Winning Cause Working Well for Red Bank
After finishing second by less than a length in last year’s edition, the Todd Pletcher-trained Winning Cause looks to continue his good form over the Monmouth turf as he goes for another graded stakes win in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Red Bank Stakes going one mile on the turf.
“He has been working well since returning from Florida,” said Anthony Sciametta Jr., assistant trainer for Pletcher. “He seems to be settling in nice and likes the track.”
The 5-year-old breezed four furlongs over the fast dirt in :50 4/5 on May 10.
He loved the footing last time here at Monmouth as he captured the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger Stakes, winning a stretch battle over Grade 1 winner Big Blue Kitten in August 2014.
He has hit the board in three of his four lifetime starts at Monmouth. All four starts have been in graded stakes company.
“The distance should be no problem,” said Sciametta Jr. “He is a solid horse that puts in a solid effort every race.”
The Kentucky bred, by Giant’s Causeway from Raffishing Look, had a troubled trip last time out in a $100,000 allowance optional claiming at Gulfstream Park in March at a mile on the turf as he was bumped at the start and forced four-wide on the turn coming for home.
Getting his second graded stakes win at Monmouth will be no easy task as he will have to take down multiple graded stakes winner Heart to Heart and Guys Reward.
Jockey Abel Castellano, Jr., who won three on opening weekend last week, has the call aboard Winning Cause for the first time.
The Red Bank, first of 17 graded stakes this season at Monmouth, goes as race 10 on a 12-race program.
EARLY OPENING SATURDAY FOR PREAKNESS STAKES SIMULAST
Gates will open at 10 a.m. this Saturday with the first simulcast race from Pimlico slated for 10:30 a.m. as Monmouth Park will beam-in all the racing action from Baltimore, including the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes and American Pharoah’s attempt for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Monmouth Park’s live program gets underway at 12:50 p.m. with the Grade 3, $100,000 Red Bank Stakes highlighting Saturday’s 12-race card.
DAVE JOHNSON’S “DOWN THE STRETCH” CHANGES CHANNEL FOR BROADCAST
Legendary track announcer Dave Johnson’s weekly radio broadcast, “Down The Stretch,” has changed channels on Sirius XM radio. The show can now be heard, Saturday’s 10am- 1pm, on Sirius channel 92 as well as XM channel 92.
Catch Dave and Bill Finley talk about all the horse racing news from
around the country. Don’t miss as they discuss about key weekend races,
including those
at Monmouth
Park, as well as talk to some of the top names in the sport.
Source: Monmouth Park