IEAH Stables’ and others’ Amen Hallelujah, trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., in her latest start finished second, beaten a half-length, in the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday, June 5.
     She could now be pointed for the Grade 1, $250,000 Test Stakes at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 7. The race for 3-year-old fillies will be run at seven furlongs on the main track.
     “She ran a big race in the Acorn,” Dutrow Jr. said recently. “I am a bit worried that her recent efforts may have leveled off a bit since her very big races early this year, as you always have to keep the sheet numbers in mind.
     “I know she trained super on the turf at Gulfstream in March and April, and I’m excited about getting her to the turf for a big race at some point. Right now, there might not be much there, so training her to the Test could be something to work with.”
     Since her Acorn placing, Amen Hallelujah has breezed a half-mile in 50 3/5 on June 19 over Aqueduct’s main track.
     In the Acorn, under jockey Ramon Dominguez, Amen Hallelujah, favored at 2.45-1, broke fifth from the five-post, raced in seventh or eighth, about anywhere from three to five lengths from the pace, for three quarters of a mile, moved wide thereafter and put in a sustained rally to then reel in all but one rival.
     Champagne d’Oro ($81.00) broke on top, set the pace (23.61, 46.86, 1:12.00), and staved off Amen Hallelujah late to get the score with the one-mile distance complete in 1:37.44 over a fast main track. She earned a lifetime-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure; Amen Hallelujah received a 94. Tanda finished a length behind Amen Hallelujah in third. Champagne d’Oro is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro – Champagne Glow, by Saratoga Six.
     The Equibase chart for the race read, “Amen Hallelujah was in hand between horses, checked slightly and altered course five wide at the quarter pole then closed strongly in the middle of the track but could not get up.” She earned $60,000 in purses.
     Hot Trip was scratched from the race for 3-year-old fillies, and a field of 12 started.
     LAST UPDATED: June 22, 2010