by Vance Hanson
Though very much hard to classify as a sprinter, the most intriguing entrant
in Monday’s $150,000 Amsterdam S. (Grade 2) at Saratoga is To Honor and Serve,
the Bill Mott-trained colt who was one of the pre-season favorites for the 2011
classics. The Live Oak-owned colt returns from a four-month layoff in the 6
1/2-furlong Amsterdam, which for most of the other three-year-olds in the field
serves as a prep for the August 27 King’s Bishop S. (Grade 1).
Dynamic winner of the Remsen S. (Grade 2) and Nashua S. (Grade 3) to conclude
his juvenile season, To Honor and Serve’s star began to tarnish even before he
was sidelined prior to the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) due to an injured suspensory
ligament. In two starts over the winter at Gulfstream, To Honor and Serve was a
well-beaten third in both the Fountain of Youth S. (Grade 2) and Florida Derby
(Grade 1), running well below the form he had displayed as a two-year-old. The
Amsterdam will be the shortest race of To Honor and Serve’s career thus far; he
debuted at Saratoga 11 months ago in a seven-furlong maiden, finishing second to
subsequent Grade 3 winner and classic-placed Astrology.
Also cutting back from longer distances is Caleb’s Posse, whose earlier
stakes wins include the Ohio Derby (Grade 3) and Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn.
Though unlucky when enduring several troubled trips this season, the Donnie Von
Hemel trainee had no visible excuse when a distant fourth in the Iowa Derby
(Grade 3) last out.
Among the sprint specialists in the Amsterdam field are Justin Phillip, who
skipped through the mud on Belmont Stakes Day to take the Woody Stephens S.
(Grade 2) by a commanding 3 1/4 lengths. He is one of two trainer Steve Asmussen
will saddle for Monday’s feature, the other being Wine Police, an impressive 7
3/4-length debut winner at the Spa last summer. Third subsequently in the
Hopeful S. (Grade 1), Wine Police was out of action more than 10 months before
returning to take a June 24 allowance at Churchill Downs by 2 1/4 lengths.
Swale S. (Grade 2) hero Travelin Man dueled himself into submission in both
the Derby Trial S. (Grade 3) and Woody Stephens, but might appreciate the
cutback in distance and a dry track if he can get one. Also exiting the Woody
Stephens, as the beaten favorite, is Ziggy’s Boy S. winner Arch Traveler. The
Amsterdam field is rounded out by stakes debuter Redeemed, whose taken three
straight including a pair of allowances during the Belmont spring stand.
The $75,000 Rachel Alexandra S., restricted to fillies and mares that have
non won a graded stakes this season, marks the return to Saratoga of Lisa’s
Booby Trap, the Finger Lakes-based filly who trounced her opposition by six
lengths in the Loudonville S. last season. Graded stakes mainstays Belle of the
Hall, Decelerator, Buckleupbuttercup, Kid Kate and Ailalea are among the other
likely contenders.
The stakes action kicks off Monday with the $75,000 Smart and Fancy S., a 5
1/2-fulong Mellon turf dash for fillies and mares. Strike the Bell, a Grade 3
winner last fall, shortens up after a pair of dull efforts at Belmont and Parx
Racing. Among the one-turn specialists, Quebrada Shiner, Ahvee’s Destiny,
Karakorum Elektra and Legally Blanca merit the most attention.