St Anthony back on short rest for Red Bank Stakes

Even had the Oceanport Stakes gone off as planned Aug. 11, the gap between that race and another in the same division, the Red Bank Stakes, would have been tight. The Oceanport initially failed to fill but came back on Monmouth Park’s Aug. 16 program, only a little more than two weeks before Monday’s $100,000 Red Bank.

Nonetheless, the Red Bank, carded for one mile on grass, the fifth turf-route stakes for older horses at this meet, attracted 10 entrants, eight in the field’s main body, one main track only, and an also-eligible. The temporary turf rail will be set so far out into the course, evidently, that the Red Bank can accommodate only eight runners.

St Anthony is all but certain to be favored and clearly is the horse to beat here, though anyone jumping aboard might worry they have gotten on the train one station too late.

Returning from a 10-month layoff in the Oceanport, St Anthony left the gate at odds of 9-1, a price overflowing with value. St Anthony clearly was fast enough for the Oceanport, came into the race a winner in both his Monmouth grass starts, and with Neil Drysdale training the gelding, the extended break should have been of no great concern.

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How much the best was St Anthony? Loaded and ready to fire at the top of the homestretch, he had his path taken away when pacesetting There Are No Words drifted down toward the rail, forcing jockey Joe Bravo to check hard. His mount’s momentum stopped, Bravo either attempted or feinted a move outside There Are No Words before diving back to the fence, which was now open. St Anthony flew through and despite his compromising trouble won clear by 1 1/2 lengths. And that 9-1 will be long gone Monday.

Only by accident did St Anthony, now perfect from three starts, become a Monmouth course specialist. Sixth in the Hollywood Derby in December 2022, St Anthony was sent from Drysdale’s base in California to train at Keeneland that spring, then went on to Belmont Park, where he made two uninspiring starts. Shipped to Monmouth, St Anothony won an allowance race, then easily captured the Red Bank, and his fondness for the New Jersey grass was undimmed after a year’s absence.

The chance of regression looms as St Anthony comes back so quickly after a strong performance, and the Red Bank second- and third-place finishers, New Jersey-breds There Are No Words and He’spuregold return for Monday’s contest. Neither will beat St Anthony if he delivers his standard local showing, and There Are No Words, who prefers forward placements, risks getting caught up on a strong pace with rail-drawn Ocean City, the early leader in his two 2024 starts.

Sir London, a quietly improving, lightly raced 5-year-old trained by Graham Motion, looks like the best value among those with upset potential. More likely, St Anthony record will go to 4 for 4 on the Monmouth grass course.

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