Making his second start for new owner/trainer David Jocobson, multiple grade II winner Slim Shadey looks to end a long dry spell in the $100,000 Red Bank (gr. IIIT) May 17, the first graded stakes of the season at Monmouth Park.
Ten were entered for the one-mile grass event, with three others part of the field for the main track only. The Red Bank is race 11 on the Saturday Preakness program at Monmouth, with a 6 p.m. EDT scheduled post.
The British-bred Slim Shadey, formerly raced by his breeder, Phil Cunningham, and trained in Southern California by Simon Callaghan, has lost eight in a row dating back to the San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) in February 2013. Typically a front-runner at longer trips, he is winless in seven tries at the one-mile distance. He gets some class relief here.
Slim Shadey made his debut for Jacobson at Belmont Park in an allowance/optional claiming race at seven furlongs on good turf May 9, finishing last of five in his first start in three months. After showing early speed, he was beaten by four lengths. Slim Shadey has had one prior start at Monmouth, finishing fifth as the favorite in the 2012 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT).
With five wins—three at the grade II level in Southern California—and five seconds from 34 lifetime starts, Slim Shadey has earned $663,314. He'll be ridden from post 6 by Maria Remedio, who replaces Corey Nakatani.
Slim Shadey is coupled with Spa City Fever, entered for the main track only. Jacobson trains and co-owns the the 8-year-old New York-bred with Drawing Away Stable.
Two supplemental entrants in the wide open field, Winning Cause and Chamois, could have a say in the outcome.
Winning Cause, from the Todd Pletcher barn, gets back on turf for his Monmouth debut following a seventh in his 2014 debut, the Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III) on Polytrack at Keeneland. Alto Racing's 4-year-old son of Giant's Causeway handily won last summer's Sir Cat Stakes on the inner lawn at Saratoga Race Course with a strong late kick. Chris DeCarlo has the mount.
Jon and Sarah Kelly's homebred Chamois has won four of nine lifetime starts and makes his seasonal bow for trainer Christophe Clement. The 4-year-old Smart Strike colt had a part of stakes wins last year including the Duluth Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths in his most recent try Nov. 17 on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf. He also ran third in the Hill Prince Stakes (gr. IIIT) last June at Belmont Park. Gabriel Saez rides.
Midnight Cello narrowly missed last time at Calder Casino & Race Course in the Miami Mile (gr. IIIT) when second by three-quarters of a length April 19 at 16-1 odds for trainer Marco Vitali. Crossed Sabres Farm's Midnight Lute gelding had another close call last October at Calder when second by a head to Amen Kitten in the Tropical Park Derby.
Peace Sign Stable's Hard Enough is a stakes winner over the Monmouth course, taking the Restoration Stakes last August at nine furlongs. The Bobby Dibona-trained son of Hard Spun followed that effort with a third in the Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Delaware Park.
Roadhog comes into the Red Bank in good form, with two wins and two seconds in his past four starts dating back to last September for Ellendale Racing and trainer Elizabeth Merryman. The 7-year-old Bowman's Band gelding missed by a head in the Henry S. Clark Stakes, his first start of the year April 19 on the Pimlico Race Course turf.
Admiral Perry, sixth in last year's Red Bank, looks to register his first stakes win for owner/breeder Stuart Janney and trainer Shug McGaughey. The Pennsylvania-bred comes off a fourth in an allowance/optional claiming race on the Keeneland Polytrack April 24.
$100,000 Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 11, 6 p.m.), 3 & Up, 1 Mile (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Hard Enough (VA), E Castro, B S Dibona
2. Two Notch Road (VA), J C Ferrer, G R Thompson
3. Roadhog (PA), P Lopez, E M Merryman
4. School House (KY), K Carmouche, K L Deiter
5. Chamois (KY), G Saez, C Clement
6. a-Slim Shadey (GB), M Remedio, D Jacobson
7. Admiral Perry (KY), V Santiago, C R McGaughey III
8. Winning Cause (KY), C P DeCarlo, T A Pletcher
9. Rose Brier (VA), A Castellano Jr., J Cibelli
10. Midnight Cello (KY), O Bocachica, M J Vitali
Main Track Only
11. Behemoth (ON), V Santiago, C A Gonzalez
12. Mezzano (KY), K Carmouche, A E Goldberg
13. a-Spa City Fever (NY), E Castro, D Jacobson
a-David Jacobson entry.
All assigned 116 pounds.
Slim Shadey looks to return to the Winner's Circle in the Red Bank Stakes.
Benoit Photo