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Kowboy rounds up Desert Key in Amsterdam Vinery Stables and Fox Hill Farm's KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse) wore down the pacesetting 8-5 favorite Desert Key (E Dubai) in the shadow of the wire to take Monday's $150,000 Amsterdam S. (G2) at Saratoga. Making his first start for trainer Larry Jones, last year's Canadian champion juvenile was reserved in fourth through an opening quarter in :21 3/5. Kodiak Kowboy advanced into a chasing second through a half-mile in :44, but Desert Key still looked to be traveling in hand turning for home. As the stretch run unfolded, Desert Key began to tire, and Kodiak Kowboy continued his relentless pursuit beneath Gabriel Saez. Although the longtime leader tried his utmost to hold on, Kodiak Kowboy was the stronger of the pair late and prevailed by a head. Jones tipped his hat to Kodiak Kowboy's former trainer Steve Asmussen, and praised the ride given by Saez. "I have to give credit to Steve," Jones said. "He was already pointed to the race. All I had to do was not mess it up. Gabriel has stepped up to the plate every time I've called upon him. He'll not be out-ridden. Once you get even with him, you're in trouble." After completing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15 2/5 on the fast track, the winner returned $6.10, $3 and $2.70. Desert Key yielded $2.90 and $2.60 for finishing 4 1/2 lengths ahead of the Devereux (Forestry), who paid $3.90 at 12-1. The exacta was worth $16.60, and the 5-3-2 trifecta totaled $81. It was another 6 1/2 lengths back to Silver Edition (Silver Deputy) in fourth, followed by Excess Capital (Distorted Humor); Fidelio (Awesome Again), who never recovered after stumbling badly at the start; and Eaton's Gift (Johannesburg), who paid the price after trying to run with Desert Key early. Kodiak Kowboy's lifetime line now reads 11-6-2-1, $684,058. The bay put together a productive juvenile campaign with victories in the Saratoga Special S. (G2), Bashford Manor S. (G3) and Victoria S. at Woodbine while placing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Futurity S. (G2). An impressive allowance/optional claiming winner in his three-year-old debut at Oaklawn, Kodiak Kowboy was last seen finishing second in the Derby Trial S. to Macho Again (Macho Uno), who captured Sunday's Jim Dandy S. (G2). Bred by Hartwell Farm in Kentucky, Kodiak Kowboy brought $40,000 as a weanling at the 2005 Keeneland November Sale, and he was pinhooked for $70,000 at last year's OBS August Yearling Sale. He is the second registered foal from the unraced Coronado's Quest mare Kokadrie, who is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning millionaire West by West (Gone West). Kokadrie also has an unnamed juvenile colt by Golden Missile and a 2008 colt by Lion Heart. Kodiak Kowboy will now aim for the August 23 King's Bishop S. (G1), where he will try to hand Jones his second straight victory in the seven-furlong race. Last year, Jones saddled Hard Spun to a decisive King's Bishop score. "Kodiak Kowboy needed this race, since it had been a while since he had run (April 26)," Jones said. "The King's Bishop is our target. It would be nice to win it again this year."
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