For horsemen with a decent three-year-old, Parx Racing near Philadelphia
won’t be a bad place to hang their hat for the next three weeks as a date in the
$1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G2) awaits those who run well Monday in the
$300,000
Smarty
Jones S. over one mile and 70 yards. The Smarty Jones highlights a solid
Labor Day program that also includes a pair of five-furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf
Sprint (G2) preps, the $350,000
Turf
Monster H. (G3) for the boys and $200,000
Turf
Amazon H. for the fillies and mares.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, whose fall plans for Stay Thirsty (Bernardini) and
Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) may or may not include the Pennsylvania Derby, will
start two in the Smarty Jones. TURBO COMPRESSOR (Halo’s Image) weakened to third
in his graded stakes debut in the June 18 Pegasus S. (G3), but rebounded six
weeks later as the lone speed in the Curlin S. at Saratoga, winning the
nine-furlong contest by a comfortable 2 3/4 lengths. He’s joined by Illinois
Derby (G3) winning stablemate JOE VANN (Silver Deputy), whose best finish in
three interim starts was a third in the Matt Win S. (G3) in June.
The Pletcher duo are one of several front-runners in the field. Another is
RUSH NOW (Tiznow), hero of the Spend a Buck S. at Monmouth and a game second in
the West Virginia Derby (G2) last out after leading most of the way. Allowance
winners WILBURN (Bernardini) and I’M STEPPIN’ IT UP (Congrats) are others that
could set things up for a closer.
PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start) is the most accomplished of the Smarty Jones
participants. Gutsy winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) in March, the Kelly Breen
charge was bet down to 8-1 in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but could no better than
ninth. Skipping the remaining classics, he overcame a stumbling start to take
the Pegasus by two lengths in his return, and last time ran below par when fifth
in the Haskell Invitational (G1).
Also exiting the Haskell are J J’S LUCKY TRAIN (Silver Train) and CONCEALED
IDENTITY (Smarty Jones). The former has been a consistent player since winning
the Bay Shore S. (G3) in April and was a good fourth in the Haskell. Concealed
Identity trailed home last of eight in the Haskell, but showed better form
earlier this season when taking the Federico Tesio S. and finishing second in
the Pegasus.
Entering in strong form is the Rick Dutrow-trained REDEEMED (Include), a dual
allowance winner who finished four lengths second to Caleb’s Posse (Posse) in
the August 1 Amsterdam S. (G2). That 6 1/2-furlong race has become key with the
winner’s subsequent victory in last week’s King’s Bishop S. (G1) and
third-placer Wine Police’s (Speightstown) victory Friday in the Distorted Humor
S. at Saratoga. The Smarty Jones field is completed by SCOTUS (Successful
Appeal), the Matt Winn hero who uncharacteristically trailed throughout the July
30 Jim Dandy S. (G2).
CHAMBERLAIN BRIDGE (War Chant) used a victory in last year’s Turf Monster as
a stepping-stone to a 6-1 upset win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but the
seven-year-old has been conspicuously off form much of the season. After an
early-season win in the Rail Splitter S. at Sam Houston, Chamberlain Bridge ran
fourth in the Shakertown S. (G3), third in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3), and
sixth in the Parx Dash over this course and trip.
There are no shortage of contenders in the Turf Monster. The probable
favorite is REGALLY READY (More Than Ready), who reeled off consecutive wins in
the Joe Hernandez S., San Simeon H. (G3) and Twin Spires Turf Sprint before
finishing third by a neck in the August 6 My Frenchman S. at Monmouth following
a three-month break.
CENTRAL CITY (City Place), runner-up to Chamberlain Bridge in the Breeders’
Cup last November, makes his belated return to the races after a near nine-month
layoff. BEN’S CAT (Parker’s Storm Cat), meanwhile, has kept busy this season,
scoring in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup and Jim McKay Turf Sprint and running
second by a head in the Parx Dash.
A pair with relatively little turf experience could easily find themselves in
the mix. California invader STREAKIN’ MOHICAN (Songandaprayer) just missed in
photo finishes in both the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial H. and Green Flash H.,
while COUNTRY DAY (Speightstown) fought subsequent Play the King S. (Can-G2)
winner Havelock (Great Notion) to a neck decision in the Arlington Sprint H.
most recently.
The multiple Grade 3-placed YIELD BOGEY (Langfuhr), Saratoga ace AWAKINO CAT
(Stormy Atlantic), and the lightly-raced VARSITY (Indian Charlie) were all
cross-entered in the Turf Monster and Monday’s Ecclastiastic S. at Saratoga. One
sure to be in the Turf Monster field is PERFECT OFFICER (Officer), who’s won
stakes at Monmouth and Atlantic City since being claimed by trainer Michael Pino
for $50,000 in March.
The Turf Monster field is completed by the aging veterans CARDASHI (Kiridashi)
and HEROS REWARD (Partner’s Hero).
ROSE CATHERINE (Speightstown) is back to defend her title in the Turf Amazon.
The now four-year-old went on to contest the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint,
finishing seventh after a slow start, and has won just once in five starts this
term. Her most serious challenges are likely to come from Las Cienegas H. (G3)
queen SEPARATE FOREST (Forestry); the recent top three from the Jenny Wade H. —
INSPIRED (Unbridled’s Song), BOUNDING BI (Outflanker) and SUZZONA (The Name’s
Jimmy); Giant’s Causeway S. heroine HOLDIAY FOR KITTEN (Kitten’s Joy); and
recent Royal North S. (Can-G3) runner-up SUPREME (Empire Maker).