Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Contact: Ashley Herriman
NINE IN LINE FOR G2 RED SMITH
Trainer Christophe Clement has entered a pair of runners both exiting good efforts in Grade 1 company – Grassy, a late-running third in the 1 ½-mile Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park on October 2, and Center Divider, most recently fourth in the Jamaica Handicap at Belmont the following weekend.
"Grassy is doing great," Clement reported. "He ran a very nice race finishing third in the Turf Classic and came out of it in good order. We are supposed to get some rain tomorrow and he should enjoy the softer turf."
A 4-year-old son of El Prado owned by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider, Grassy seeks his first stakes win in the Red Smith, with the Turf Classic – won by Breeders' Cup Turf-bound stablemate
Clement has also entered the lightly-raced 3-year-old Center Divider, who broke his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs in February and won a Keeneland turf allowance on April 18, his most recent start prior to the
Grassy will carry 117 pounds including Joe Bravo from post position 6, while Jose Lezcano has been named to ride Center Divider, 113 pounds, from post 3.
Strike a Deal seeks his second Red Smith victory, having scored a seven-length win in the 2008 edition of the race. The 6-year-old son of Smart Strike has not found the winner's circle since taking the Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico on May 15 and exits a pair of disappointing efforts in
Strike a Deal gets the services of Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado from post 8.
Making his first start for new trainer Todd Pletcher is the Brazilian-bred Group 1 winner Jeune-Turc. Previously trained by Paulo Lobo, the 6-year-old has made two starts in the
"We've had him since September 15 and he came to us from Paulo in exceptional condition," said Jonathan Thomas "He acts like a classy horse and we're happy to have to him."
David Cohen will ride from post 4.
Also returning from the
The 7-year-old multiple Grade 1 winner Presious Passion, exiting a ninth-place effort in the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland on October 21, drew the rail as the 122-pound high weight in the Red Smith. The gelding boasts a lifetime record of 14-7-2 from 48 starts and was a competitor in both the 2007 and 2008 runnings of the Red Smith, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively.
Whatsthescript, a Grade 2 winner in
Rescue Squad and Bold Hawk enter the Red Smith off Keeneland allowances, with Rescue Squad finishing third in an October 10 contest and Bold Hawk running fourth in a race on October 13, his first start in nearly three years.
The field for the Grade 2, $150,000 Red Smith Handicap:
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer |
| 1 | Presious Passion (FL) | 122 | ||
| 2 | Simmard (KY) | 115 | ||
| 3 | Center Divider (KY) | 113 | ||
| 4 | Jeune-Turc (BRZ) | 115 | ||
| 5 | Rescue Squad (KY) | 114 | ||
| 6 | Grassy (KY) | 117 | ||
| 7 | Whatsthescript (IRE) | 116 | ||
| 8 | Strike a Deal (KY) | 116 | ||
| 9 | Bold Hawk (KY) | 116 |
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