Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Amy’s Challenge pointed for Alcibiades, will prep vs. boys
Amy’s Challenge, the promising 2-year-old filly based at Canterbury Park with trainer Mac Robertson, had her first work Wednesday since a sharp debut win, and her connections have plotted the outline of a late-summer and fall campaign.
Amy’s Challenge officially worked five furlongs in 1:00.13, though Robertson said the work was set up more as a halfmile drill. Robertson said he timed Amy’s Challenge’s first furlong in about 13 seconds and that she had gotten her last eighth in roughly 11 seconds, a flashy come-home time for what was not intended to be a strong breeze.
“We were happy to get her around there safe,” Robertson said. “The last eighth was pretty effortless. She’s a big, fast filly. She stands about 16 [hands] 2.”
Amy’s Challenge’s lone start, an open maiden race, came Aug. 6 at Canterbury, where she won over 5 1/2 furlongs by more than 16 lengths after popping to the lead. The race produced a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest number in the country so far this year for a 2-year-old filly. Amy’s Challenge, purchased for $20,000 at auction by the Novogratz Racing Stable, is by Artie Schiller out of Jump Up, by Jump Start, and Robertson believes despite all her speed that she is meant to be a route horse.
With that in mind, Robertson has set as a major goal the Grade 1 Alcibiades Stakes, a 1 1/16mile dirt race Oct. 6 at Keeneland. To get her there, Robertson said, the plan is to race against males on Sept. 15 at Canterbury in the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile at six furlongs. Robertson said Amy’s Challenge was likely to have one more work before that start.
Mr. Jagermeister bounces back
Mr. Jagermeister, a Minnesota-bred, is the second-fastest 2-year-old to race so far this summer at Canterbury. After finishing second as the heavy favorite last out in the Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows, Mr. Jagermeister dominated Minnesota-breds for the second time this summer winning the $85,000 Northern Lights Futurity by 15 1/2 lengths this past Sunday.
Mr. Jagermeister debuted with Minnesota-breds and won a maiden race by more than 11 lengths, but in that start, as well as the open stakes at Prairie, he ran headlong into the first turn, using most of his energy early. On Sunday, jockey Andrew Ramgeet rated Mr. Jagermeister on the lead, and the colt, by Atta Boy Roy, had more left for the homestretch.
“It worked out very, very well,” said trainer Valorie Lund. “The colt did everything right. He rated, and he finished up well enough. By sitting and relaxing, he actually ran a faster final furlong than the older males in a stakes the same day.”
Lund said Mr. Jagermeister “won’t run for three weeks or a month,” and that she has no specific race as a target. Races in California and Kentucky will be considered, and Lund will think about stretching Mr. Jagermeister out in distance.
“He was tired after Iowa, but he did come out of this race in really great shape. He’ll get a winter break, but that tends to make me say, ‘Yes, we’ll run him again this year,’ ” Lund said.
Mystic Lake Derby draws 11
Eleven horses were entered Wednesday for the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds that headlines a three-stakes card Saturday at Canterbury.
From the rail out, the field, which lacks standouts, includes Siem Riep, Line Judge, Sakonnet, Red Corvette, Witt’sdollarnight, Mongolian Greywold, My Bariley, Diamondmaze, Giant Payday, Jack Snipe’s, and Hot Shot Kid.
Minnesota-bred Hot Shot Kid drew poorly on the far outside but comes into the race having won all four of his races at this meet and five starts in a row. He is set to make his turf debut and earned a start in Saturday’s race by working five furlongs on grass Aug. 19 at Canterbury.
“I worked him with Majestic Pride, my best turf horse, and Hot Shot Kid was right there with him easily,” trainer Mac Robertson said.