The Path Back to Victory for Red Vine

Red Vine battled through grade I and grade II stakes through the second half of 2015, coming oh-so-close to victory but never getting it done.

The 6-year-old son of Candy Ride   is trying an easier route for his first start of the year May 7 in the one-mile $150,000 Westchester Stakes (gr. III) at Belmont Park where he'll face five other rivals.

Bred in Kentucky by Alastair Thoroughbred, Red Vine is owned by partners Don and Joan Cimpl and Jon and Sara Kelly, who last raced the horse in the Nov. 29 Cigar Mile Handicap (gr. I) where he finished second by a neck to Tonalist  . The Cigar Mile was his fifth consecutive graded-stakes placing since July. 

Trainer Christophe Clement gave Red Vine a much-needed rest following the Cigar, and just in the past month has started tightening screws. The horse worked five furlongs April 16 in 1:01 2/5 and another five furlongs April 30 in a shade over 1:01. His third-place finish in the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) against Beholder, third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) behind Liam's Map, and second in the Cigar Mile helped make him the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Westchester, where he'll be ridden by Manuel Franco.

The only challenger coming into the race off a victory is 6-1 Matterhorn, a 5-year-old ridgling by Tapit   who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Town and Country Racing. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Matterhorn won a $100,000 one-mile allowance/optional claiming race April 8 at Aqueduct. He beat Stormin Monarcho and 2014 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner Samraat, who have also been entered in the Westchester. Matterhorn, who was bred by Town and Country, will be ridden by Christopher DeCarlo.

Pletcher also has entered Anchor Down, a 5-year-old son of Tapit, who finished fourth in the grade I Carter Handicap April 9 behind Salutos Amigos, Calculator, and Dads Caps. In March he finished third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II) but was set down to fourth for bumping. Anchor Down will be ridden by Jose Ortiz. The horse is owned by Alto Racing and was bred by Gainesway.