Allard hoping Bender could be soft spot for Quint's Brew's return

Quint’s Brew, runner-up in the Grade 2 Carter and Grade 3 Westchester earlier this year, could make his long-awaited return later this month after a successful training stint at Delaware Park. Trainer Ned Allard remains cautious, but nominating him for the $100,000 Bender Memorial on Dec. 20 at Laurel Park could be a strong hint.

“There’s a couple spots, but I don’t even want to mention them,” Allard said. “I might take advantage of an allowance race just to get started back, but it’s going to be hard to resist the Maryland-bred race on the 20th.”

After two graded stakes defeats at Aqueduct in April and May, Allard mentioned that Quint’s Brew suffered a minor setback and needed time to recuperate. He briefly returned to training in June before going on the shelf for a longer stint over the summer.

“He didn’t have any surgeries. He just needed three months off,” Allard said. “Now, he’s doing really well. Hopefully, we’ll have some fun with him this winter.”

Earlier this year, Quint’s Brew returned from a similar layoff of nearly seven months in January, winning the $75,000 Jennings as a prep for the $200,000 General George, a high-profile stakes at Laurel’s winter meet. The 101 Beyer Speed Figure he earned in February is the third highest earned at Laurel in 2025.

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In both races at Aqueduct, the gelding was denied a graded stakes victory by less than a length. In the Carter, he came up short by a neck to Crazy Mason, who has since finished in the money in four more graded stakes. In the Westchester, he came up a half-length short to Bishops Bay, now a four-time graded stakes winner for trainer Brad Cox.

Allard didn’t commit to any lofty spots for Quint’s Brew’s 6-year-old campaign, but he didn’t rule out a return to graded stakes competition if it was appropriate. Training at Delaware Park over the winter will give the trainer options at Laurel, Aqueduct, and other nearby tracks in the region.

For now, Allard is simply looking for a soft spot for his returning star, and the Bender Memorial for Maryland- and Virginia-breds could fit the bill. Many of the strongest contenders nominated for the race, including Post Time and Barbadian Runner, also are nominated to the $100,000 Robert T. Manfuso on the same day.

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