
Gunite’s victory, his fourth from nine career starts, capped a huge weekend for trainer Steve Asmussen, who on Saturday won the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt with Jackie’s Warrior and the Grade 2 Jim Dandy with Epicenter. Gunite earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
In the Amsterdam, Gunite bobbled out of the gate under Tyler Gaffalione, but quickly recovered and put himself into the race, pressing the rail-breaking Pinehurst through a quarter in 21.78 seconds and a half-mile in 44.60. Turning for home, Gunite began to get away from Pinehurst, and was able to hold off the oncoming Accretive, who came in a touch under Irad Ortiz Jr. and bumped Gunite’s hindquarters. Both horses kept on to the wire with Gunite prevailing.
“He’s shown in the past he likes a fight,” said Gaffalione, who also rode Gunite to victory in the Maxfield Stakes four weeks ago at Churchill Downs. “Last time he snuck up the rail and dueled all the way to the wire. Today wasn’t any different. He likes the competition.”
Gunite, a son of Gun Runner owned by Ron Winchell, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.75 and returned $16.80 as the 7-1 fifth choice in the nine-horse field.
“I thought that was a very similar race to the horse that we ran here last year,” Asmussen said. “Just handy, in a good spot, tenacious to the wire. Extremely good win, obviously on to the Allen Jerkens from here.”
Asmussen was referring to the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 27. Jackie’s Warrior won that race last year narrowly over Life Is Good.
Corniche, last year’s 2-year-old champion, disappointed in the Amsterdam, his first start since he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November. He got away awkwardly under Luis Saez, but quickly recovered to attain a stalking third position, just behind the dueling leaders. By the three-eighths pole, however, he began to retreat and finished last, beaten 33 1/4 lengths.
Corniche was making his first start for Todd Pletcher, after the horse was moved from Bob Baffert owing to Baffert's suspension by the New York Racing Association for a number of medication violations in other jurisdictions.
“He didn’t get away real cleanly, kind of found himself in a position he’s never really been in before,” Pletcher said. “Luis said when he went to the three-eighths pole he came off the bridle. Scope him over and see if anything’s revealed. Yeah, disappointing, we know he’s better than that.”
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