Wild Rex short price in Great Falls

Wild Rex, a winner of one sprint turf stakes and narrowly beaten in another during Monmouth Park's season, figures to be a short-priced favorite in the $55,000 Great Falls Stakes at the Meadowlands.

The five-furlong grass stakes, restricted to 3-year-olds, drew a field of eight, plus Big Dealer, who is entered for the main track only.

Wild Rex, based at Delaware Park with trainer Mike Pino, owns a distinct advantage over his rivals with his 2-for-3 record on the grass, all in sprints. In addition to winning a second-level allowance at Delaware, Wild Rex survived a pace duel to win the Anderson Fowler going 5 1/2 furlongs in August and was narrowly beaten by Smart Enough and In Summation in last month's Restoration, a five-furlong race.

In Summation, trained by Christophe Clement, is among the contenders for Sunday's Grade 2 Nearctic at Woodbine. Wild Rex finished just a head behind In Summation in the Restoration.

Just three others in the Great Falls have sprinted successfully on grass.

Winzalot won his maiden going six furlongs at Belmont in July, but was a well-beaten fifth in the Fowler, finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind Wild Rex.

Count on Pal also won a six-furlong turf sprint at Belmont, but that came against bottom-level claimers.

Mississippi Storm won his grass debut going five furlongs at Pimlico in May, but has failed in three subsequent turf sprints.

Among the horses who have yet to try grass, Put Back the Shu looks most dangerous. He comes off three consecutive 90-plus Beyer Figures, including a win last time out in the six-furlong Bergen County on the main track.