Local Knowledge outbattles Solitude Dude to take Amsterdam by a head
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – What Local Knowledge lacked in experience coming into Friday’s $250,000 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga he made up for with raw talent, outgaming three-time stakes winner Solitude Dude following a stretch long duel to register a head victory in the Grade 2 fixture for 3-year-old sprinters.
Local Knowledge’s hard-fought and well-deserved victory gave rider John Velazquez another career milestone – his 800th lifetime graded stakes win.
Local Knowledge had made just two previous starts and was making his stakes debut in the 6 1/2-furlong Amsterdam. He won a hot maiden race launching his career last fall at Keeneland before returning from an extended vacation to finish third against older horses under entry-level allowance conditions here on June 6.
Local Knowledge was forwardly placed from the outset, prompting the early pace of Churchill Downs invader American Man, who sprinted right to the front, on the rail, from his inside post. Local Knowledge joined the leader approaching the quarter pole after a lively 44.64-second half-mile. The pair was joined at that point by Solitude Dude, who ranged up three wide.
Solitude Dude stuck his head in front upon settling into the stretch and maintained that advantage until the sixteenth pole. At that point Local Knowledge, responding to vigorous urging nearest the rail, fought back under Velazquez to retake command nearing the wire.
Obliteration, the 4-5 favorite, was reserved about four lengths off the leaders following an alert start, moved within striking distance through the furlong grounds but could not muster a further response. He ultimately finished third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Solitude Dude.
Local Knowledge, a son of Yaupon, is trained by Todd Pletcher for Spendthrift Farm LLC. He covered the distance over a fast track in 1:14.89 and returned $10.34.
“I knew his last effort was maybe better than it looked on paper, running against older, seasoned horses off the layoff with only one start under his belt,” said Pletcher. “We just kind of had to go with what we were seeing in the mornings and the way he was training.
“We could have tried an allowance race again but we just felt he was doing so well, we should give this a try.”
Pletcher, who registered career victory 5,992 by winning the Amsterdam, said he felt Local Knowledge seemed to be handling himself nicely throughout the race despite prompting a very rapid pace.
“As fast as they were traveling down the backside, it looked like he was traveling pretty smoothly and was very game throughout,” Pletcher acknowledged.
Pletcher said if all continues to go well, Local Knowledge would likely come back in the Grade 1 Allen Jerkens Memorial going seven furlongs on Aug. 29.
“As long as he trains the way he has been, that’s what we’ll target,” Pletcher said.
When informed the Amsterdam was Velazquez’s 800th graded stakes win, a fact he was not aware of at the time, Pletcher was quick to praise his longtime friend and colleague.
“He’s a remarkable man. It’s unbelievable the level he’s been riding at for so many years.” said Pletcher
When asked about his latest milestone, Velazquez replied, “I’ve been very blessed with all the opportunities I’ve been given riding all these horses.
“Todd and I have been together for 20 something years and he’s been very successful, we’ve been successful together, so doing it with him [today] was definitely special.”
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