Red Smith Stakes Study Guide

Nov 22, 2019 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A large field is signed on to contest the $200,000 Red Smith Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday. The 1 ⅜-miles turf endeavor features a talented and well-matched group in what appears to be a wide-open event.

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Here is the cast:

• 27 Starts
• 9 Wins
• 3 Place
• 1 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $985,953

Top BRIS Speed rating (106) in 2018 Nijinsky S. (Can-G2) victory

Owner: Chiefswood Stables, Ltd.
Breeder: Chiefswood Stables, Ltd.
Trainer: Roger Attfield
Jockey: Steven Bahen

Sire: Tiznow
Dam: Flaming Rose
Color: Bay

Win contender is the speed of the field and draws well on the fence for trainer Roger Attfield. The five-year-old was a creditable fourth at Woodbine last time out behind superstar Old Persian, and the multiple graded stakes winner will be tough to pass if he gets clear in the early stages on Saturday.

• 13 Starts
• 6 Wins
• 4 Place
• 0 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $166,284

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Mathieu Offenstadt et al’s
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Sire: Makfi
Dam: Mamie Zane
Color: Bay

Wildcard in the cast maks his U. S. debut in a tough spot for conditioner Christophe Clement. The consistent import was a Group 3 hero a few back at Longchamp, and he could be dangerous while receiving Lasix for the initial time in this spot. Joel Rosario riding adds to the appeal.

• 13 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 3 Place
• 2 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $223,362

Top BRIS Speed rating (105) in allowance score at Saratoga

Owner: Staghawk Stables
Breeder: The Elkstone Group, LLC
Trainer: Graham Motion
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Sire: Animal Kingdom
Dam: I’m Always Hopeful
Color: Bay

This improving son of Animal Kingdom was clear in second in the recent Sycamore Stakes (G3) at Keeneland going 12 panels on the sod. The Graham Motion pupil is three-for-five in 2019 and will be in with a winning chance late with Jose Ortiz picking up the mount.

• 16 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 4 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $263,257

Top BRIS Speed rating (102) in recent Sycamore S. (G3) victory

Owner: Three Diamonds Farm
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, LLC
Trainer: Mike Maker
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Sire: Medaglia d’Oro
Dam: Spring Party
Color: Dark Bay

This dark bay son of Medaglia d’Oro has already turned out to be a successful claim following his triumph in the Sycamore (G3) in advance of today. The well-bred four-year-old has upped his game since adding blinkers earlier this campaign, and another forward move makes him a logical contender under local ace Irad Ortiz, Jr.

• 11 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 3 Place
• 1 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $178,337

Top BRIS Speed rating (99) in allowance triumph at Delaware Park

Owner: Gabriel Duignan et al’s
Trainer: Thomas Morley
Jockey: John Velazquez

Sire: Lookin at Lucky
Dam: Sky Haven
Color: Chestnut

Thomas Morley trainee has been victorious in three straight and gets his class test in this offering. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old has fine early foot, and picking up Hall of Fame pilot John Velazquez is always a positive.

• 29 Starts
• 9 Wins
• 4 Place
• 4 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $463,487

Owner: Ten Strike Racing
Breeder: Truxton Stables
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Jose Lezcano

Sire: Freud
Dam: Aunt Dot Dot
Color: Bay

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) in Ashley T. Cole Stakes score

New York-bred son of Freud has been mostly steady this season, and the six-year-old will stretch out to this distance for the initial time on Saturday. Multiple stakes winner has local experience and could be a threat if he takes to marathon racing on the turf. The Brad Cox charge will be ridden by Jose Lezcano.

• 25 Starts
• 6 Wins
• 4 Place
• 7 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $2,361,360

Top BRIS Speed rating (119) when fourth in 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1)

Owner: Woodslane Farm
Breeder: Woodslane Farm, LLC
Trainer: Tom Albertrani
Jockey: Javier Castellano

Sire: Kitten’s Joy
Dam: Dynaire
Color: Chestnut

Class of the field has gone close while placing in both the Sword Dancer (G1) and Turf Classic (G1) from three 2019 assignments. This chestnut is among the best at going long on the turf and he is a winner from his lone prior run at Aqueduct, as well. Son of Kitten’s Joy will be rallying from off the early tempo in this spot.

• 17 Starts
• 7 Wins
• 4 Place
• 1 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $486,285

Top BRIS Speed rating (105) in win in Point of Entry Stakes at Belmont

Owner: Trinity Farm
Breeder: Trinity Farm, LLC
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Sire: Pure Prize
Dam: Isabel Away
Color: Chestnut

This win contender from the barn of Bill Mott comes off one of his best efforts to date in taking the Point of Entry Stakes at Belmont Park. The five-year-old son of Pure Prize is a winner on the course, and he gave a fine account of himself in a few graded races earlier this season. Junior Alavarado will be in the stirrups.

• 14 Starts
• 3 Wins
• 4 Place
• 0 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $486,233

Top BRIS Speed rating (97) when runner-up in the 2018 Twilight Derby (G2)

Owner: Robert S Evans
Breeder: Robert S Evans
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Jockey: Manny Franco

Sire: Kitten’s Joy
Dam: Akronism
Color: Bay

Kitten’s Joy colt has yet to find his 2018 form for Clement, though he did put in a strong prep when an allowance second most recently. Four-year-old still has room for improvement for a top turf conditioner, and he picks up pilot Manny Franco for this voyage. 

• 28 Starts
• 6 Wins
• 6 Place
• 4 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $539,451

Top BRIS Speed rating (103) when third in Laurel Park Turf Cup Stakes

Owner: Runnymede Racing, LLC
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms, Inc.
Trainer: Michael Matz
Jockey: Jorge Vargas, Jr.

Sire: Harlan’s Holiday
Dam: Supposition
Color: Bay

This Michael Matz trainee has back class as well as current form with three solid efforts in 2019. The son of Harlan’s Holiday exits a solid third in the Sycamore (G3) and could be dangerous with even slight improvement on Saturday. He will be stalking the pace from the opening bell.

• 27 Starts
• 10 Wins
• 0 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $976,221

Top BRIS Speed rating (108) when taking the 2019 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2)

Owner: Matthew Schera
Breeder: Patrick Grogan
Trainer: James Lawrence, II
Jockey: Edgar Prado

Sire: Holy Roman Emperor
Dam: Humble and Proud
Color: Brown

Grade 1 star reached his peak with a pair of graded wins at Saratoga in 2018, and one also at Gulfstream Park. The Empire State-bred has been unplaced in two tris this season and could be set for his best third off the shelf. Edgar Prado will guide the speedy gelding.

• 18 Starts
• 3 Wins
• 6 Place
• 3 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $169,446

Top BRIS Speed rating (98) when fifth in Sycamore Stakes (G3)

Owner: Darrs, Inc.
Breeder: Jack Swain, III et al’s
Trainer: Mike Stidham
Jockey: Joe Bravo

Sire: Stormy Atlantic
Dam: Voting Right
Color: Bay

This bay son of Stormy Atlantic has solid current form and was even when fifth in the Sycamore (G3) last time out. Mike Stidham trainee has never been up to this kind of field in the past, and he will need a lifetime best to make noise from the wide post.

• 22 Starts
• 4 Wins
• 2 Place
• 5 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $107,834

Top BRIS Speed rating (93) in 2017 maiden score at Parx

Owner: Suzanne Stettinius
Breeder: Shadwell Farm, LLC
Trainer: Suzanne Stettinius
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Sire: Street Cry
Dam: Yaqeen
Color: Bay

Five-year-old was a first-level allowance winner at Laurel Park most recently, but this is a major class rise and he would be hard to back if he got into the field.

• 38 Starts
• 5 Wins
• 7 Place
• 6 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $503,540

Top BRIS Speed rating (100) in allowance third at Aqueduct

Owner: Rudy Rodriguez et al’s
Breeder: Doug Branham
Trainer: Rudy Rodriguez
Jockey: Manny Franco

Sire: Malibu Moon
Dam: Ballado’s Thunder
Color: Bay

Malibu Moon gelding was a smart allowance winner on this dirt course when reeling in a clear one most recently. The seven-year-old would be a factor if the race came off the lawn with something like his latest showing.

• 34 Starts
• 10 Wins
• 4 Place
• 5 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $551,239

Top BRIS Speed rating (108) in February allowance tally at Aqueduct

Owner: Peter Tournas
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Peter Tournas
Jockey: TBA

Sire: Raison d’Etat
Dam: Padmore
Color: Dark Bay

This durable colt will make his 20th start of 2019 if the race washes off the grass. The Kentucky-bred lacks consistency, but he did fire most recently when upsetting allowance foes at Belmont Park.

• 34 Starts
• 8 Wins
• 9 Place
• 7 Show
• Total Career Earnings: $403,046

Top BRIS Speed rating (102) in runner-up performance in Empire Classic Handicap

Owner: Robrt D Bone
Breeder: Bluegrass Cat Syndicate et al’s
Trainer: Rob Atras
Jockey: Joe Rocco, Jr.

Sire: Bluegrass Cat
Dam: Ascended Dreams
Color: Dark Bay

This five-year-old gelding comes off a fine display with an excellent second in the Empire Classic when splitting two graded stakes winners. The late-running five-year-old will be the one to hold off in the stretch if the race comes off the turf.

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