Thirteen horses, including five graded stakes winners, have been entered in the May 18 Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park.
The one-mile turf contest for 3-year-olds and up is the 11th race on the card and is slated for 6 p.m.
The biggest standouts in the field appear to be 2013 grade III winners Za Approval and Javerre, who will carry top weight of 123 pounds apiece.
Za Approval, a son of Ghostzapper —Win Approval, by With Approval, will enter the Red Bank after rallying five wide to a one-length victory in the March 30 Appleton Stakes (gr. IIIT) at the Red Bank distance at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Christophe Clement for Charlotte Weber's Live Oak Plantation, the 5-year-old homebred gelding won a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claiming contest in January, and finished fourth in his stakes debut, the Feb. 23 Canadian Turf (Can-IIIT). He has an overall career slate of 5-3-0 from 12 starts, for earnings of $242,165.
Za Approval receives the services of jockey Joe Bravo, who was aboard for the Canadian Turf. The pair will break from post 2.
Javerre will try turf for the first time in the Red Bank after making his first 10 starts on dirt. The New Jersey-bred son of Outflanker—Our Fantene, by Touch Gold, made a name for himself this year when he recorded a driving, 1 1/4-length score in the seven-furlong General George Handicap (gr. III) at Laurel Park Feb. 18.
Trained by Cathal Lynch for Smith Farm and Stable and bred by Gunsmith Stables, Javerre has won or placed in five other stakes the past two years. He will enter the Red Bank off a third-place effort in the 1 1/8-mile Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Stakes at Laurel.
Javerre will be ridden by jockey Angel Arroyo, who was aboard for the 4-year-old gelding's victory in the 2012 New Jersey Breeders' Handicap at Monmouth. They will leave from post six.
Rounding out the field for the Red Bank are graded stakes winners Tune Me In and Finale; stakes winners Hobbs, Two Notch Road, and Bad Debt; stakes-placed runner Monument Hill; and allowance victors Mezzano, Admiral Perry, and Utley. The Jonathan Sheppard-trained Utley is cross-entered in the Dixie Stakes (gr. IIT) at Pimlico.
Another element of interest would be added to the Red Bank field should the race be moved from turf to dirt, as 2011 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Ruler On Ice is entered for the main track only.
A 24-1 outsider in the Belmont, Ruler On Ice held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Stay Thirsty in the slop at Belmont Park. Since that feat, however, the son of Roman Ruler has found the winner's circle only once in 12 starts. He finished third in the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I).
$100,000 Red Bank Stakes (gr. IIIT, approximate post time 6 p.m. EDT), 3YOs and up, one mile (turf)
PP, Horse, Jockey, Trainer, Odds
1. Sleepless Knight (KY), P L Cotto, Jr., 116, K J Breen
2. Za Approval (KY), J Bravo, 123, C Clement
3. Two Notch Road (VA), S Uske, 116, G R Thompson
4. Finale (KY), C P DeCarlo, 116, Todd Pletcher
5. Tune Me In (FL), G Saez, 116, B F Alexander
6. Javerre (NJ), A S Arroyo, 123, C A Lynch
7. Bad Debt (FL), J Pimentel, 116, M J Trombetta
8. Monument Hill (MD), P Lopez, 116, G Weaver
9. Hobbs (FL), E Trujillo, 116, K P Mongeon
10. Mezzano (KY), K Carmouche, 116, A E Goldberg
11. Admiral Perry (KY), J L Espinoza, 116, C R McGaughey III
12. Utley (KY), J Rose, 116, J E Sheppard
13. Ruler On Ice (KY) (MTO), E Trujillo, 116, K J Breen
A - Coupled Entries - Sleepless Knight, Ruler On Ice