Fresh off a victory in the October 27 E.P. Taylor at Woodbine, Tannery will be out to make a little history against the boys in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct.
A strong group of turf stayers will line-up to contest the $200,000 Red Smith H. (G3) at Aqueduct on Saturday, the weekend feature in the Empire State. Tannery was a most impressive winner of the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine last time and could face the boys in this test. The Alan Goldberg pupil loves a route of ground and has nice form since this campaign, running into some nice ones along the way. The four-year-old filly ran a big fourth in her lone previous try on this turf and would be a major force if she goes.
The top pair from the recent Bowl Game S. is likely – with winner Imagining and Sky Blazer gearing up for a rematch. The former has been sharp with a pair of stakes wins in his last trio of runs for Shug McGaughey. Sky Blazer, is winless in eight runs on 2013 but has been close and doesn’t need that much improvement to upset this field.
Others heading in this direction include the multiple graded placed Atigun, the consistently solid stakes winner Howe Great, United Nations H. (G1) third Hangover Kid, multiple Group 1 star Quick Casablanca and Sword Dancer (G1) third Nutello, from the barn of Graham Motion.