Can Tannery Tan the Boys Hides?

2013 Red Smith Handicap (GIII); Hoping Tannery Can Tan Some Hides Saturday

The 2013 Red Smith Handicap is a Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York and is set for Saturday, November 16, 2013. This race is for horses 3 years-old and up on the grass at 1 3/8 miles (11 furlongs) for a purse of $250,000.

*CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED RESULTS

Aqueduct will be closing out its fall stakes program this weekend and the 2013 Red Smith Handicap is race #7 of the day with a post time of 3:14 pm, ET.

The Red Smith Handicap was inaugurated in 1960 and was run as the Edemere Handicap until 1981. Previously, the Edgemere Handicap was raced on dirt, contested at a distance of a mile and one furlong and was last run in 1957. This turf race was renamed the Red Smith Handicap in honor of the late Walter “Red” Smith, an honored and respected sports columnist for over 45 years who won a Pulitzer Prize in 1976. The speed record for this race is tied at 2:00.20 by Yankee Affair in 1990 and Montserrat in 1992. The most wins by a horse are by Boisterous in 2011 & 2012.

The Alan Goldberg trained Tannery looks to be headlining this stately group on the turf. The four-year old daughter of Dylan Thomas seeked out a win in the E.P. Taylor Stakes (GI) at Woodbine on October 27, 2013. Prior she was second in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (GI) at Belmont on September 28 after running fourth in the Sword Dancer Invitational (GI) at Saratoga on August 17th. So I would venture to say, this girl is good and on a mission. Tannery has been training at Colts Neck Stables and recently burned a 4F bullet on November 9th in 47.00. Can we say smokin’ hot? She has a racing career of 19: 6-4-1. Tannery gets O. Solis in the irons and departs from door #6.

The 4 year-old son of Hat Trick, Howe Great, trained by Richard Mettee finished 3rd last out in the Knickerbocker Stakes (GIII)at Belmont on Ocotober 12, 2013. Prior he was 3rd in the Cliff Hanger Stakes (GIII) on August 25 and 2nd in the Oceanport Stakes (GIII) on July 28, both at Monmouth Park. He was 2nd in the (GIII) Poker Stakes at Belmont on July 4th. His last win was in an allowance race at Keeneland in April. He is looking for his first graded-stakes win of the year and has been training well at Fair Hill’s all-weather track. On November 9 he posted a 5F bullet in 1.00.40 and has a career race record of 18:6-5-3. Howe Great breaks from post #9 with C. Velasquez in the saddle.

For my longshot here I like the Christophe Clement trained Quick Casablanca from Chile who exits post #13 with J.Alvarado holding the reins. He ran from 4/11 to 5/12 in Chile hitting the board 1st and 2nd in most of his races. He started racing in the US this year and has raced four times. His last race was on September 7 at Belmont going 1 1/4 on the grass in the Bowling Green Handicap (GII) where he rated, was inside, the early speed and finished 4th. On July 31 he ran in the John’s Call Stakes at Saratoga going 1 5/8 on the turf where he clipped heels early after breaking first, got stuck back in 8th to finish up 3rd. Prior on June 7th at Belmont going 1 1/2 on the dirt where he was stuck between rivals, then sent to the rail and faltered to 8th. His career record is 15:3-6-4.

For the 2013 Red Smith Handicap I’m gonna root for Tannery and hope the filly can make a little history with a win as no filly or mare has won this race since Drumtop took back-to-back wins in 1970-71. The favorites can beat me as I’m completely going against the two in here Imagining and Hyper. Just not in the mood for them and would rather see a few of these other nice horses get a shot. Howe Great I believe could get a break here, hit the board and possibly win his first stakes race this year. Quick Casablanca is looking for his first win here in the US, he’s got a great trainer and I dig his Chilean background. I wouldn’t be surprised either to see the long-shot Arctic North hit the board. If Peter Miller is bringing him from California, he’s gonna be ready and he’s lightly raced. However, I may not play this race and just watch but I hope they all come home safe. Good luck to them all and their connections.

Related Links:
What to wear to Aqueduct for the Red Smith Handicap

Post Positions & Odds for 2013 Red Smith Handicap (GIII):
1. Arctic North 20/1 J.Ortiz/P.Miller
2. Imagining 7/2 J.Rosario/C.McGaughey III
3. Exclusive Strike 12/1 J.Lezcano/J.Servis
4. Slip and Drive 30/1 A.Castellano Jr/M.Robertson
5. Sky Blazer 6/1 R.Maragh/B.Tagg
6. Tannery (IRE) 5/1 O.Solis/A.Goldberg
7. Sandyinthesun 50/1 J.A.Davis/R.Davis
8. Hangover Kid 20/1 I.Ortiz Jr./J.Servis
9. Howe Great 8/1 C.Velasquez/R.Mettee
10. Mission Approved 30/1 C.Lopez/N.Chatterpaul
11. Hyper 5/2 J.Castellano/C.Brown
12. Nutello 15/1 L.Saez/G.Motion
13. Quick Casablanca (CHI) 15/1 J.Alvarado/C.Clement
*14. Percusson 6/5 unknown jockey/T.Pletcher
NOTE:
*14 will run only if the race comes off the turf