Red Bank

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

A large cast of 11 turf performers will vie in the one-mile, $175,000 Red
Bank S. (G3) at Monmouth on Saturday. PICK SIX (Dynaformer) appears to be
rounding into peak form for Shug McGaughey and rates the top pick from us in
this well-matched field. The blue-blooded five-year-old has finished in the top
three in five straight races, all on the green, and has run well over virtually
any kind of turf course. The bay bounced out of his recent allowance win with a
scorching half-mile grass drill, and we like that Eddie Castro takes the call.

The ultra-consistent MAMBO MEISTER (King Cugat) has faced considerably better
in his last pair at Saratoga for trainer Phil Gleaves, and the gelded bay should
be a huge factor with the class drop. A strong second in the Fourstardave H.
(G2) last out, the Kentucky-bred sports a solid 4-2-2-0 mark at this trip and
has enough tactical speed to be in range turning for home beneath Carlos Marquez
Jr.

Dual Grade 2 hero PROUDINSKY (Ger) (Silvano [Ger]) has stayed at a fairly
high quality for much of the last three campaigns and owns a second and
third-place finish over this sod. The Bobby Frankel-trained bay has excellent
positional speed and rarely throws in a clunker, so he’s a must use in the
vertical gimmicks.

Two-time Grade 3 victor KISS THE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) is no stranger to the
Monmouth turf and boasts as much class as anything in this field for Amy
Tarrant. The Kentucky-bred six-year-old was a game second in the Oceanport S.
that was washed off the sod in advance of this and has posted a pair of
maintenance drills in the interim that should have him ready to go. His best
could be enough with Elvis Trujillo.

GET SERIOUS (City Zip) has five wins from seven starts over the Monmouth
lawn, which includes a pair of wire-to-wire stakes wins in 2009. Conditioned by
John Forbes, the gelded Empire State-bred has a wealth of early speed and has
proven to be very difficult to pass late if he gets a clear lead. The win
candidate will be strong if he dictates his own pace. Multiple stakes winner
PLEASANT STRIKE (Smart Strike) got a nice rail draw and has finished second in
both outings over this turf, so we must consider the Todd Pletcher charge for
the exotics. The five-year-old will likely sit in midpack before making one run
under Chris DeCarlo.

The once-promising BRAVE TIN SOLDIER (Storm Cat) was a smart allowance winner
over a nice group for Kiaran McLaughlin, but drawing the widest post hurts his
chances at beating this field. We’ll throw the impeccably-bred five-year-old in
some gimmicks. VANQUISHER (Gulch) rolled to a trio of wins in succession over
the winter, topped by a stakes score at Gulfstream Park for Gregory Griffith.
The Florida-bred will make his debut for John Servis in here after going off
form as of late, and we’ll watch one to see how he responds to his new barn.

STEVE’S DOUBLE (Stephen Got Even), a two-time stakes winner on the lawn,
could peak in his third start of 2009, but we’re afraid he’s a cut below the
best of these. We’re also not thrilled about him being fairly wide in the gate.
JET PROPULSION (Double Honor) reeled off a trio of 100+ BRIS Speed numbers in
succession in the winter, but he doesn’t appear to be at that level presently
for Donna Green. The speed merchant could also get fried on the front end if he
duels early. CUSTER (High Yield) has run a pair of good ones since being
transferred to the green for Eddie Plesa Jr., but we will side with classier
entrants.