Holy Boss wins fourth straight in Amsterdam

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Steve Asmussen’s patience with Holy Boss paid big dividends Saturday at Saratoga as the speedy 3-year-old continued his winning ways with a convincing 2 1/4-length victory over the rail-skimming Requite in the $200,000 Amsterdam.

Holy Boss brought a three-race win streak into the Grade 2 Amsterdam but had not started since winning the Chick Lang at Pimlico on May 16. Asmussen opted to pass the Woody Stephens at Belmont Park to point for both the Amsterdam and his main goal this summer, the Grade 1 King’s Bishop here Aug. 29.

With regular rider Rafael Santana Jr. aboard, Holy Boss broke alertly to stalk the early pace of Bluegrass Singer, forged to a short advantage in early stretch, then edged away from Requite through the final furlong. The latter raced well placed while saving ground, continued willingly along the inside, but proved no match for the winner while easily second best, finishing 3 3/4 lengths in front of the tepid 2-1 favorite Barbados. Victory Is Sweet, Bluegrass Singer, and the Woody Stephens winner March rounded out the complete order of finish.

Holy Boss, a son of Street Boss owned by Jerry Durant, completed 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:15.38 and paid $6.90.

“The draw was very good to him. I think Ricky [Santana] knows him very well and has a lot of confidence in him,” said Asmussen. “His Chick Lang validated what we’d seen at Oaklawn all winter long. I spoke to Mr. Durant and decided to give him a little break, and we were trying to use this as a prep for the King’s Bishop. If anything, he showed more maturity today than he had in his previous races. He’s shown a lot of talent before, and I loved him winning a race on this stage.”