Red Bank

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A competitive field of 11 has been entered for Saturday’s $150,000 Red Bank
H. (G3) at Monmouth Park. REMIND (Deputy Minister) enters the mile turf
test off a close second in the Fort Marcy H. (G3) at Aqueduct. In that one, the
Bill Mott trainee led at nearly every call, before being passed by Breeders’ Cup
Turf (G1) winner Better Talk Now (Talkin Man) in the shadow of the wire to just
miss by a neck. The bay five-year-old earned a nice 101 BRIS Speed figure for
his effort there and could lead from gate to wire in this one, like he did two
back in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park. Remind has been working well of
late, getting a sharp half-mile in :48 over Belmont Park’s training track on
Tuesday, and looks ready for another win here. Mike Luzzi has the call.

TRADE FAIR (GB) (Zafonic) ran a good fifth in the Maker’s Mark Mile S. (G2)
last out in only his second U.S. start. The Bobby Frankel charge is a Group 3
winner in both England and Ireland, and made his first start stateside in an
about 6 1/2-furlong allowance. He filled the fifth position there too, but was
far better in his last one, earning a 103 Speed figure as well as a 107 BRIS E2
Pace rating. The five-year-old could continue to improve here and challenge for
the win under Aaron Gryder.

AMERICAN FREEDOM (Marquetry) was close in his last two, but they both came
last October. The gray seven-year-old is following the same path as last year,
when he returned off a more than seven-month layoff to make his seasonal debut
in the Red Bank. He ran third at 47-1, but doesn’t look to offer that much value
this time around. Trained by Jamie Woodington, American Freedom owns the numbers
to get the job done here and is a horse for the course (12-4-2-4). He could
surprise with Jose Velez Jr. in the irons.

BIG BOOSTER (Accelerator) scored in his first two races this year, both
allowances at Gulfstream Park, and earned some nice Speed figures. In both
instances, the bay four-year-old started from the far outside and gradually made
his way through the field until reaching the front. Though he’s never raced at
Monmouth, the John Kimmel charge posted one of those wins at the mile distance
and could threaten in the top three here. Joe Bravo is scheduled to ride.

COTTAGE (Arg) (Ibero [Arg]) doesn’t own quite the same numbers as others in
here, but the seven-year-old veteran hasn’t finished worse than fourth from six
starts this year. He’s coming off a good second in an optional claimer at
Belmont, where he earned a 103 BRIS Late Pace rating, and could show up in the
exotics. ROYAL AFFIRMED (Affirmed) will likely challenge for the lead, but
probably won’t get it based on his Speed numbers. However, the bay has run well
from just off the pace in the past and could come up with a career-best showing
here to grab part.

RICARDO A (Out of Place) has spent close to half of his career on the turf
and moves back to the green in his six-year-old debut off a nose win on
Monmouth’s dirt last August. The bay has been working bullets of late to prepare
for his return and could find a place in the bottom of the gimmicks. SPRUCE RUN
(Repriced) hasn’t done well in two starts this year, but was a tough campaigner
last season. If he returns to that form, he might earn a check.

TAP DAY (Pleasant Tap) and MIDNIGHT EXPRESS (Private Interview) have both
done well for themselves on the main track, but finished far back when trying
the turf. We can’t recommend. TREFINITY (Polish Numbers) has never raced on the
grass and looks out of his class here.