Nine entered in Amsterdam

A field of nine sophomores will go six furlongs at Saratoga on Sunday in the

$150,000 Amsterdam S. (G2), the traditional prep for the August 27 King's Bishop

S. (G1). STORM SURGE (Storm Cat) drew the rail under a 123-pound impost and is

seeking his first win since taking the LeComte S. (G3) in mid-January. Since

then, the Dallas Stewart charge has finished third in the Risen Star S. (G3),

Louisiana Derby (G2) and Lexington S. (G2). He enters here off a sixth-place run

in the Lone Star Derby (G3) and will have regular rider Robby Albarado in the

irons.

Among the dark bay's challengers in the Amsterdam are GOING WILD (Golden

Missile) and MIDDLE EARTH (Dixieland Band). The former is also seeking his first

victory since earlier in the season, when he captured the Sham S. at Santa

Anita. He most recently ran sixth in the Riva Ridge Breeders' Cup S. (G2) and

will get a jockey switch to Cornelio Velasquez. Middle Earth was third in the

Riva Ridge after easily scoring an allowance win by 3 1/4 lengths at Churchill

Downs in May. He'll be shortening back up in this spot after trying 8

1/2-furlongs in the Dwyer S. (G2) last out.

The complete field for the Amsterdam, including jockeys and weights, is Storm

Surge; Going Wild, 121; GAMBLERS SLEW (Metfield), Jorge Chavez, 121; MADDY'S

LION (Lion Hearted), Jara Fernando, 115; Middle Earth, Ramon Dominguez, 115;

SOCIAL PROBATION (Jules), Calvin Borel, 115; SANTANA STRINGS (Wheaton), Eibar

Coa, 121; SILVER TRAIN (Old Trieste), Edgar Prado, 115; and VICARAGE (Vicar),

John Velazquez, 121.