Divisidero rallies to win Red Bank Stakes

Multiple Grade 1 winner Divisidero asserted his class to get back in the winner's circle in the Grade 3, $150,000 Red Bank Stakes, the headline event on a Sunday card at Monmouth Park that included four stakes races.

Divisidero ($5.20), sent away as the second choice in a short field of five, was last after a half-mile under Julian Pimentel. However, he was only about four lengths back as stakes winner Diamond King, trying turf for the first time, was leading the way through a split of 46.98 seconds on firm turf.

Divisidero swung four wide into the stretch and came on willingly to outkick Maraud, who had assumed the lead from Diamond King. He hit the wire a length in front, stopping the clock in 1:34.37 for the mile.

“They were going pretty quick early, and I think that definitely helped,” Pimentel said. “I always felt like I had a lot of horse. I was just biding my time because I had horses outside of me. But when I asked him to go, he really took off. He really responded.”

Favored Firey Speech came on to be second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of Maraud. They were followed by Say the Word and Diamond King.

Divisidero, a 7-year-old son of Kitten's Joy, now sports a career record of 28-7-6-4, with 15 stakes wins or placings, and earnings of $1,604,539 for owners Gunpowder Farms and Brereton C. Jones. He won the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in both 2016 and 2017 for trainer Buff Bradley.

Transferred to the barn of Kelly Rubley beginning with the 2018 season, he won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap in July of that year. However, that was his last victory for more than a year. He came into the Red Bank off a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes on July 20 at Monmouth, beaten a head by Just Howard.

“He’s been so close for a while now,” Rubley said. “I thought today was a very patient ride and the pace scenario worked out for us. I’m thrilled. We’ve been waiting a long time for this. He shows up every time and he tries, but it has been a while between wins. He’s a wonderful horse to train. Very consistent. You can’t take anything away from him."

Earlier on the card:

* Favored Goldwood ($4.60) led the way throughout to win the $79,500 Safely Kept Stakes for female sprinters. Ridden by Jose Ferrer for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr., the mare outdueled a longshot early and then kicked clear in the lane to win by a length, finishing the five furlongs on the turf in 56.09.

This was the fourth consecutive stakes win for the Colts Neck Stable homebred, who also has won the Politely, Unbridled Elaine, and Incredible Revenge stakes, all at Monmouth.

* Big City Bob upset the $104,000 Sapling Stakes, and Micheline won the $106,000 Sorority Stakes, both for 2-year-olds.

Big City Bob ($54.20) edged Skyscanner by a neck, with Chris DeCarlo in the irons for Duarte and Colts Neck. The colt, who was coming off a maiden win at Monmouth, finished a mile on the main track in 1:39.29.

Micheline ($3.80), a Godolphin homebred trained by Mike Stidham, was sent away favored in the Sorority, despite being a maiden. She had finished third in her lone prior start, at Saratoga. The filly won by 1 3/4 lengths, finishing the mile on turf in 1:37.19.