Mr. Buff eyes quick return in Alex M. Robb

Mr. Buff has had some memorable moments at Aqueduct through the years, and he has a chance to add to his local lore Saturday in the $100,000 Alex M. Robb.

Mr. Buff has won the last two runnings of the 1 1/8-mile race for New York-breds, and will be a top choice to keep his streak alive as the potential controlling speed in this year’s renewal. But, he’s not definite to run in the race, which also drew fellow stakes winners Bankit, Sea Foam, City Man, and Danny California.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Mr. Buff ran a week ago in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile – finishing fifth – and trainer John Kimmel has been taking it day by day as a far as a decision on running Saturday.

“His energy level is quite high,” Kimmel told the publicity department at Aqueduct on Wednesday. “He actually seems quite full of himself.

“I’m not committed to running. We’ll get a couple more gallop days into him. The exercise rider that has been on him says he feels extremely energetic. He seems to be doing fine.”

Mr. Buff, a earner of $1.2 million, boasts an 8-for-14 record at Aqueduct. His local victories include three straight stakes last winter, starting with the Alex M. Robb and continuing with the Jazil in January and the Haynesfield in February. Mr. Buff won the latter race by 20 lengths and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 106.

When last seen against New York-breds, he won the $175,000 Empire Classic on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park.

Kendrick Carmouche has been named to ride Mr. Buff, a homebred son of Friend Or Foe for Chester and Mary Broman.

Bankit gets another crack at Mr. Buff after running second to him in the Empire Classic. Bankit has raced once since their meeting, finishing third in a New York Stallion Stakes on Nov. 22 at Aqueduct.

Bankit was prominent in the seven-furlong race and should be sharp for the move back to two turns. Jose Lezcano has the mount on Bankit for trainer Steve Asmussen. The son of Central Banker races for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing.

Sea Foam was third in the Empire Classic in his last start, which came following a 1 1/8-mile allowance win at Saratoga. The three-time stakes winner has natural speed and could get an ideal trip tracking Mr. Buff. Joel Rosario has the mount for trainer Christophe Clement.

:: Click to learn about our DRF's Free Past Performance program.

Clement also will start City Man, a stakes winner on dirt and turf who is moving back to the main track off a score in the $100,000 Gio Ponti on turf at Aqueduct on Nov. 27. He is a son of Mucho Macho Man and is co-owned by Dan Reeves, who raced his sire.

“He’s putting out as good of dirt horses as he is turf horses,” Reeves told publicity of Mucho Macho Man.

The 3-year-old City Man will be facing older rivals for the first time Saturday.

“This is a nice horse,” Reeves said. “Personally, I think he’ll get better in his 4-year-old season. There’s a lot of upside to him.”

Manny Franco has the mount from post 3 in the field of six for the Alex M. Robb.