Saturday’s $150,000 Red Smith H. (G2) at Aqueduct, the last graded turf
stakes of the year in New York, has lured an overflow field of 16, including one
also-eligible and three main track only entrants.
Trainer Thomas Voss will send out the uncoupled, Grade 2-winning pair of
DREADNAUGHT (Lac Ouimet) and ALWAYS FIRST (GB) (Barathea [Ire]) in the grassy 1
3/8-mile affair. Dreadnaught, who captured the 2004 running of the Red Smith and
finished third in last year’s edition, is coming off a sixth in the Joe Hirsch
Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1).
“He’s been in and out all year,” Voss said of Dreadnaught, who’s turned in a
couple of terrific runner-up performances alongside subpar unplaced efforts. “We
scoped him after the Turf Classic and found an abscess in his epiglottis, so we
sent him to the New Bolton clinic and had it lasered off.”
Jean-Luc Samyn will ride the six-year-old veteran.
Always First landed the 2005 Sunset Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) for Neil Drysdale.
Returning from an eight-month layoff in his first start for Voss, the bay won
the Cape Henlopen S. at Delaware Park in September, followed by a third-place
effort in the Sycamore Breeders’ Cup S. (G3) at Keeneland.
“He got left at the gate a little bit in his race at Keeneland and was a
little too far back,” Voss noted, adding, “We actually bought him to be a
jumper, but he didn’t jump very well.”
Jose Santos picks up the mount on Always First, who ranks as the 117-pound
highweight in the main body of the field.
Last year’s Red Smith runner-up, ROUSING VICTORY (Victory Gallop), will bid
to improve on that result this time around. The Philip Serpe charge most
recently scored in the John Henry S. at the Meadowlands. Another alumnus of the
2005 Red Smith, fifth-placer REQUEST FOR PAROLE (Judge T C), is seeking his
first stakes win since the 2004 United Nations S. (G1).
Other contenders include last-out Kentucky Cup Turf S. (G3) winner EMBOSSED
(Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]) and a trio of sophomores — Grade 1-placed GRAND
COUTURIER (GB) (Grand Lodge) as well as SPIDER POWER (Ire) (Royal Applause [GB])
and GREEN LEMON (Lemon Drop Kid), both placed at the Grade 2 level.
Spider Power has drawn the rail with his 112-pound impost that includes
jockey John Velazquez. To his outside will come KURM (Ire) (Grand Lodge), Kent
Desormeaux, 114; Rousing Victory, Cornelio Velasquez, 114; CROWN POINT (Honor
Grades), Jose Espinoza, 114; Embossed, Larry Melancon, 116; Dreadnaught, 116;
Request for Parole, Mike Luzzi, 114; DAVE (Ends Well), Joe Bravo, 114; ISLERO
NOIR (Fr) (Septieme Ciel), Channing Hill, 114; Grand Couturier, Mike Smith, 114;
Always First; Green Lemon, Fernando Jara, 112; and the also-eligible BEE CHARMER
(Ire) (Anabaa), Jose Lezcano, 114.
Those hoping that the Red Smith is transferred to the dirt are five-time New
York-bred stakes winner NAUGHTY NEW YORKER (Quiet American), 118; ANGLIANA
(Giant’s Causeway), 116; and CHILLY ROOSTER (Arch), 115. No riders have been
named for the main track only contestants.
Earlier on the card, eight three-year-olds will square off in the $65,000
Mr.
Leader S. Multiple stakes winner FEROCIOUS WON (Lite the Fuse), who will run
as an entry with unbeaten stakes debutante FEROCIOUS FIRES (Lite the Fuse), will
shoulder the top weight of 123 pounds. Jerome Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) runner-up
VALID NOTEBOOK (Notebook), stakes victor SAINT DAIMON (Saint Ballado) and the
speedy HIGH FINANCE (Talk Is Money) have also been entered in the seven-furlong
test.