Icy Atlantic sets course record winning Red Bank

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Owner Jim Scatuorchio could have two grass runners in the Breeders' Cup here following Icy Atlantic's course-record victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Scatuorchio, who resides in nearby Rumson, N.J., also owns English Channel, who posted a second straight win in the Gradeo1 United Nations Stakes here earlier in the season.

English Channel is being pointed toward the Breeders' Cup Turf, while Icy Atlantic has emerged as a candidate for the Breeders' Cup Mile on the turf. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher.

"It will be Todd's decision," Scatuorchio said of Icy Atlantic's Breeders' Cup prospects. "It's certainly a benefit when you race well over this course. It's a possibility, I'm sure."

Miesque's Approval used a win in last year's Red Bank as a springboard to a Breeders' Cup Mile victory.

Icy Atlantic ($3.60), ridden by Joe Bravo, rallied to beat Touched by Madness by a neck in 1:32.42 for the one mile on the firm course, shading the record of 1:32.50 set last year by Ashkal Way.

Icecapade: Smokey Stover wins his Cup prep

Smokey Stover tuned up for the Breeders' Cup Sprint with a solid victory in the $100,000 Icecapade Stakes.

Trainer Greg Gilchrist brought the 4-year-old gelding here from Bay Meadows for a pre-Breeders' Cup race over the track. Gilchrist was delighted with the way the stakes unfolded.

"That was pretty much it, if you could have written it up," Gilchrist said. "We're not a true speed horse, but I told Aaron, I think it's possible we're going to wind up on the lead."

And so it played out, with Smokey Stover and Aaron Gryder breaking sharply and holding off an early inside challenge from Cougar Cat. Park Avenue Ball, a New Jersey-bred making his first start since undergoing throat surgery, made a menacing move turning for home but could not sustain the rally and settled for second

Smokey Stover ($2.20) prevailed by two lengths. Cougar Cat was third with High Blitz the trailer in the four-horse field. The time was 1:08.82 for the six furlongs on the fast track.

Gilchrist now has his sights set on a return here on Oct. 27.

"The Breeders' Cup is definitely the plan right now," he said.