A nicely matched field of older males will go postward in the Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Hawthorne Race Course Sept. 29.
One of the leading contenders in the race appears to be Ballast, who raced his juvenile, sophomore, and 3-year-old campaigns in his native Ireland.
The 6-year-old son of Desert Prince, who boasts a record of 6-7-2 from 25 starts, closed his 5-year-old season with a victory in the Tropical Turf Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Calder Race Course.
Owned by Richard Thompson and trained by Graham Motion, Ballast has only made four starts so far this year, though one was a runner-up effort in the July 15 Caesar Rodney Stakes at Del Mar. He will enter the Robert F. Carey off a fourth-place finish in the Aug. 25 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.
Sure to pose a threat to Ballast is another foreign runner, Masterpiece, who was bred in Argentina. The son of Southern Halo scored a group I victory during his 4-year-old season in the San Isidro in his native country before being shipped to the United States in 2005. Owned by the Horizon Stable and trained by Wally Dollase, Masterpiece will go into the Robert F. Carey off a triumph in his first North American stakes contest, the Aug. 16 Harry F. Brubaker Handicap at Del Mar.
Although it has been a while since either has crossed the wire first in black-type company, duel stakes victors Onthedeanslist and Classic Campaign have also proved their capabilities on the turf.
An 8-year-old son of Honor Grades, Onthedeanslist took two stakes contests at Louisiana Downs and Ellis Park in 2005, while Classic Campaign launched his 2007 season with a victory in the Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park in January, but has failed to find the winners circle since. The son of Rahy also won a stakes during his 3-year-old campaign.
Rounding out the field are stakes winner Obi Wan Kenobi, graded stakes-placed runners Crested and Come on Jazz, and allowance winner Gold Hornet.
Robert F. Carey Memorial Handicap (gr. IIIT), $150,000, Sept. 29, 3-year-olds and up, one mile, 4:54 p.m. EDT
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Crested, 115, Christopher Emigh
2. Obi Wan Kenobi, 115, Randall Meier
3. Gold Hornet, 112, Eduardo Perez
4. Ballast, 116, Rafael Bejarano
5. Classic Campaign, 115, Richard Migliore
6. Onthedeanslist, 114, Eusebio Razo, Jr.
7. Masterpiece, 114, Alonso Quinonez
8. Come on Jazz, 114, Israel Ocampo
