Pinehurst Gears Up for Amsterdam Under Terranova's Care

Pinehurst , absent from the races since late March, will return in the $200,000 Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga Race Course July 31.The son of Twirling Candy  , formerly in the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, has been shifted to New York-based John Terranova.

Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, Pinehurst was last seen finishing 16th in the UAE Derby Sponsored by Mubadala (G2) March 26 at Meydan Racecourse.

"He had a productive and taxing campaign this winter in Saudi Arabia and Dubai," Tom Ryan of SF Racing said July 23. "The plan was always to give him some extended R&R to prepare for the summer and fall."

Since Baffert returned from suspension on July 3, Pinehurst had been working for him in California. In June, the New York Racing Association announced that Baffert was barred from running horses at its tracks until Jan. 25, 2023 even though the trainer has not had any infractions in New York.

"Bob's not allowed to race horses here," Jack Wolf, founder and managing partner of Starlight Racing along with his wife, Laurie, said, explaining the move to the Terranovas. "(Pinehurst) looks like a monster. We thought he might be one of the our best horses out of that (2020) group."

Pinehurst was a $385,000 purchase from the Woods Edge Farm consignment to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

In the start before the UAE Derby, Pinehurst won the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby (G3) He has three wins in six career starts. 

Tonya Terranova, assistant to her husband, said Pinehurst arrived at their Saratoga barn a week ago, He is scheduled to work July 24.

Ryan said that Pinehurst will stay in the Terranova barn for the rest of the summer.

"Long-range plans will be made post -race," Ryan said. "The Amsterdam is a prestigious race and we're excited to participate."