from Brisnet:

QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality), impressive winner of the Florida Derby (G1) and Fountain of Youth S. (G2) earlier this year, makes his long-awaited return to action Monday when he faces five rivals in the $150,000 Amsterdam S. (G2) at Saratoga. The 6 1/2-furlong contest, Quality Road's first since being transferred from trainer James Jerkens to Todd Pletcher, could be used as a springboard toward the August 29 Travers S. (G1), which would mark the Edward Evans' homebred's first attempt beyond nine furlongs.

A winner in three of four career starts, Quality Road stamped himself as the potential Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite with a strong 1 3/4-length tally in the Florida Derby on March 28. A quarter-crack in his right hind foot was discovered by Jerkens as the colt returned to the winner's circle after that race, however, and, after another quarter-crack developed in his right front hoof, the decision was made to withdraw the colt's name from consideration on the Monday before the Kentucky Derby. Slow to heal, Quality Road was forced to miss the entire Triple Crown series and was ultimately moved to the Pletcher barn in mid-June.

Quality Road, who won his debut at the distance at Aqueduct in November, drew post 4 for the Amsterdam and will attempt to keep pace with a strong group of sprint specialists. The most notable is CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride [Arg]), who is three-for-four this season with scores in the Hutcheson S. (G2), Bay Shore S. (G3) and Matt Winn S. His only loss, to Quality Road in the one-mile Fountain of Youth, resulted in a distant fourth-place finish. Like most of the other main contenders in the field, the Ian Wilkes charge is likely using the Amsterdam as a stepping stone to the August 29 King's Bishop S. (G1) at seven furlongs.

EVERYDAY HEROES (Awesome Again), a brilliant winner of the Hirsch Jacobs S. (G3) on the Preakness S. (G1) undercard, was beaten into second by the talented Munnings (Speightstown) in the Woody Stephens S. (G2) on the Belmont S. (G1) undercard. The Woody Stephens has already developed into a key race, with Munnings returning to win the Tom Fool H. (G2) and third-placer Kensei (Mr. Greeley) taking the Dwyer S. (G2) in his next attempt. Both Munnings and Kensei were scheduled to run over the weekend, with Munnings stretching out in Sunday's Haskell Invitational (G1) and Kensei competing in Saturday's Jim Dandy S. (G2).

This, too, will mark Everyday Heroes' first start for a new trainer in Kiaran McLaughlin. The colt, who was privately purchased by Darley following the Hirsch Jacobs, made his final start for Tim Ritchey in the Woody Stephens.

CUSTOM FOR CARLOS (More Than Ready) enters the Amsterdam off a decisive 6 1/4-length score in the Jersey Shore S. (G3) over six furlongs, and will attempt to keep pace with both Everyday Heroes and CABARET COWBOY (Speightstown), who knocked out a maiden and an allowance win during the Belmont spring meet. The Amsterdam field is rounded out by CAPTAIN CHEROKEE (Sir Cherokee), whose two career victories at Fair Grounds last winter were at a mile or beyond.

do you like this horse today-do you have plays today?
good luck

I'm rooting for QR, i think if he comes back as good as he was in the spring, or better, than he is the only horse in the US that can give RA a run for her money.

Originally Posted by Danip

I'm rooting for QR, i think if he comes back as good as he was in the spring, or better, than he is the only horse in the US that can give RA a run for her money.

nice call he won an looked good down the stretch capt.candyman couldn't get passed him

4 / 6 / 5 was the order of finish

I bet Capt. Candyman Can ton win, boxed him with Captain Cherokee, and made a small win bet on Captain Cherokee as well. Thought perhaps i was gonna make a nice score at the top of the stretch, but Quality Road was too good. Why i didn't play the trifecta as well, i'll never know. I guess i just do it so rarely, that i never even think about it.

The 6-furlong time and final time were remarkable. Broke the track record by a wide margin. Not sure if there was a timer malfunction or not, but if not, then the track must have been playing exceptionally fast today. I'll have to look at the charts later.

Originally Posted by DiscreetCat

I bet Capt. Candyman Can ton win, boxed him with Captain Cherokee, and made a small win bet on Captain Cherokee as well. Thought perhaps i was gonna make a nice score at the top of the stretch, but Quality Road was too good. Why i didn't play the trifecta as well, i'll never know. I guess i just do it so rarely, that i never even think about it.

The 6-furlong time and final time were remarkable. Broke the track record by a wide margin. Not sure if there was a timer malfunction or not, but if not, then the track must have been playing exceptionally fast today. I'll have to look at the charts later.

yup clock was bad, the final time was 1.13.45 (QR) broke the record @saratoga

very nice

Just saw this on Left at the Gate, i assume it came from Steve Crist's blog:


Crist writes:

>>Dave Litfin is reporting over on The Inside Post that track officials are now saying the final time of the Amsterdam is correct and that only the six-furlong split is off -- it should have been 1:07.22 and not 1:06.85.>>

KP-RH,
Thanks, i liked him for the Derby, especially after he proved he can go longer in the FL Derby. He is a freak IMO too, and is the only horse, yes i said only, horse who can run with RA in America right now. That time is CC wouldn't have gone by him, once QR saw him he was like you think you can catch me?, and put on a burst. If he wins the Travers, i hope he and RA are in the JCGC togeather. What a match up that would be.