Coming up shortly is the Grade 2 Monmouth at 1 1/8 miles on grass, which seems deeper than usual in part because it became the backup plan for the graded stakes winners Divisidero and Frostmourne. They were scratched from last Saturday’s Grade 2 Dixie at Pimlico when unrelenting rain forced the turf race to be moved onto a sloppy main track.

Divisidero and Frostmourne are strong contenders, but I prefer Money Multiplier, who is seeking a repeat win in this race. He seems well suited to the race shape since the pace is likely to be slow.

One only need examine his race in the 2017 Monmouth for evidence of that. That day, he sat in third early, two lengths off a soft half-mile timed in more than 50 seconds, and broke loose when asked to go on the final turn.

I would not be surprised to see him show even more speed Saturday, based on his most recent start Feb. 24 in the Emir’s Trophy in Qatar. Racing 1 1/2 miles that day, he repeatedly fought jockey Frankie Dettori early, tossing his head, before Dettori gave him a free rein and the horse went to the lead.

Money Multiplier stuck around longer than most would have given the circumstances, leading until about a furlong out before fading to be third of 16 runners, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

As keen as Money Multiplier was in that race, and now he is fresh off a three-month layoff, trainer Chad Brown is making the right move by cutting him back in distance. If he had run him in the Grade 1 Man o’ War – in which he was entered a couple of weeks ago – he likely would have been too aggressive going that race’s 1 3/8-mile trip.