Messi looks to stretch out in distance in G3 Red Smith

by Brian Bohl

An experienced group of nine 3-year-olds and up will challenge for supremacy in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 Red Smith at 1 3/8 miles on the turf Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Gestut Brummerhof's Messi has finished in the money in three of his last four starts - all graded stakes races - including a win in the Grade 2 Sky Classic on August 21 at Woodbine. The German-bred 6-year-old will be stretching out to the Red Smith distance for the first time since defeating allowance company in August 2015 at Saratoga Race Course.

The chestnut gelding, who weakened in finishing 10th last out in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship on October 2 at Santa Anita, drew post 7 with Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado. 

Trainer Graham Motion's other entry, Up With the Birds, will be running at 1 3/8 miles for the first time since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Man o'War on May 14 at Belmont Park. The 2013 Sovereign Award Horse of the Year and 3-year-old Colt Champion will be starting in New York for the first time since finishing sixth in the Belmont Gold Cup Invitational on June 10. 

Up With the Birds, a 6-year-old, is 1-0-2 in his last four stakes start, notching a win in the Grade 2 Nijinsky on July 24 at Woodbine before back-to-back third-place finishes in the Sky Classic and the Grade 3 Durham Cup on September 24 at Woodbine.

Jockey Junior Alvarado has the call on Up With the Birds from post 5.

Wake Forest is a Grade 1 winner, taking the Man o'War before a third-place finish in the Grade 1 United Nations on July 3 at Monmouth Park and a runner-up finish in the Northern Dancer Turf on September 17. The Chad Brown-trainee ran third in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International last out on October 16 at Woodbine. Javier Castellano rides from post 8 in carrying the high weight of 123.

Rum Tum Tugger is the field's most experienced entry, going 5-8-3 in 31 career starts. The Lake Lonely Racing 7-year-old will be making just his second career graded stakes start following a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup on September 10 at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Rum Tum Tugger is a long-distance specialist will be making his seventh straight start of at least 1 3/8 miles. He is 5-2-2 in 16 career turf starts. Jockey Jose Lezcano will break from the inside.

Bigger Picture, for trainer Mike Maker, is coming off a career-best finish in a graded stakes start when he finished just a neck behind Renown in the Grade 3 Sycamore on October 20 at Keeneland. Jose Ortiz rides from post 9.

Biz the Nurse, an Irish-bred 6-year-old, is looking for his second North American win and first since March 7, 2015 against allowance company at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Tom Albertrani will saddle Biz the Nurse, who leaves post 2 in company with Antonio Gallardo. 

His stablemate, Smooth Daddy, returns to stakes competition for the first time since a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy on May 7. Owned by Robert C. Baker, Smooth Daddy is coming off consecutive second-place finishes. Dylan Davis is on the call from post 6.

Rounding out the field are a pair of experienced horses making their graded stakes debut: Arties Silver Mine, for trainer Reade Baker, has won two of his first three turf starts after winning just one of his first four starts on synthetic surfaces and will leave post 3; I'll Call, for trainer Carlos Martin, will depart post 4 with Kendrick Carmouche set to ride.

Tommy Macho, Danish Dynaformer and Tale of Fancy are main-track only entries.