Photo:
Teresa Poplin / Eclipse Sportswire
The prestigious Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith stakes race highlights the opening weekend of the fall meeting at Aqueduct, set to take place this Saturday. A competitive field of nine seasoned turf runners, including the defending champion from last year’s event, will tackle a demanding distance of 1 3/8 miles on the lush grass.
The assembled field boasts an impressive array of talent, featuring four graded stakes winners and two competitors who have surpassed career earnings of $1 million. Among the runners, there is one standout Grade 1 winner and three horses with victories at the Grade 2 level.
Here is a comprehensive analysis of the entrants for the Red Smith, accompanied by the morning-line odds provided by the Horse Racing Nation staff. The race is scheduled as the 9th of 10 for the day, with post time set for 3:40 p.m. EST.
1. Curbstone, 15-1. Street Sense – Tom Morley / John Velazquez – 23: 5-5-0 – $345,920. Curbstone finished second in the recent two-mile John Forbes Stakes at the Far Hills jump meeting after leading the majority of the race. However, he is yet to secure a victory on turf, having previously claimed wins on dirt surfaces. Toss.
2. Integration, 7-2. Quality Road – Shug McGaughey / Flavien Prat – 9: 4-1-1 – $976,800. Integration emerged triumphant in both the Hill Prince (G2) and the Virginia Derby (G3) on turf last year as a 3-year-old, following a perfect start to his career with three straight wins. This year, he has faced stiff competition in four Grade 1 races, achieving a notable second place in the Arlington Million in August, followed by a fourth place finish in the Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs as the even-money favorite. Win contender.
3. Pioneering Spirit, 20-1. American Pharoah – Rick Dutrow / Manny Franco – 31: 6-6-3 – $679,680. Recently claimed for $62,500 from trainer Linda Rice, Pioneering Spirit has primarily been racing in stakes events in New York. His last victory was over a year ago, achieved in the Knickerbocker at Aqueduct, which was contested on a sloppy track despite being scheduled for turf. Toss.
4. City Man, 8-1. Mucho Macho Man – Christophe Clement / Joel Rosario – 36: 11-7-6 – $1,323,870. The 7-year-old City Man leads the field in career earnings, boasting over $1.3 million. His history includes a Grade 2 victory in 2022, and he has consistently places in New York-bred stakes races for the past eighteen months, never finishing worse than fourth in his last eight state-bred races, with his latest win recorded in August 2023. Use underneath.
5. Limited Liability, 6-1. Kitten’s Joy – Shug McGaughey / Frankie Dettori – 18: 4-2-6 – $805,199. Limited Liability’s impressive victory in the Nashville Gold Cup at Kentucky Downs showcased a commanding win by over eight lengths, where he maintained the lead throughout the grueling race. Frankie Dettori remains aboard after this achievement, and the second-place finisher from that race went on to win at the Far Hills stakes ahead of Curbstone. The extended distance of this race plays to the strengths of this 5-year-old. Win contender.
6. Adhamo, 12-1. Intello – Chad Brown / Irad Ortiz Jr. – 24: 5-3-5 – $1,005,067. Adhamo stands out as the only Grade 1 winner in the lineup, having claimed victory at the United Nations at Monmouth Park in 2022. This 6-year-old horse is also among the $1 million earners in the race. Despite a successful past year where he finished third in both the Arlington Million and the Canadian International (G1), Adhamo has struggled to find his form in 2024. He enters this contest as a newly gelded horse following a four-month absence from competition. Toss.
7. Daunt, 30-1. Nyquist – Robert Ribaudo / Javier Castellano – 24: 2-3-3 – $365,380. Daunt has spent the last five races in allowance events, achieving a best finish of third at Saratoga. His attempts in stakes races have yielded minimal success, with only an allowance win on his record from October 2022. Toss.
8. Master Piece, 5-2. Mastercraftsman – Rick Dutrow / Jose Lezcano – 32: 8-4-5 – $943,577. Master Piece aims to repeat his victory in this esteemed race from last year, which marked the end of a successful 2023 season for him. Despite a disappointing performance in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) earlier this year, he made a strong comeback to clinch the win in the Fort Marcy (G2). He then traveled to Santa Anita, where he secured third place in the John Henry Turf Cup (G2). Notably, he boasts a perfect record on Aqueduct turf, having won both of his prior starts at this track. This is a highly competitive field, posing a substantial challenge, but he is viewed as the one to beat.
9. Rebel Red, 5-1. Frankel – Cherie DeVaux / Jose Ortiz – 7: 3-1-0 – $153,469. Rebel Red began his racing journey in England with two initial starts before transitioning to Cherie DeVaux’s barn, where he notably broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in June. Following this win, he also claimed an allowance victory at Saratoga. Rebel Red took on stakes competition in the Bernard Baruch but finished seventh. Most recently, at Keeneland, he executed a deep closing move to win decisively in a second-level allowance, defeating a field of 12 as the 2-1 favorite. This horse emerges as a promising win contender.
Summary: The top choices to watch in the Red Smith include Master Piece and Integration. While Integration seems to excel at shorter distances like nine furlongs, Master Piece has proven his prowess at the extended 11 furlongs of this race. Additionally, Rebel Red makes an intriguing addition to the competition, bringing momentum from his pair of allowance victories under the guidance of Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux.
Master Piece holds the edge as the primary candidate to include in the exacta along with Rebel Red and Integration.
**Interview with Horse Racing Expert, Jane Doe, on the Upcoming Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Jane! We’re just days away from the Red Smith Stakes at Aqueduct. This year’s lineup is impressive. What are your initial thoughts on the race?
**Jane Doe:** Thank you for having me! The Red Smith Stakes always draws a competitive field, and this year is no exception. We have nine seasoned turf runners, including last year’s defending champion. With so much talent in the mix, it’s shaping up to be an exciting race.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely! Integration seems to be one of the standout horses with morning-line odds of 7-2. Can you tell us more about him?
**Jane Doe:** Integration is a strong contender. Trained by Shug McGaughey, he has shown tremendous ability on the turf, winning both the Hill Prince and Virginia Derby last year. Though he faced tougher competition this season, his experience in Grade 1 races and a solid second-place finish in the Arlington Million make him a serious threat in this race.
**Interviewer:** Master Piece is the favorite at 5-2 and won this race last year. What should fans expect from him this time around?
**Jane Doe:** Master Piece is riding high off his previous victory in the Red Smith and is trained by Rick Dutrow. He has a solid record and is returning in great form. His experience in this event can’t be understated, making him a significant favorite to take the title again. Fans should definitely keep an eye on him!
**Interviewer:** City Man also seems to have a solid track record. How does he fit into the mix?
**Jane Doe:** City Man is interesting, primarily because of his earnings. With over $1.3 million in career winnings and consistent performances in state-bred stakes races, he has a strong chance to make a mark here. His recent form has been solid, finishing well in his last eight races, so he could surprise some bettors.
**Interviewer:** Considering the length of this race at 1 3/8 miles, which horses do you think will handle the distance best?
**Jane Doe:** The distance can indeed test stamina, and horses like Limited Liability, who recently showcased dominance over a similar extended distance at Kentucky Downs, and Integration, with his strong turf pedigree, should handle it well. Both horses have the track record to suggest they could thrive under these conditions.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Jane! Any final thoughts as we approach the race?
**Jane Doe:** Just that this is one of the highlights of the fall meeting at Aqueduct, and with such a talented field, fans are in for a treat! I expect a thrilling race, and it could very well come down to the wire.
**Interviewer:** Exciting times ahead! Thanks for your insights, Jane.
**Jane Doe:** My pleasure! Enjoy the race day!
