Tuesday, July 29, 2008

AMSTERDAM RECAP

Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm’s Kodiak Kowboy needed the entire length of the stretch, but finally caught front-running Desert Key to win Monday afternoon’s 16th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Amsterdam for three-year-olds at six and a half furlongs at Saratoga Race Course by a head.

It was the second career Spa win in as many starts for Kodiak Kowboy, a Posse colt who won the Saratoga Special at this distance as a two-year-old here last year.


Ridden by Gabriel Saez, who recorded his first career victory at Saratoga, Kodiak Kowboy settled inside early as Eaton’s Gift was hustled from the gate to get the lead. Desert Key, under jockey Edgar Prado, glided up to the lead to get the first quarter of a mile in 21.79 on the fast main track.

Desert Key maintained the hot pace, as the half went in 44.19 and he hung in as Kodiak Kowboy began his rally. Neither gave up, and as the battle raged through the lane, the rest of the field became an afterthought.

Kodiak Kowboy finally emerged the winner, as he stopped the timer in 1:15.56. He returned $6.10 for his sixth victory in 11 lifetime starts.

“I have to give credit to Steve (Asmussen, former trainer of Kodiak Kowboy),” said trainer Larry Jones, who took over the training duties this spring after Kodiak Kowboy ran second to Macho Again in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs on April 26. Sunday, Macho Uno won the Grade 2, nine-furlong Jim Dandy here at Saratoga Race Course and will point for the Grade 1, $1 million Travers Stakes presented by Shadwell Farm on August 23.

“He was already pointed to this race,” Jones continued. “All I had to do was not mess it up. It worked out well for us. Gabriel (Saez, jockey) has stepped up to the plate every time I’ve called upon him. We’re proud of him. He’ll not be out-ridden. Once you get even with him, you’re in trouble.”

Kodiak Kowboy will likely start next in the 24th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 King’s Bishop for three-year-olds at seven furlongs on Travers Day, a race Jones won last year with Hard Spun.

“Kodiak Kowboy needed this race, since it had been a while since he had run,” Jones said. “The King’s Bishop is our target. It would be nice to win it again this year.”

Devereux was 4 ½ lengths back in third and was followed by Silver Edition, Excess Capital, Fidelio, who went to his knees at the start, and Eaton’s Gift.

AMSTERDAM QUOTES

Winning trainer Larry Jones of Kodiak Kowboy (No. 5): “I have to give credit to Steve (Asmussen, former trainer of Kodiak Kowboy). He was already pointed to the race. All I had to do was not mess it up. It worked out well for us. Gabriel (Saez, jockey) has stepped up to the plate every time I’ve called upon him. We’re proud of him. He’ll not be out-ridden. Once you get even with him, you’re in trouble.

“Kodiak Kowboy needed this race, since it had been a while since he had run, and the King’s Bishop is our target. It would be nice to win it again this year.”

NOTE: Jones trained 2007 King’s Bishop winner Hard Spun. The 24th running of the Grade 1, $250,000 King’s Bishop for three-year-olds at seven furlongs will be run on Travers Day, Saturday, August 23, 2008.

Winning jockey Gabriel Saez (first Saratoga victory): “Being that Kodiak Kowboy had won here before, I felt very comfortable. He’s a nice horse. This was my first time on him and he surprised me, It’s nice to win here. Now I can go home happy.”

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