Grade 3 winners REY DE CAFE (Kingmambo) and INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) will
each have to carry the top weight of 122 pounds on Monday while taking on a
field of nine in the 21st running of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame
H. (G2) at Saratoga. Held on the same day as new members are inducted into the
Racing Hall of Fame, the nine-furlong turf test has been won in the past two
years by eventual Grade 1 winner Stroll and recent Bernard Baruch H. (G2) hero
Artie Schiller (El Prado [Ire]).
Rey de Cafe will try to return to his winning ways in this one, taking the
Crown Royal American Turf H. (G3) and Hill Prince S. (G3) prior to an
off-the-board finish in the Virginia Derby (G3) last out. The George Arnold II
trainee has been working well since that July 16 event and will have Javier Castellano in the irons on Monday. Interpatation will also try to improve on his
run in the Virginia Derby, where he ran seventh. The dark bay gelding captured the
Palm Beach H. (G3) earlier this season and will be piloted by Eibar Coa.
Other contenders in the race include Louisiana Derby (G2) hero HIGH LIMIT
(Maria’s Mon) and REEL LEGEND (Catrail), second in the Lexington S. (G3) last
out.
Rey de Cafe will break from the rail post and be followed in the gate by
CROWN POINT (Honor Grades), John Velazquez, 119; SILVER WHISTLE (Alphabet Soup),
Jerry Bailey, 115; PRINCE RAHY (Rahy), Gary Stevens, 115; T. D. VANCE (Rahy),
Todd Kabel, 119; HOLY GROUND (Saint Ballado), Cornelio Velasquez, 115;
Interpatation; High Limit, Edgar Prado, 117; and Reel Legend, Jose Santos, 115.