Sculcos Folly eyes New York Derby or Amsterdam Stakes

Sculcos Folly, who ran his winning streak to four straight with a decisive victory in the Mike Lee Stakes at Saratoga on June 3, will be considered for either the New York Derby at Finger Lakes on July 13 or the Grade 2, $250,000 Amsterdam at Saratoga on July 21, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said.

The Finger Lakes Derby keeps Sculcos Folly with New York-breds but would be his first test around two turns and at 1 1/16 miles. The Amsterdam could mean a potential meeting with the top 3-year-old sprinter Englishman, who has been mentioned for that race as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 29.

Dutrow did enter Sculcos Folly for the main track only in Saturday’s $150,000 Spectacular Bid division of the New York Stallion Series at Aqueduct. The weather forecast is favorable for that race to remain on the turf as scheduled.

Sculcos Folly has won his last four starts by a combined 29 1/2 lengths. One of those wins came in the Gander, a one-turn-mile race.

“The one time he ran a mile he kept drawing off,” Dutrow said. “If we decide to do [New York Derby] the field is not going to be too tough. I’m not afraid to try it. … I don’t want to get caught in a bad spot.

“He’s run big,” Dutrow added. “I don’t know what he’s beating. I don’t feel like testing him against a real, real good horse. We like watching him win.”

Dutrow said Igniter, winner of the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct in March and third in the Chick Lang at Laurel in May, is pointing to the Grade 3, $250,000 Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs on June 28.

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