Basin Returns to Sprinting in Amsterdam Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Basin at Oaklawn Park
It will be a weekend of new beginnings for Jackpot Farm's Basin, who has been entered in a sprint for the first time since his juvenile campaign by new trainer Todd Pletcher. The son of Liam's Map will return to the Saratoga Race Course starting gate Aug. 29 for the first time in almost a year when he headlines the $150,000 Amsterdam Stakes (G2).
"He's been training well, and I've been pleased with his works," Pletcher said. "We'll see how he responds to the cutback in distance."
Basin scored the first of his two top-level wins in the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga last year. Under Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen, he started the year on the Triple Crown trail, running third in the March 14 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. He again ran on a sloppy (sealed) track next out, finishing fourth in the April 11 Oaklawn Stakes. Racing in a division of the May 2 Arkansas Derby (G1), Basin finished second, six lengths behind Charlatan, but was awarded a victory in the 1 1/8-mile dirt test following Charlatan's disqualification by the Arkansas racing commission for a positive drug test.
A troubled trip—Basin was bumped at the start—resulted in a 10th-place finish in the 1 1/8-mile Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) July 11 at Keeneland. Jockey Jose Ortiz will have the mount in the Amsterdam from the inside post.
Joining Basin in the field will be B.C.W.T.'s Long Weekend, whose only graded stakes start came at Saratoga in the 2019 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2).
The ultra-consistent son of Majesticperfection trained by Tom Amoss has hit the board in all four starts this season. The colt won a Feb. 19 allowance-level race at Sam Houston Race Park before taking the March 21 Gazebo Stakes and April 25 Bachelor Stakes—both at Oaklawn. He will enter the Amsterdam off a runner-up finish in the July 10 Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park.
"There's no secret to our game plan," Amoss said. "He's very, very fast out the gate, and we're going to try and use that speed. We were a little disappointed with how things turned out at Belmont with the track condition and not breaking well that day, which was very uncharacteristic of him. We thought he fought hard but was certainly compromised right at the start of the race. We're looking to make amends for that."
Jockey Luis Saez picks up the mount for the first time from post 3.
Leaving post 2 for Asmussen will be William and Corinne Heiligbrodt's Yaupon, who is unbeaten in two starts.
A $255,000 purchase by East Hickman Stables from Wavertree Stables' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale, the son of Uncle Mo broke his maiden June 20 at Churchill Downs and most recently won a July 18 allowance race at Saratoga over the six-furlong Amsterdam distance. Joel Rosario will partner.
Tom Mansor, Richard Pushor, Robert Roy, Chadwick Calvert, and Jerry Caroom's Liam's Pride will look to bounce back after finishing last of 11 in the Aug. 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Saratoga. The Liam's Map colt notched a victory in the race prior, overcoming a sloppy (sealed) track to win the six-furlong Gold Fever Stakes.
Liam's Pride was unraced as a juvenile but has already made nine starts this year with two wins, breaking his maiden at fourth asking in March at Oaklawn before his stakes win in July.
"He is a really cool horse that has a lot of fight to him," trainer Doug O'Neill said.
Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, August 29, 2020, Race 7Entries: Amsterdam S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Basin (KY)
Jose L. Ortiz
124
Todd A. Pletcher
7/2
2
2Yaupon (KY)
Joel Rosario
118
Steven M. Asmussen
8/5
3
3Long Weekend (KY)
Luis Saez
122
Thomas M. Amoss
9/5
4
4Premier Star (KY)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
120
Michael J. Trombetta
5/1
5
5Wondrwherecraigis (KY)
Javier Castellano
118
Brittany Russell
10/1
6
6Liam's Pride (KY)
Dylan Davis
122
Doug F. O'Neill
15/1
