Icy Atlantic fresh for Red Bank repeat

OCEANPORT, N.J. - A well-rested Icy Atlantic returns Saturday to defend his title in the Grade 3, $150,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The one-mile Red Bank on the turf will be the first start for the 7-year-old Icy Atlantic since the accident-marred Elkwood Stakes here in late May.

Icy Atlantic, down on the rail, was forced to steady when Silent Roar fell turning for home. He got through to get third, and hasn't been to the races since.

"He did not get hurt in the race," said Anthony Sciametta, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. "He escaped without an injury."

Icy Atlantic has been working steadily all summer at Monmouth.

"He has been training fine," Sciametta said. "There were no issues. He is fresh."

Now he finally gets to run, against seven rivals. Shopton Lane and Brilliant Son were entered for the main track only.

Icy Atlantic earlier in his career served as a "rabbit," a pace prompter, for his more illustrious stablemate English Channel.

Freed from that role, Icy Atlantic reverted to his natural late-running style, which paid off with rallying victories last season in the Grade 2 Arcadia Handicap at Santa Anita and in the Red Bank, where he came from last in the seven-horse field to nail Touched by Madness by a neck.

Joe Bravo will be aboard.

The Red Bank also attracted Giant Wrecker and Hotstufanthensome, second and third in the blanket finish of the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes behind Silver Tree on the Haskell Day undercard.

Hotstufanthensome, second to Breeders' Cup Mile winner Miesque's Approval in the 2006 Red Bank, has enjoyed a revival since being claimed by trainer Terri Pompay for $62,500 in January at Gulfstream Park. The 8-year-old Hotstufanthensome loves Monmouth, where has hit the board in 12 of 13 starts.

"I'm really proud of him," said Pompay. "He's such a neat old horse.

"He's such a gritty horse," Pompay said. "He's not big, and he's not much to look at, but he's tough as they come. After he got beat in the Oceanport, he was mad."

Elvis Trujillo has the return call.

Giant Wrecker was the pacesetter in the Oceanport, his second start of the season after running fifth in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs.

Trainer Tony Dutrow, pleased by the ride in Oceanport, will again give Jose Lezcano a leg up.

"He rode that horse very well," Dutrow said. "That horse ran very well for him."

John's Pic, Fagedaboudit Sal, Buffalo Man, and Wheels Up at Noon complete the field.

Gianna's Reprized sharp for step up

Gianna's Reprized goes for her third straight win in the $65,000 Twin Lights Stakes, the supporting event for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

Claimed for $25,000 at Gulfstream in March by trainer Jason Servis, Gianna's Reprized reeled off back-to-back wins on grass.

"I had been watching her in Florida and liked what I saw, especially when she ran on turf," said Servis. "The day I claimed her she was in against older horses, and she did fine.

"When we came to Monmouth, I raised her to $40,000, and she's run really well for us. I know we could keep her at that level, but there are a lot of positives in running her in the stakes."