Owing partly to last Saturday's GII Dixie S. coming off the turf at Pimlico, the GII Monmouth S. this Saturday drew a strong field of seven, headlined by the reappearance of multiple Grade I winner Divisidero (Kitten's Joy) for a new training outfit.
Capturing back-to-back renewals of the GI Turf Classic S. at Churchill in 2016 and 2017, the now 6-year-old finished last season with a trio of off-the-board finishes, running sixth in the GI Manhattan S., seventh in the GI Arlington Million and fourth in the GI Shadwell Turf Mile. That was the bay's final start for the Buff Bradley barn, and he returns for owner Gunpowder Farms' other main trainer, Kelly Rubley. This would be the first graded stakes win for Rubley should Divisidero prevail.
Green Lantern Stables' Frostmourne (Speightstown) has progressed steadily throughout his career and comes into this off a career-best 101 Beyer when running fifth in the GI Maker's 46 Mile Apr. 13 at Keeneland. The homebred reunites with Joel Rosario, for whom he produced a six-length rout in last summer's GIII Kent S. at Delaware.
Colts Neck Stables' Force the Pass (Speightstown), victor of the 2015 GI Belmont Derby, went unseen for over 17 months after running third in the 2016 GII Commonwealth Turf Cup. Resurfacing in the local Cliff Hanger S. May 5, the chestnut battled gamely to just get up by a nose.
Chad Brown brings the one-two punch of Al Shahania Stud's Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky) and Juddmonte Farms' Projected (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). The former took a rare trip to Qatar to run third in the HH The Emir's Trophy S. last out Feb. 24 at Doha. The ridgling will be looking to defend his title after annexing this event last July. The latter, winner of the GII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S. last fall, finished second in the Danger's Hour S. Apr. 8 at Aqueduct behind Fire Away (War Front), who returned to take the off-the-turf Dixie.
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