Noble Moon tops entries for Amsterdam Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Noble Moon, unraced since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in April, was one of nine 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Noble Moon, who began the year with a victory in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct in January, has had on-and-off foot issues since the Wood. He popped an abscess again Monday, but trainer Leah Gyarmati said the horse trained well enough Tuesday and Wednesday – he has a bar shoe to protect the area – to at least enter and take a look.
“It’s hard to tell if it’s gone or if it’s gonna linger,” Gyarmati said Wednesday. “It’s nothing serious. It could be perfect tomorrow, then we’re good to go.”
Gyarmati said she chose the Amsterdam over the Jim Dandy because she didn’t think the horse was fit enough to go 1 1/8 miles in his first start in nearly four months.
Coup de Grace, the winner of the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes in April and recent winner of the Oh Say Stakes at Delaware on July 5, is the horse to beat in the Amsterdam. He will break from post 4 under Rosie Napravnik.
Others entered include Captain Serious, second to Kid Cruz in the Grade 3 Dwyer, C. Zee, winner of two listed stakes at Gulfstream, Casiguapo, John’s Island, Rock Fall, and Tiznowforamerica.