Phipps Stable's homebred Boisterous successfully defended his title in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct. Rating in third under Edgar Prado for more than a mile, Boisterous eased into the lead at the top of the stretch and drew off to win by a comfortable three lengths. The final time for 1 3/8 miles over yielding turf was 2:19 1/5. An overwhelming 1-5 favorite, Boisterous returned $2.70, $2.20 and $2.10.
Boisterous is now the first male to win consecutive runnings of the Red Smith. The only previous back-to-back winner was the noted mare Drumtop, who won the race in 1970-71 when it was known as the Edgemere Handicap.
Second choice Lake Drop rallied from near the back of the six-horse field to earn the place, 4 1/4 lengths ahead of Philly Ace. Rounding out the order of finish were Westside Corral, Game Ball, and Bombaguia. The latter set fractions of :25 4/5, :52 1/5, 1:18 1/5 and 1:43 1/5, but faded approaching the stretch after coming under pressure. Withdrawn from the Red Smith were the two main-track-only entrants Isn't He Perfect and Pleasant Prince.
Bred in Kentucky by "Dinny" Phipps' late sister, Cynthia, Boisterous is now a six-time stakes winner. In addition to two renewals of the Red Smith, the Distorted Humor five-year-old has also captured two runnings of the Grade 3 Knickerbocker, a Grade 3 Fort Marcy, and the Three Coins Up overnight stakes. Boisterous has also placed in the Grade 1 Man o' War, Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap, and just missed in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap this past July. His record now stands at 21-9-1-2, $766,390.
Boisterous is the first stakes winner out of Grade 1-placed stakes victress Emanating. The Cox's Ridge mare is herself a daughter of Grade 3 heroine Lead Kindly Light, who produced Grade 1 star Gold Fever. This female family is also responsible for Grade 1-winning sire Bellamy Road, Grade 3-scoring stallion Out of Place, and the mother-son duo of Grade 1 vixen Versailles Treaty and Grade 2 hero Saarland. Farther back one can find Exclusive Native, who is the sire of the last Triple Crown winner Affirmed.
