OffTrackBetting.com – Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, New York will be the scene of the G3 Red Smith Handicap this Saturday, November 11. Horses three years old and upward will be featured when they take to Aqueduct’s inner turf track and race 1 3/8 miles for the winner’s share of the $200,000 purse.
A field of 11 plus one Mai Track Only Entry have been confirmed for the Red Smith Handicap – race 8 on Aqueduct’s Saturday schedule. Post time is 3:47 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all 12 possible entries for this competitive G3 stakes.
2017 Red Smith Handicap Entries at Aqueduct Racetrack
Oscar Nominated 8-1
Michael Maker trained Ringling has five wins, seven seconds and two third place finishes in 22 career starts. He finished seventeenth as a longshot in last year’s Kentucky Derby and went on to a fifth in the G3 Penn Mile in June, a second in the G3 American Derby in July and a fifth in the G1 Secretariat Stakes last August. He’s been up and down since – a respectable second last time out in the G1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine October 15 followed a great win in the G3 Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes September 9, an eighth in the G1 Arlington Millions August 12, a seventh in the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park July 1 and consecutive thirds – the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6 and the G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in April.
Before that were three straight seconds including the G3 Fair Grounds Handicap February 25, the G3 John B. Connally Turf Cup January 29 and the minor Tropical Park Derby. He also won the 2016 G3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park and a couple of minor stakes races that year. Oscar Nominated has been a tad tough to figure out but has been competitive in his last two starts overall. He tries to keep a decent run going Saturday with Jose Ortiz aboard from post 5.
Money Multiplier 5-2
Has four wins, seven seconds and a third-place finish in 18 career starts for trainer Chad Brown. In 2015, he had a couple of good runner-up finishes – the G3 Kent Stakes and the G3 Saranac Stakes but he struggled after that. He has been up-and-down in his last 10 starts however – a disappointing eighth last time out in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Racetrack September 30 followed a quality second behind Sadler’s Joy in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga August 26, a career-best win with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Monmouth Stakes July 30, a sixth in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf, a fourth in the 2016 G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic October 1 and a second with a good 112 Beyer Speed Figure in the 2016 G1 Sword Dancer.
Money Multiplier also had consecutive runner-up finishes in 2016 – the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park and the G1 Man o’ War Stakes on this track. Money Multiplier has placed in seven of his last 10 starts overall but will be after a strong bounce back from a sub-par effort from gate 2 with Javier Castellano in the saddle.
Hunter O’Riley 4-1
Has placed in 10 of 16 career starts for trainer James Toner – four wins, two seconds and four third place finishes. He made his graded stakes debut in January and finished sixth in the G3 WL McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream and has four starts since – a fourth, just one length back last time out in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga August 26 followed a superb win at 16-1 in the G2 Bowling Green Stakes on that track July 29, a fifth in the G3 Belmont Gold Cup Invitational June 9 and an Allowance score at Keeneland April 27.
Before that were consecutive thirds in minor stakes action – the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream December 31 and the Gio Ponti Stakes at Aqueduct November 24. Hunter O’Riley has placed in seven of 10 races ahead of this weekend and hopes for a second graded stakes score in three starts from post 9 with Manuel Franco guiding him.
Messi 10-1
Defending sixth-place finisher – German bred Graham Motion trained gelding has six wins, five seconds and five third place finishes in 27 career starts. He won the G3 Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in October, 2015 and has been good at times and bad at others since. Last time out was an ugly ninth in the G1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine October 15 which followed an OK but unlucky third in the G1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes there September 16, another third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Saratoga July 21, a ninth in the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park July 1, a third in the G3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack May 6, a sixth in the 2016 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct November 12 and a tenth in the 2016 G2 John Henry Turf Championship.
He had a good win in the G2 Sky Classic at Woodbine August 21, 2016 and consecutive third place finishes in 2016 – the G3 Arlington Handicap and the G3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack last May. Messi has been inconsistent to say the least and chases a first win in seven starts from the outside gate 12. Rajiv Maragh will be in the saddle.
Spring Quality 12-1
Graham Motion trained gelding has placed in six of eight career starts – four wins and two second-place finishes. He made his graded stakes and grass debut last time out and finished an OK fourth in the G2 Knickerbocker Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack October 9 after a second in the minor Roanoake Stakes at Parx September 2, a win in the minor Robellino Stakes at Penn National August 5 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Pimlico May 20. Spring Quality had been a serious factor every time out before last time out and hopes to finally break through in graded stakes company from post 7. Edgar Prado has the mount.
Get Jets 6-1
Anthony Dutrow trained colt has placed in nine of 11 career starts – six wins and three runner-up finishes. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday on a nice two-race win streak – the minor Ashely T. Cole Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack September 24 and the minor West Point Stakes at Saratoga August 25.
He alternated second-place finishes and wins in his previous four including a second in the listed Forbidden Apple Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in July and an Allowance Optional Claiming score on that track in June. Get Jets has four wins and two seconds in his last six starts overall – in good form ahead of his step up in competition. John Velazquez has been tabbed to ride from post 3.
St. Louie 20-1
Has just six wins in 26 career starts to go along with three seconds and four third-place finishes. He arrives off an Allowance score at Keeneland October 6 which followed an OK fourth in his only graded stakes action to date – the G3 Kentucky Turf Cup September 9, a third in the minor John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga August 23, a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track July 29 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Aqueduct Racetrack in June. He recorded consecutive thirds in Allowance races before that. St. Louie has been decent lately and shoots for a first ever stakes score from the rail. Luis Saez rides.
Call Provision 5-1
Has six wins, two seconds and a third-place finish in 12 career starts for trainer Chad Brown. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Aqueduct Racetrack October 20 which followed a second in the minor Ashley T. Cole Stakes on that track September 24, another Allowance Optional Claiming score at Saratoga August 30 and a second in a similar race on that track in July.
He had three graded stakes starts in 2016 – a sixth in the G3 Saranac Stakes, a thirteenth in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational and an OK third in the G3 Pennine Ridge Stakes in June. Call Provision has been OK against lesser company and shoots for a first stakes score Saturday from gate 10. Irad Ortiz in scheduled to ride.
Memories of Peter 20-1
James Ryerson trainee has just three wins in 23 career starts along with five seconds and two third-place finishes. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday off an Allowance score at Aqueduct Racetrack October 24 and a second in a similar race on that track September 23. Before that was seventh and a third respectively in a pair of Allowance races at Saratoga this past summer. Memories of Peter steps up in OK form and will have Junior Alvarado in the reins from gate 4.
Soluble 20-1
German bred Robert Ribaudo trained gelding has only two wins, two seconds and five third-place finishes. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Aqueduct Racetrack September 29 after a second in a similar race at Saratoga August 30 and off-the-board finishes in his previous five starts. Soluble has been decent lately but looks as though he will be in over his head in what represents a huge step up. Jose Lezcano gets the call from gate 8.
Tricked Up 30-1
Naipaul Chatterpaul trained colt has placed in five of nine career starts – two wins and three second-place finishes. He stepped into stakes company for the first time last time out and finished a disappointing seventh in the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct Racetrack September 30 after an eighth in a Claiming at Saratoga August 21, an Allowance score at Monmouth Park June 10 and off-the-board finishes in his two previous Allowance starts. Tricked Up arrived in less-than-spectacular form and shoots for a career-best effort from post 11. Luis Reyes will be in the irons.
Turco Bravo 3-1
Main Track Only Entry – David Cannizzo trained gelding has 62 career starts with 14 wins, 16 seconds and eight third-place finishes. He posted three minor stakes scores in 2016 including the Stymie Stakes here in March, the Flat Out Stakes in May and the listed Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga in August and also posted a third in 2016 in the G3 Excelsior Stakes and a second in the G2 Brooklyn Invitational last June.
He has been OK since – a second last time out in the listed Temperance Hill Invitational at Aqueduct Racetrack October 1 followed a third in a Claiming at Saratoga September 3 and off-the board finishes in his previous seven starts. Turco Bravo tries to rediscover his 2016 form (if he does indeed saddle up) from gate 6.
Entry | Horse | ML Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St. Louie | 20-1 | Luis Saez | Michael Maker |
2 | Money Multiplier | 5-2 | Javier Castellano | Chad Brown |
3 | Get Jets | 6-1 | John Velazquez | Anthony Dutrow |
4 | Memories of Peter | 20-1 | Junior Alvarado | James Ryerson |
5 | Oscar Nominated | 8-1 | Jose Ortiz | Michael Maker |
6 | Turco Bravo (CHI) | 3-1 | Rider TBA | David Cannizzo |
7 | Spring Quality | 12-1 | Edgar Prado | H. Motion |
8 | Soluble (GER) | 20-1 | Jose Lezcano | Robert Ribaudo |
9 | Hunter O’Riley | 4-1 | Manuel Franco | James Toner |
10 | Call Provision | 5-1 | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | Chad Brown |
11 | Tricked Up | 30-1 | Luis Reyes | Naipaul Chatterpaul |
12 | Messi (GER) | 10-1 | Rajiv Maragh | H. Motion |