Red Bank

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Eight turf performers will go postward to contest the $150,000 Red Bank S.
(G3) over the sod at Monmouth Park on Saturday. The one-mile race lacks a standout so
we’ll shop for some value on the win end.

GIMME CREDIT (Artax) was a stylish winner of the Notoriety S. two back for
Timothy Hills, and a repeat of that try could find the gelding in the winner’s
circle at the conclusion of this one. The four-year-old is a two-time
stakes winner at this distance, with both races coming in the Empire State, and
he boasts a
solid 10-5-1-0 mark when racing on the green. We expect a stalk-and-pounce trip under
Eddie Castro.

The lightly raced JUNGLE FIGHTER (Wild Rush) is in excellent form and is a
strong contender in here for conditioner Justin Nixon. A winner of two
consecutive turf stakes, the bay has been unplaced on the turf just once in six
lifetime tries and should be in the mix from the opening bell from his rail
post. The six-year-old gelding is a logical candidate if he’s able to negotiate a sensible trip
beneath Chuck Lopez.

ICY ATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) is a prime contender in this group but will
likely be overbet. Therefore, we’ll take a stand against the Todd Pletcher trainee for
the win. The Arcadia H. (G2) hero is much improved in 2007 and has kept good
company, but his affinity for settling for minor awards turns us off a bit. Joe
Bravo will pilot the six-year-old.

Likely pacesetter SHAKE THE BANK (Sandpit [Brz]) seems to be over his days as
a “rabbit,” and has given a good impression of himself of late for Graham
Motion. The gelded seven-year-old was a useful fourth in the Caesar Rodney S.
last out and a close second in the Battlefield S. two back, so his chances at a
top-three placing are well within reach under Tom Turner.

Bob Harding S. hero BARON VON TAP (Pleasant Tap) has an obvious liking for
this turf course and has been freshened for this one by trainer Howard Tesher.
The six-year-old has not fared well against graded company in the past, but the
lack of star quality in this field makes the bay an exotics threat from just off
the pace. Rajiv Maragh will ride.

Bob Harding runner-up PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) won the 2006 Jersey
Derby over this oval but owns just one win since for Mary Hartman. The inconsistent
gelding has been in the money in six of eight starts over this course and isn’t
facing the strongest field ever assembled, so he could find his way
into the trifecta with his best beneath Edwin King.

TOUCHED BY MADNESS (Sword Dance [Ire]) shows two wins over this turf but
isn’t in the best form of his life leading up to this one. We’ll take a pass on
the gelding. If AMENABLE (Swain [Ire]) ran to his pedigree we’d be intrigued,
but that’s not the case in here. We’ll take a stand against the former claimer.