Gierkink's preview: Black Hornet brings speed

Friday, June 13, preview

Red Shot dicey in Race 2

Red Shot, the 3-1 third choice on the morning line, has been a vet scratch twice since his narrow loss against $8,000 opposition here April 25, including in a $7,500 claimer June 3 at Fort Erie. The 7-year-old gelding has won off a short layoff in the past, but his recent work tab is light.

Trainer Marty Drexler sends out the 2-1 morning-line favorite, Royal Greatness, who could run big on the drop from $20,000 in his third start off the shelf. Drexler won with a razor-sharp Casablanca Kiss on Wednesday night. Guitar Solo is the other obvious contender in the $12,500 contest.

Black Hornet speed of the feature

Black Hornet, returning from a seven-month layoff, may take some catching in the $74,500 headliner, a six-furlong allowance that serves as the prep for the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes on July 6. If the race remains on grass, it will be his first start on that surface, and he’ll have to hold off the proven grassers Lockout and Run to the Bank, who was only beaten four lengths in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes.

Among the two main-track-only entrants, the durable 8-year-old Paso Doble looks best off a third in the New Providence Stakes.