Amidst Waves Seeks Third in a Row in Bolton Landing

R.A. Hill Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Swinbank Stables, Black Type Thoroughbreds, and Big Tufff Stables' Amidst Waves  brings a high tide of two turf triumphs into the $150,000 Bolton Landing Stakes Aug. 20 for juvenile fillies sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on the lawn at Saratoga Race Course.

The George Weaver-trained Midshipman   chestnut was last seen posting a stakes debut victory in the five-furlong Colleen Stakes July 29 at Monmouth Park, where she tracked a close second to the outside of pacesetting longshot Velvet Vixen  and fended off a late surge from Lady d'Oro  to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Amidst Waves previously broke her maiden at second asking at Belmont Park, posting a 20-1 upset in defeating promising next-out winner Kodiac Wintergreen  by 3 3/4 lengths. This came following a distant fourth in May over the Gulfstream Park main track.

"She ran well last time at Monmouth, I'm really pleased with her," Weaver said. "She can carry her speed a little better on the turf than the dirt, but she's always been quick."

Amidst Waves will leave from post 3 in rein to current Saratoga leading rider Irad Ortiz Jr.

Looking to turn the tables on Amidst Waves is Crown Imperial , who finished third in her turf debut last out in the Colleen for owner Brent Gasaway and trainer John Ortiz.

The daughter of Classic Empire   has done plenty of traveling this summer, beginning her cross-country tour over the main track at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where she earned a debut triumph on May 31 going five furlongs before finishing second beaten a neck in the next-out Prairie Gold Lassie Stakes July 7 at Prairie Meadows.

"She's got the biggest heart I've ever seen. She's not afraid to get bumped around and go after horses. She's tough," said Ortiz, who earned his first Spa graded stakes triumph earlier in the meet with Adirondack Stakes (G3) winner Brightwork .

Ortiz noted the turf influence on the bottom side of Crown Imperial, who is out of the Congrats  mare Mi Fiori —a half-sister to 2019 Poker Stakes (G3T) winner Gucci Factor .

"We decided to give her a shot on the turf because of her pedigree," Ortiz said. "She's small and we think sprinting is working for her. I don't want to stretch her out too far on either surface. I think she's better off going short."

Tyler Gaffalione will ride Crown Imperial from post 2.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Astonesthrowaway  (post 6, Luis Saez) in pursuit of his second Bolton Landing after taking the 2017 race with March X Press .

The Bustin Stones   chestnut broke her maiden against fellow state-breds June 15 going five furlongs over the Belmont Widener turf for Weaver, before being purchased by new owner Jordan Wycoff for $75,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. She was bred in the Empire State by Springhouse Farm.

Barry Schwartz's New York homebred Gram  (post 4, Joel Rosario) will make her stakes debut following a third-out maiden score on July 26 at Saratoga for trainer Christophe Clement. The Maclean's Music   bay was a distant fifth in her May 28 debut before finishing second to Astonesthrowaway next out.