The racing week in New York continues on this week with a ten-race card on Friday afternoon where once again they will be off the turf. The slate is headlined by the $250k Amsterdam (G2) featuring some of the country’s fastest 3YO sprinters traveling 6.5-fulrongs. Here are a few horses I like most, including my thoughts on the feature.


Race 6:
The first horse I like comes in this state-bred MSW event for 2YOs at six-furlongs where only one runner in the full field of juveniles enters with racing experience. #1 Freedom Charge ran on June 19 where he was outsprinted early and outrun throughout in a four-horse race at Aqueduct. The experience cannot be overstated, but he draws the rail and is unlikely to get overlooked despite little running on debut. So, I will look to a few first-time starters instead. #5 Maximilian and 5-2-ML favorite #6 Yestahal intrigue, but I landed on #7 Mindfield in the end. The son of Mind Control sold for a whopping $700k at the OBS April sale, which is wild considering he stands for just $8k. Trainer Mark Casse legs up Flavien Prat for this colt’s debut. I expect a big run at first asking for the John Oxley owned runner.

Play: #7 Mindfield (4-1)
Picks: 7-5-6


Race 7:
My next play comes in this optional claimer at 1 1/8-miles over the main track where I will ride the hot hand of #1 Metatron’s Muse. The son of Flatter has been both popular at the claim box of late, as well as a regular visitor to the winner’s circle. The 6YO gelding has rattled off two consecutive victories against open company claimers, including a win over this surface and distance back on Opening Day of the summer meeting when jockey Jose Ortiz broke well, took Metatron’s Muse in hand, saved ground early, and angled out to earn the victory late. With an honest pace likely, Ortiz should be able to work out a similar trip on the class hike at a playable price in his first start off the claim for owner/trainer Mertkan Kantarmaci.

Play: #1 Metatron’s Muse (6-1 ML)
Picks: 1-3-6


Race 9: Amsterdam (G2)
It will be interesting to see how the three ML favorites perform in their first start back since being blitzed by Englishman in the Woody Stephens (G1). 7-5-ML favorite #7 Obliteration and #4 Gilded Bandit finished a non-threatening third and fourth, while #3 Solitude Dude battled inside the eventual winner early before having his heart ripped out before they hit the lane. Of the three, I am most concerned by how Solitude Dude will run. The promising Yaupon colt had won 4 of 5 prior to his first Grade 1 start, but was beaten like a drum and returns to the races for a barn that struggled to win in July at the Spa.

Obliteration and Gilded Bandit are likely to run their races, but will not provide strong enough value, so I will try the lightly-raced #2 Local Knowledge. The Spendthrift Farm colt ran big on debut against a live group of maidens at Keeneland last fall, but was scratched from his next start in Florida and remained on the sidelines all the way until June 6 where he disappointed as the 2-1-favorite in a first-level allowance over this same surface and distance. It stands to reason that the $625k OBS April ’25 purchase needed the race off the layoff and may have been fortunate to avoid Englishman and Crude Velocity during the early part of the campaign. He should find a favorable forward position under Johnny V and hopefully show the stamina he did at first asking in his third lifetime try.

Play: #2 Local Knowledge (5-1 ML)
Picks: 2-7-4