Trainer Christophe Clement admits entering City Man in the $300,000 Red Smith Stakes (G2T) was a bit "ambitious."
Yet in some ways, given how it will likely be the last start for the 7-year-old horse, it seems a fitting farewell for a New York-bred who found a home running in—and on occasion winning—graded stakes.
"He has been training well. We looked at the race and I know it's ambitious, but why not?" Clement said. "There's a small question mark about the distance but he's very fit and (jockey Joel Rosario) knows him very well. It's a fun race to try at the end of his racing career."
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred racing and Peter and Patty Searles, City Man enters the Nov. 9 1 3/8-mile turf stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack winless in four 2024 starts, with a second in the $200,000 Mohawk Stakes for New York-breds his top finish.
Yet that cannot diminish a career mark of 11-7-6 from 36 starts with earnings of $1.3 million for the veteran campaigner bred by Moonstar Farm. Among the victories by the son of Mucho Macho Man are 2022 wins in the Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) and Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3T) and a total of 10 stakes victories.
"This will most likely be his last race," co-owner Dean Reeves said. "He's been a great horse and such a great competitor. Being by Mucho Macho Man (who Reeves owned) added to the fun. He's a gorgeous horse. Christophe has done a great job of taking care of him and getting him to every dance. If every horse was like him, this business would be pretty easy."
The field of nine also includes 2023 Red Smith winner Master Piece, who is back in New York after spending the summer in California, where he was third in the California Crown John Henry Turf Classic Stakes (G2T) in his most recent start.
Owned by Frank Argano, Julia and Michael Iavarone, and Nicholas Zoumas and trained by Rick Dutrow Jr., the 8-year-old Mastercraftsman ridgling captured the May 4 Fort Marcy Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct before heading west.
Dutrow will also send out recent claim Pioneering Spirit (American Pharoah ), owned by Michael Dubb.
Also entered are Nashville Gold Cup Stakes winner Limited Liability (Kitten's Joy), Arlington Million Stakes (G1T) runner-up Integration (Quality Road ), and grade 1 winner Adhamo, a son of Intello.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, November 9, 2024, Race 9Entries: Red Smith S. (G2T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Curbstone (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Thomas Morley 30/1 2 2Integration (KY) Flavien Prat 124 Claude R. McGaughey III 2/1 3 3Pioneering Spirit (KY) Manuel Franco 122 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 10/1 4 4City Man (NY) Joel Rosario 122 Christophe Clement 10/1 5 5Limited Liability (KY) Lanfranco Dettori 124 Claude R. McGaughey III 5/1 6 6Adhamo (IRE) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 122 Chad C. Brown 8/1 7 7Daunt (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Robert Ribaudo 20/1 8 8Master Piece (CHI) Jose Lezcano 126 Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. 5/2 9 9Rebel Red (GB) Jose L. Ortiz 122 Cherie DeVaux 8/1
Field of seven entered in Hill Prince
Saturday's card also includes the $200,000 Hill Prince Stakes (G2T), a 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds.
The field of seven features Deterministic, who was second last month in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct.
Owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable and trained by Clement, he previously won the Virigina Derby (G3T) and was third in the Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).
A promising Triple Crown contender and grade 3 winner on dirt to start his career, the son of Liam's Map has not finished worse than third in four starts since shifting to turf.
Also entered are Besilu Stables' Royal Majesty, a son of Frankel trained by Bill Mott, and the Chad Brown-trained duo of Main Beach (Into Mischief ) and Right to Vote (Vino Rosso ).
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, November 9, 2024, Race 5Entries: Hill Prince S. (G3T)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Bartlett (PA) Frankie Pennington 118 John C. Servis 8/1 2 2Cugino (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Claude R. McGaughey III 5/2 3 3Deterministic (KY) Joel Rosario 124 Christophe Clement 2/1 4 4Main Beach (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Chad C. Brown 5/1 5 5Desvio (KY) John R. Velazquez 122 Madison F. Meyers 12/1 6 6Right to Vote (KY) Manuel Franco 118 Chad C. Brown 12/1 7 7Royal Majesty (GB) Junior Alvarado 118 William I. Mott 7/2
