Vyjack continues turf career in Red Bank
The big move trainer Bill Mott made with Vyjack after the then-5-year-old millionaire was transferred to his barn last summer was to find out if the horse could flourish on turf. Vyjack produced three consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures – two in graded stakes – but it took until this spring before he finally won on grass.
Vyjack will try to build upon that success when he makes the second start of his 6-year-old campaign in Sunday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Red Bank Stakes at Monmouth Park. The one-mile turf race drew a field of seven older horses, plus main-track-only entrant Entruscan.
Making his first start since October, Vyjack won a one-mile allowance on turf at Keeneland in April, prevailing in a blanket finish, with the first six horses tightly packed. He came home his final quarter-mile in an impressive 22.82 seconds.
Only two of the first six horses in that race have run again, but one of them, fifth-place Pleuven, returned to finish second in the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs with a 95 Beyer.
Vyjack’s rivals include Reporting Star, the winner of the Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream Park two starts ago; Rose Brier, the winner of the Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel last time out; and Middleburg, who missed by a head in the Grade 3 Miami Mile in his most recent race.
Reporting Star will be making his first start for trainer Elizabeth Voss and taking off blinkers after finishing eighth in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on the Kentucky Derby undercard.
Red Bank, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Vyjack, by Into Michief
Last 3 Beyers: 94-80-102
◗ After going 6 for 20, including a win in the Grade 2 Kelso, and bankrolling $1.1 million on dirt, he has been transformed into a grass runner. He was a close second in his turf debut in the Grade 3 Poker at a mile last summer and looked sharp in winning his first start off the layoff this spring.
Reporting Star, by Classic Beauty
Last 3 Beyers: 91-102-99
◗ Back at the class level and distance where he scored in the Appleton with a career-best Beyer. Came close to that figure with a 101 Beyer in winning the Grade 2, seven-furlong Play the King at Woodbine last season.
Middleburg, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 98-99-99
◗ He has a fondness for this course. Last season, he won the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger on it and missed by a nose in the Grade 2 Monmouth, both going 1 1/8 miles.
◗ Trainer Christophe Clement has won the Red Bank a record four times, most recently in 2013 with Za Approval, and jockey Joe Bravo owns a record four Red Bank victories, the last coming with Za Approval.
Rose Brier, by Mizzen Mast
Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-86
◗ Has put together a three-race winning streak since September.
◗ Finished a close fourth in last year’s Red Bank, matching his career-best 101 Beyer.