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Albano, Ben's Cat stand out in Parx stakes

Albano is likely using the Smarty Jones as a prelude to the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (William Osborn/Equi-Photo) With California Chrome scheduled to return to action in the Pennsylvania Derby later in September, several potential challengers to the dual classic winner might emerge from the Grade 3, $300,000 Smarty Jones, a local prep at Parx Racing on Labor Day. Contested over one mile and 70 yards, the Smarty Jones has attracted a field of 10 three-year-olds, with Albano likely to be a solid favorite. Brereton Jones' Grade 3-winning homebred has had a productive summer at Monmouth Park, romping by 6 1/2 lengths in the Pegasus and then finishing a clear second in the Haskell Invitational behind a loose-on-the-lead Bayern. Earlier this year at Fair Grounds, the Istan colt finished second in the Lecomte and Risen Star before his elevation to fourth in the Louisiana Derby.

Also exiting the Haskell is Just Call Kenny, who finished sixth in the nine-furlong test but only 2 3/4 lengths behind Albano. Hero of the six-furlong Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream in January, the Jump Start colt returned from a six-month break in early July to finish second by a half-length in the Long Branch, an ungraded prep for the Haskell.

The lightly-raced Protonico, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, adds blinkers after finishing a head behind subsequent Travers winner V. E. Day in the $100,000 Curlin at Saratoga. A mild 3-1 favorite there in just his fourth career start, the Giant's Causeway colt is joined by Curlin sixth-placer Joint Custody, a four-time stakes winner on the Maryland and Delaware circuits.

The Smarty Jones field also includes Almost Famous, third in the Ohio Derby and Matt Winn in his last two; Lynx, third in the Pegasus and runner-up in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie; and Grade 2-placed Classic Giacnroll, most recently fourth in the West Virginia Derby.

The venerable eight-year-old sprinter Ben's Cat will attempt to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Turf Monster Handicap for a third time on Monday. The Maryland-bred eight-year-old won the five-furlong contest in 2011 and 2012, but finished third behind returning rivals Stormofthecentury and Tightend Touchdown last year.

Ben's Cat will be looking for his third Turf Monster win in the last four years (Barbara Weidl/Equi-Photo) An earner of more than $2.1 million, the King Leatherbury trainee has won a whopping 22 stakes during his career, and owns a formidable 7-5-1-1 mark over the Parx turf. In his most recent start, Ben's Cat defeated Tightend Touchdown by a nose in the Parx Dash on July 12. Stormofthecentury has placed just once in four starts since taking the Turf Monster at 28-1 last year, while Tightend Touchdown has fared better. Prior to his narrow loss in the Parx Dash, the latter was a popular winner of the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National for a second time. Grade 1 winner Private Zone, who captured the Vosburgh on dirt at Belmont Park last season, tries turf for the first time here. However, the speedy Doug O'Neill charge as not raced since finishing second to Flat Out in the Cigar Mile Handicap last November.

Micromanage, a Grade 3 winner at Gulfstream earlier this term, will be the one to beat if he contests the Grade 3, $200,000 Greenwood Cup over 1 1/2 miles. The Todd Pletcher trainee, successful by 8 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Birdstone at Saratoga over 1 3/4 miles last time, was also entered in Saturday's Woodward at the Spa.

Also in the lineup are Argentinean Group 2 winner Ever Rider and Grade 3-placed Abraham, both allowance winners at Saratoga most recently; Birdstone runner-up Irsaal; Argentinean Group 1 winner Lideris, unplaced in both U.S. starts to date; and West Virginia Governor's runner-up Adirondack King, who owns a five-for-12 mark over the Parx main track.

Among the main contenders in the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap, a five-furlong dash for fillies and mares are Spun Cap, an overnight handicap winner against males at Ellis Park on August 2 following a year-long layoff. Other leading hopefuls are the stakes veterans Sweet Cassiopeia, Jewel of a Cat, Miss d'Oro, Quality Lass, Coarsegold, and Joya Real.

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