Happy Red Smith Day! 

Strong card at the Big A today with three turf stakes races including two graded stakes.  It might be November, but our turf racing is still going strong in New York.   

Trivia Question: Who is the Hill Prince Stakes named for? 

Race 5 – The Hill Prince – Grade III 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Turf for Three Year Olds 

1. Bartlett: Once John Servis stretched this one out on dirt, he has been a different horse. He won N1X (93 Beyer) and N2X (94 Beyer) races on consecutive attempts and both races were identical he went right to the front help sway until the eighth pole and then kicked away to win easily. He moves to the turf for the first time and has turf pedigree with Giant’s Causeway on top. Lasix comes OFF. Could get loose.
2. Cugino: Last out he didn’t fire at Kentucky Downs but that course is so unique I wouldn’t hold that against him.  It was also his first race off a three month layoff.  Best effort was a gate to wire job in the Audubon at Churchill (91 Beyer). Hasn’t won a graded stakes yet, but he has been competitive. Will stalk Bartlett. Live runner.
3. Deterministic: Has hit the board in all four turf starts with a win in the Virginia Derby going today’s nine furlongs (82 Beyer). Today he turns back from a mile and three eighths where he got a nice inside run in the lane and looked to be a winner but was a bit one-paced. Today’s nine furlongs might be his preferred distance. The Pick.
4. Main Beach: Broke his maiden for Chad two back at Monmouth and then took on N1X company at the Spa where he had a nice inside run but came up short (81 Beyer). Has had increasing Beyers in each start and will need another move forward to win today. Irad stays aboard. Lasix comes OFF. On the improve. Contender.
5. Desvio: Has finished behind Deterministic in his last two starts where he was a competitive third in the Virginia Derby (80 Beyer).  Last time the distance may have been too much in the Jockey Club Derby. Good closing kick but Beyers are stuck at about 80. Looking elsewhere.
6. Right to Vote: Broke his maiden for Chad/Klaravich at Saratoga coming off a tenth month layoff (81 Beyer). He didn’t return to the track for a timed work for six weeks after than win.  Has four works since early October. Lasix comes off. Mixed signals.
7. Royal Majesty: Mott trainee has run consistent mid-80s Beyers in five stakes attempts this year.  He doesn’t quite finish off races so he regularly finishes up close but isn’t a serious threat to win. Mott barn is dead cold. Exotics.

Picks 3-2-4-7 

Race 9 – The Red Smith  – Grade II 

One Mile and Three Furlongs on the Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward 

1. Curbstone: Runs here off a good second at Kentucky Downs where he almost took the field the whole two miles. No wins in eight career turf starts. They must be encouraged off that last effort. Look for him to go to the front and try and wire the field. You’ll get a price. 
2. Integration: Ran an OK fourth at Kentucky Downs last out where he was in decent position but didn’t get a clean run at it and as was bit flat late on.  Two back he was a decent second behind Nations Pride in the Arlington Million (100 Beyer). Prat picks up the mount. Live runner.
3. Pioneering Spirit: Dutrow claimed this American Pharoah from Linda Rice three weeks ago after he was a close second in N2x company (93 Beyer). He has no wins from eight career starts on the Big A turf and is winless in ten starts this year. A step below the best here.
4. City Man: Has been running in state bred stakes company for the past two years and hasn’t won in over a year. Clement now moves this one to open company and stretches out to eleven furlongs. Water is too deep.
5. Limited Liability: Has been running competitively in stakes company this year but last out at Kentucky Downs in the Nashville Gold Cup he threw down the gauntlet and wired the field by eight lengths with a 102 Beyer. Well, he isn’t going two plus miles today and if he tries to wire the field again, he’ll have company with Curbstone drawn to his inside. Use in exotics.
6. Adhamo: First time gelding goes for his first win since he won the U.N. Stakes in 2023 at Monmouth with a triple digit Beyer. But he has not been the same since and hasn’t been competitive in four starts in 2024. It’s a little late in the game to geld the horse after twenty-four starts and at the end of his six year old season.  They must think there is something here that hasn’t been harnessed yet.  Another late runner in the field. Wait and see.
7. Daunt: A very cold Bobby Ribaudo moves this Nyquist colt to open Stakes company after failing to make a dent in conditioned allowance races this year.  Hasn’t won a race in two years – this is the third straight year this one has run in the Red Smith. Don’t see it. 
8. Master Piece: Defending champion of this race comes back east after being based on the West Coast this summer with only a single third place finish to show for three races. Appears to prefer the turf of the Big A with two wins from as many starts with a 101 Beyer in winning the Fort Marcy last May.  Stalk and pounce type should have speed to sit behind and should get first jump on the pace setters as he is more tactical than most in here. The Pick.
9. Rebel Red: Frankel colt has won three of his first five races including a win at Keeneland in N2X company (91 Beyer) where he inhaled the field after sitting off a hot early pace.  Exotics.

Picks 8-2-9-5  

Trivia Answer: Hall of Famer Hill Prince was a two time Champion horse (1949, 1950) who won the Preakness, Wood, Withers, Jerome, and the Jockey Gold Cup.