Discovery attracts a crowd of 3-year-olds

ELMONT, N.Y. – The last graded stakes opportunity to run long against their own age group led to a rush to the entry box as 11 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct.

Three horses left in Arrogate’s wake in the Travers at Saratoga – Gift Box, Governor Malibu, and My Man Sam – head the field for the 1 1/8-mile Discovery.

Gift Box has not run since finishing fourth to Arrogate in the Travers. Trainer Chad Brown had considered races such as the Fayette at Keeneland or even shortening Gift Box in distance for the Bold Ruler at Belmont, but he opted for the Discovery.

“Running against his own age group another time is the right thing to do,” Brown said.

My Man Sam, also trained by Brown, was eighth in the Travers and came back to run fourth in the Pennsylvania Derby behind Connect, yet another 3-year-old trained by Brown.

Governor Malibu, fifth in the Travers, has already come back to run twice against New York- breds, winning an allowance race and finishing second in the $300,000 Empire Classic.

Governor Malibu worked four furlongs in 48 seconds Wednesday morning over Belmont’s main track. Trainer Christophe Clement said Governor Malibu will get a break following the Discovery, his ninth race of the year.

Joel Rosario, who rode Governor Malibu in his last six starts, including a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, has opted to ride Sticksstatelydude in the Discovery. Joe Bravo has picked up the mount on Governor Malibu.

Sticksstatelydude, whose regular trainer is Greg Burchell, will run in trainer Kiaran McLaughlin’s name, as he has in his previous two starts in New York.

The Discovery field, from the rail out, is: Adulator, Hunter O’Riley, Gift Box, Sticksstatelydude, Governor Malibu, Hot Seat, My Man Sam, Neolithic, Wild About Deb, Vulcan’s Forge, and Sunny Ridge.

Wake Forest heads dozen for Red Smith

Wake Forest, winner of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park during the summer, heads a field of 12 entered for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Red Smith Handicap, the last graded turf stakes of the year in New York. Eleven were entered for grass while Tommy Macho was entered in case the race is transferred to dirt.

Wake Forest, trained by Brown, is coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Canadian International and a second to The Pizza Man in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer, both at Woodbine. In the Red Smith, Wake Forest is cutting back to 1 3/8 miles.

Wake Forest is the 123-pound highweight and will break from post 8 under Javier Castellano. Also in the field are Messi, Danish Dynaformer, Bigger Picture, Up With the Birds, Biz the Nurse, I’ll Call, Rum Tum Tigger, Smooth Daddy, Tale of Fancy, and Arties Silver Mine.