Florida-bred Currency Swap furthered his standing as a "local" horse Sunday with a very professional victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The High Cotton colt, co-owned by Latham native William Lawrence and trained by Saratoga Spring native Terri Pompay, stayed unbeaten in three starts at Saratoga with his 1 3/4-lengths win over pacesetter Doctor Chit. Currency Swap will try to go 4-for-4 in the Grade 1 King's Bishop on August 25.
"He's loves it here," Pompay said. "He's been doing really well. Of course, you don't know until you put him up against the competition, but training-wise he's been doing better and better and better."
Currency Swap broke sharply under Rajiv Maragh and assumed a stalking position a length or so behind Dr. Chit, who carried the field of seven through sharp fractions of :21.44, :44.04 and 1:08.65.
Pompay said she wasn't concerned that Currency Swap was close to the quick pace on the fast track.
"He looked like he was running, just doing it easy," she said. "Rajiv said he had plenty of horse. I liked where he was. That's how I want him to run. I was really happy with it. I'd rather have him sit and stalking than be on the pace."
Currency Swap, the 9-5 favorite, paid $5.60. He began his move past Dr. Chit approaching the eighth pole, extended his advantage in the in the run to the wire and stopped the timer for the 6 1/2-furlong race in 1:15.33.
Lawrence is a 1979 graduate of Shaker High School and said he has been attending races at Saratoga since he was 12 years old. For the past few years, he has been a partner in horses with Seth Klarman, who operates Klaravich Stables, Inc. Lawrence watched Currency Swap break his maiden and win the Hopeful last year at Saratoga and said the next step will be the King's Bishop.