Red Smith

With a good chance of showers in the forecast, Saturday’s $150,000 Red Smith
H. (G2) could come off the turf and be run on the main track at 1 1/4 miles.
However, we’re going to pick the 11-furlong test as if no changes will be made
and go with DR. BRENDLER (Distant View) to come out on top.

Trained by Graham Motion, the six-year-old bay will be making only his second
start of the year in the Red Smith. He spent most of last season competing
against the best in his division, accounting himself well while taking the Dixie
S. (G2) and finishing on the board in the Manhattan H. (G1) and Stars and
Stripes Breeders’ Cup Turf H. (G3). Dr. Brendler went on the shelf after a close
fifth in the Sword Dancer Invitational H. (G1) and made his first start back a
neck second in a nine-furlong Keeneland allowance on October 15. He probably
needed that one and could score his first win since the Dixie in this spot. Jose
Santos has the call.

SAILAWAY (Our Emblem) made his stakes debut in the Knickerbocker H. (G2) last
out and finished third, just 1 1/2 lengths back of the winner. The Shug
McGaughey trainee has really come on this year, running off the board only twice
from eight starts, and earning a 116 BRIS Late Pace rating for his black-type
credit. Aaron Gryder will be in the saddle and the pair could find themselves
getting their picture taken in the winner’s circle after the race.

ROCHESTER (Green Dancer), a hard-knocking veteran, is looking for his first
win since taking the Kentucky Cup Turf H. (G3) last year via disqualification.
He ran second in that race this season and has given a good showing in all of
his seven starts this year. The eight-year-old gelding has proven himself over
every kind of turf and could surprise at good odds here.

EVENING ATTIRE (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) is a Grade 1 winner on the dirt, but
proved his class on another surface when trying the turf for the second time in
the Knickerbocker last out. He finished second in that nine-furlong test while
earning 99 BRIS Speed and 109 Late Pace figures, and could find a new home on
the turf with a repeat win in this one. The six-year-old gray captured the 2002
edition of the Red Smith when it was moved to the main track as a Grade 3.

IRISH COLONIAL (Colonial Affair) posted consecutive triple digit Speed
ratings in his last three, all restricted stakes in New York, but only scored in
the most recent one, the Mohawk H. He was a close third in the Bernard Baruch H.
(G2) earlier this year at Saratoga and can run on the lead or from off the pace.
The Randy Schulhofer charge likes the course and could prove tough in the
stretch.

SECOND PERFORMANCE (Theatrical [Ire]) posted a nice win in the Mac Diarmida
S. in July but hasn’t been back in the winner’s circle since. His numbers aren’t
quite as high as others in here, but the dark bay sophomore could still make his
presence felt in the exotics. CERTIFIABLY CRAZY (Fit to Fight) is another who’s
trying open stakes company after a string of state-bred races and could hang
around on the front end to grab part. DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) has experience
winning over the distance and could threaten in the bottom of the gimmicks.

ALOST (Fr) (Highest Honor [Ire]) will be making his U.S. debut here and we’ll
give the foreign claimer a race before backing. NAVESINK RIVER (Unbridled) is a
tough competitor on the main track and moves up if the race is moved, but we’ll
just watch in his turf bow. QUIET RULER (Woodman) finished 10th in this event
last year and we don’t think the chestnut gelding will do much better this time
around.

ZAKOCITY (Precocity) and KISSIN SAINT (Kissin Kris) are both listed as
main-track only entrants, with the former getting the nod for a top-three
placing if the race is run on the dirt.