Playing field tilted toward All Star Red in Thursday rematch

ELMONT, N.Y. – The last time All Star Red raced in New York, he was beaten a nose by Angry Moon in a four-horse photo finish at Saratoga. There are a few factors that could play in All Star Red’s favor Thursday when those two sprinters meet again in a third-level optional $100,000 claiming race going six furlongs at Belmont Park.

First, the trainer of the late-running All Star Red, Rudy Rodriguez, is going great guns right now, having won nine races with his last 30 starters to tie Chad Brown atop the trainer standings heading into the final week of the meet.

Second and perhaps most importantly, there appears to be other speed to run with Angry Moon early.

In the race at Saratoga, All Star Red rallied from sixth, had to come off the inside in the stretch after saving ground, and fell a nose short. In his next start, All Star Red finished a nonthreatening fifth in the Challedon Stakes. Run over a sloppy track at Laurel, the seven-furlong Challedon didn’t have much speed.

Rain is in the forecast for Thursday, which could make for a wet track. All Star Red ran second in the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Handicap over a muddy Pimlico strip in May.

Angry Moon, trained by Chris Englehart, is making his first start on dirt at Belmont. He has won over Aqueduct’s inner track and at Saratoga. He is being offered for the optional $100,000 claiming price.

Easy to Say could be Angry Moon’s nemesis. That New Jersey-based colt came off a yearlong layoff in July to win a second-level allowance at Monmouth, running six furlongs in 1:08.43. He then finished third behind Stallwalkin’ Dude and Chief Lion in the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 12.

Should the track come up wet, beware of Eye Luv Lulu, who is 7 for 10 over wet surfaces.

KEY CONTENDERS

All Star Red, by Five Star Day

Last 3 Beyers: 82-96-98

◗ Throw out his last race, which came at seven furlongs in the mud, and he hasn’t really run a bad race this year, including his fifth-place finish to A. P. Indian in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga.

◗ He should get a proper pace scenario for his closing style.

◗ He is reunited with Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode him in his last three New York races.

Angry Moon, by Langfuhr

Last 3 Beyers: 96-93-84

◗ Put in a very game effort holding off All Star Red last out, his first time on dirt since an eighth-place finish in Grade 3 Tom Fool at Aqueduct in March.

◗ Projects to get into a speed duel with Easy to Say.

Easy to Say, by Eskendereya

Last 3 Beyers: 93-98-80

◗ Handled a pace challenge from next-out winner Chubble Master rather impressively in his first start off a yearlong layoff in July at Monmouth.

◗ Lunged at the break, then had to wait for running room in upper stretch when finishing third in the Tale of the Cat Stakes.