K R's Regent ideally spotted

OCEANPORT, N.J. - K. R.'s Regent has spent most of his 13-race career facing open company.

The 4-year-old K R's Regent gets a second straight crack at New Jersey-breds, only his third overall, in the $47,500 allowance feature at 1 1/16 miles on Friday at Monmouth Park.

K. R.'s Regent looks ideally positioned in this first-level spot. He should be tighter and fitter after finishing third despite steadying turning for home in his season debut here on June 4.

"He's doing well," trainer Mary Hartmann said. "I think he needed that last race and I think he's better suited for a mile and a sixteenth instead of a flat mile."

K. R.'s Regent earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure in the comeback race. He will be very tough if he moves forward, based on last year's numbers.

K. R.'s Regent ran seven times here last summer with four Beyers of 76 or higher. A performance in that range would make the gelding very tough.

"I think he'll be salty on Friday," Hartmann said. "He gives his best effort every time."

Meadow Blue is the only other horse in the race with comparable Beyers, although they were earned sprinting. The 3-year-old colt trained by Kelly Breen stretches beyond six furlongs for the first time. He ran competitively in both starts this meet, missing by only a neck on opening day and most recently rallying for second on May 27 to earn a career-best 75 Beyer.

Diverse plans for Trenton pair

Spring House and Hotstufanthensome could be heading in radically different directions after running third and fourth, respectively, in the 1 1/16-mile Trenton Stakes on the turf Monday at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

Spring House could wind up on the dirt, while Hotstufanthensome might try a marathon.

Both horses were pace compromised in the Trenton when Icy Atlantic opened a huge, uncontested lead while setting moderate fractions. He held on to win by a head over Old Forester.

Spring House, 13 lengths off the pace at one point, rallied to miss by 2 3/4 lengths.

"He's such an honest horse," said trainer John Hennig. "He just needs some pace."

Spring House might get it next time out in Monmouth's Salvator Mile. The 4-year-old was nominated to the Grade 3 race on June 24 at the suggestion of owner R.D. Hubbard in what could be the gelding's first dirt start.

"He trains exceptionally well on it," Hennig said. "In the Salvator Mile, we'd certainly get some pace. We're not certain of anything right now, but he came out of the race great."

That was also the report from Norman Pointer on Hotstufanthensome.

"He came back good," Pointer said. "We live to fight again."

Hotstufanthensome was making his first start since winning the Grade 3 Mac Diarmida Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 29. He ranged into contention on the final turn but flattened out in the lane.

Pointer, who had Monmouth's Grade 1 United Nations on July 8 under consideration before the Trenton, is now less committed to that race.

"I've got to make a decision to run or pass," Pointer said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

Pointer would like to give Hotstufanthensome another race before stepping up to the U.N. but the timing would be very tight to squeeze that in.

A fresh option under consideration is to wait for the $250,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Marathon at two miles at Calder on July 22.