(Gunite wins the G2 Amsterdam to give Team Winchell a great weekend at Saratoga / NYRA Photo)

From the NYRA Media Team:

It did not take long for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen to claim another graded stakes victory at Saratoga Race Course after sweeping Saturday’s Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt with Jackie’s Warrior and Grade 2 Jim Dandy with Epicenter, waiting just 24 hours to watch Gunite award him with a repeat win in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomores.

Trainer Steve Asmussen — Gunite (1st):

“We’ve been blessed with some extremely nice horses and they make it all possible,” said a grateful Asmussen.

Gunite was a convincing winner of his last outing at Saratoga in September when he scored a Grade 1 triumph in the Hopeful for Asmussen, who took last year’s Amsterdam with the revered Jackie’s Warrior.

This year, Gunite continues to cement the legacy of his sire and top Asmussen alumnus Gun Runner. He became the second Grade 1 winner for Gun Runner in the span of two days last summer with is Hopeful victory, following just one day after the Asmussen-trained Echo Zulu awarded their young sire with his first Grade 1 winner in the Spinaway. The Amsterdam was the second win of the year for Gunite, who entered from a half-length score after a poor break in the Maxfield on July 3 at Churchill Downs.

Gunite showed the same heart he did when winning the Hopeful in determined fashion last year, losing the advantage at the top of the lane but battling back to post his commanding victory, something Asmussen said he was pleased to see.

“In his last race, he wasn’t away cleanly and it put him in a different position. I thought that was a similar race to the horse we ran here last year, just handy and in a good spot, tenacious to the wire,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen added Gunite will likely target the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 27 at the Spa.

“Extremely good win and obviously we’re on to the Allen Jerkens from here,” said Asmussen.

 

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione — Gunite:

Gaffalione said Gunite is always game for a challenge.

“First off, all the credit goes to Steve and his team. They did a fabulous job bringing him over here and getting him ready to run, but he showed in the past that he likes to fight,” said Gaffalione. “Last time, he snuck up the rail and had a duel all the way to the wire. Today wasn’t any different. He likes the competition.”

A homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Gunite now boasts a 3-2-1-0 record at the Spa, including his breakout win in the Hopeful and a game runner-up effort in the Saratoga Special last year. His other win was his maiden-breaking score at third asking last June at Churchill Downs.

Owner Ron Winchell — Gunite:

Ron Winchell of Winchell Thoroughbreds said Gunite’s Saratoga endeavors have been rewarding.

“It’s just nice to come back to where he won his Grade 1 last year and have another win in a Grade 2,” Winchell said. “He was training great. He was training like he wanted to go on from his 2-year-old year and do exactly what he did. Sometimes, you never know if they move on and continue to win graded stakes, but he got it done today.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. — Accretive (2nd):

Ortiz, Jr. said the Chad Brown-trained Accretive, whose only start was a debut win on June 26 at Belmont Park, was admirable in defeat.

“My horse ran a huge race,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “It’s a big jump up and a huge improvement.”

Jockey Luis Saez — Corniche:

Saez, who was aboard the post-time favorite and well-beaten Corniche, said the reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt will benefit from getting a start under his belt.

“He broke good and was in a good position. He was right there,” said Saez. “He probably needed the race.”