How to bet the 2023 Amsterdam Stakes

An excellent cast of six sophomores will speed 6 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga main strip in Friday’s $200,000 Amsterdam S. (G2). #5 Ryvit (3-1) is five-for-five since adding blinkers and I will give him the nod to keep his streak going for Steve Asmussen.

The $70,000 auction purchase was stakes placed as a juvenile but has really upped his level in 2023, reeling off convincing tallies in the Bachelor S. at Oaklawn Park, the Chick Lang S. (G3) at Pimlico, and most recently the Maxfield S. over a sloppy, sealed surface at Ellis Park.

Ryvit has held major leads turning for home in each of his last trio of wire-to-wire wins, but he proved capable of winning from off the pace in an allowance tally at Oaklawn Park earlier this season, as well. The Competitive Edge colt posted a pair of morning works on the Oklahoma training track leading up to Friday and attracted Ricardo Santana to ride the Heiligbrodt color bearer.

The unbeaten #6 New York Thunder (6-1) is something of a wildcard in the cast and could be any kind in his initial try on the dirt. The Nyquist colt crushed maiden foes at first asking on the All-Weather, led throughout in a subsequent allowance dash on the green, and then dominated the Woodstock S. on the Tapeta at Woodbine most recently. The bay Kentucky-bred has fine gate presence and has posted bullet morning moves in three of his last four breezes.

Trained by Jorge Delgado, the $130,000 yearling purchase gets a class test but can surely be up to the task if he likes this main strip. Tyler Gaffalione will pilot the win threat and have him up top in the early stages.

The once-beaten #1 Drew’s Gold (9-5) suffered a first setback at Belmont Park most recently, but the James Chapman pupil ran huge in defeat. This Violence three-year-old finished a clear second to Arabian Lion in the Woody Stephens S. (G1) at Belmont Park and has improved his Brisnet Speed figure in every career performance to date. The dark bay Kentucky-bred has versatility in his running style and is the one to beat with Jose Ortiz riding. My lone concern is the rail draw for the talented sophomore, as a slow break could leave him with a lot to do in the lane against talented foes.

Amsterdam Wagers

$30 win: #5 Ryvit ($30)

$1 trifecta: 5,6 with 1,5,6 with all ($16)