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Most Distinguished proves best in Amsterdam Favored MOST DISTINGUISHED (Dixie Union) was able to fulfill bettors' expectations Monday at Saratoga when the bay sophomore got up late to take the $150,000 Amsterdam S. (G2). Out of Gwedda (Out of Place) jumped out to the early advantage in the 6 1/2-furlong fray, leading the pack through an opening quarter in :22. Sir Five Star (Five Star Day) then put his head in front between rivals, reeling off the half in :44 4/5 before surrendering the lead in the stretch to Americanus (Yonaguska), who lugged in under right-hand urging. Up to this point, Most Distinguished had rated in midpack underneath jockey Rafael Bejarano, but following a five-wide move around the turn, the pair unleashed a late run on the outside to best Americanus by a length, stopping the clock in 1:15 4/5 on the fast track. "I was just trying to take my time with this horse," Bejarano said. "He's a come-from-behind horse. He settles great behind horses, and I knew they were going fast today." The betting public sent the Nick Zito trainee off as the 2-1 favorite, allowing Most Distinguished to return $6.40, $4.30 and $2.90 while leading a $33.80 exacta and $383.50 trifecta (8-7-3). Americanus returned $7.10 and $5.10 at 7-1 for second, while Starbase (Tale of the Cat) gave back $6.50 for the bronze spot at 16-1. Rounding out the order of finish were Forty Grams (Distorted Humor), Out of Gwedda, Sir Five Star, Roman's Run (Tiznow), Holy Canyon (Holy Bull) and Elite Squadron (Officer). "Today, it looked like Americanus was going to get away," Zito commented, "and I said to myself, 'Not another second (referring to seconds by Wanderin Boy [Seeking the Gold] in the Whitney [G1] and C P West [Came Home] in the Jim Dandy [G2].' But then he came. It's great to get this win today. He ran unbelievable." Zito added that the King's Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga on August 25 will most likely be the next race on Most Distinguished's schedule. Out of the Storm Bird mare Stylish Storm, Most Distinguished is a half-brother to an unraced juvenile filly named Stormin Gulch (Gulch), an unnamed yearling colt by Distorted Humor and a 2007 colt by Medaglia D'oro. A $500,000 purchase at the 2005 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale, Most Distinguished has improved his record to 12-3-5-3 with earnings of $254,420. The Live Oak Plantation colorbearer was coming off a runner-up effort in the Woody Stephens Breeders' Cup S. (G2) on Belmont Day.
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