The $200,000 Grade II Amsterdam Stakes, a bucket list race for three year-old sprinters, kicks off an enticing pick four sequence July 26 at Saratoga that also includes the Jim Dandy Stakes.
The six and a half furlong event on the dirt attracts a field of nine with the Todd Pletcher trainee Rock Fall installed as the 2/1 morning line favorite. Rock Fall is two for three lifetime with impressive scores against maiden special weight then allowance company at Belmont Park. What Rock Fall lacks in racing experience, he appears to make up for in raw ability. Rock Fall looks like the quickest from the gate in a race loaded with speed.
Coup de Grace is the 3/1 second choice for trainer Larry Jones after capturing the Oh Say Stakes at Delaware Park July 5. Ridden by Rosie Napravnik, Coup de Grace’s late-charging style should be advantageous given the projected pace scenario. With four wins in six starts, Coup de Grace looks to be the consistent sort despite an uncharacteristic sixth place finish in the Woody Stephens two starts back.
Captain Serious (4/1 ML) figures to be involved in the early pace for trainer Michael Hushion and jockey Jose Ortiz. Captain Serious boasts three wins in four starts – the lone defeat being a game second place effort his last race in the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont. Big Guy Ian (20/1) is another speedster that could affect how quickly those early fractions develop.
The field is set for the $1 million Haskell, where Nyquist will be trying to re-stake his claim as the top three-year-old in the country.
On Sunday at Monmouth Park, the featured race is the $300,000 United Nations Stakes. Scheduled to be run at a mile and three-eighths on the turf, the Grade 1 event has drawn a field of ten colts and geldings.
On Sunday at Monmouth Park, the featured race is the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes, a key prep race for the Haskell Invitational (G1). The Grade 3 event will be contested at a mile and a sixteenth and has drawn a field of seven three-year-olds.
With five grade 1 races and a grade 2, the undercard for the June 11 Belmont stakes could be the best single day of racing on the calendar outside of the Breeders’ Cup.
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