How to bet the 2025 Amsterdam Stakes

A cast of eight swift three-year-olds will travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga dirt in Friday’s $200,000 Amsterdam S. (G2). Impressive Pat Day Mile S. (G2) victor #1 Macho Music (2-1) is the pace of the race from the rail, and he will be difficult to run down with something resembling his best effort in this spot. Trained by Rohan Crichton, the bay son of Maclean’s Music flashed a whole lot of potential since his two-year-old season, and when he’s on his game, the $60,000 juvenile purchase is an especially tough customer to deal with. 

Amsterdam Wagers

• $1 superfecta 1,6 with 1,6 with 2,3,4,5 with 2,3,4,5 ($24)
• 50-cent superfecta 1,6 with 2,3,4,5 with 1,6 with 2,3,4,5 ($12)

Macho Music took the lead after the start and held an edge turning for home in the deep Woody Stephens S. (G1) on this oval last time before tiring in the lane, but he lands in a more realistic spot on Friday while also cutting back in distance to 6 1/2 panels. He drilled a bullet half-mile in his most recent morning spin and inherits the services of Irad Ortiz, Jr., too. 

#6 Gunmetal (9-2), who is also exiting the ultra-competitive Woody Stephens, has given the impression of a horse with a very high ceiling in two of his four lifetime runs, and I expect him to be a major threat in this dash. Brad Cox trainee was a comfortable allowance winner at Keeneland in April two back when toppling a subsequent stakes winner with ease, and I will give the son of Gun Runner a pass for not handling a muddy surface for the first time in his latest endeavor. 

The chestnut colt bypassed a run at Monmouth last week in favor of this more demanding assignment, which I view as a positive sign from his connections. Kentucky-bred sophomore owns the gate speed to be pressing the tempo early on, and the $410,000 yearling buy also possesses the closing kick to be a menacing foe in the latter stages of the heat, as well. Luis Saez will be in the stirrups. 

For the vertical exotics, I feel that Juddmonte homebred #2 Garamond (7-2), two-time stakes hero #3 Smoken Wicked (6-1), Bill Mott’s steadily improving #4 T Kraft (8-1), and Swale S. victor #5 Gate to Wire (5-1), are each worth including.