August 3, 2008
BIG BROWN, 1-5 FAVORITE, WINS HASKELL INVITATIONAL BY 1 3/4 OVER COAL PLAY AS MONMOUTH BETTING RECORDS TUMBLE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Dual classic winner Big Brown displayed championship form at Monmouth Park on Sunday as he dug down deep to catch a stubborn Coal Play in the final furlong to win the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1) by nearly two lengths.

The 45,132 fans on hand on a perfect summer afternoon were treated to a tremendous horserace as the 1-5 Big Brown was forced to call on all his reserves to gain his fourth Grade 1 victory of the year as jockey Kent Desormeaux kept him in a drive from the quarter-pole to the wire.

After his puzzling race in the Belmont, when he was pulled up and did not finish, his Haskell performance delighted trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and owners IEAH Stables, Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin, Andrew Cohen and Pegasus Holdings Group.

The Haskell drew record wagering of $4,257,409, pacing Monmouth to a single-day record total handle of $17,642,954, all all-time record for New Jersey pari-mutuels. The betting totals easily surpassed last year's records of $3,734,404 bet on the Haskell, and $14,122,636 bet on the 14-race card.

"Everything was perfect," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. "Not only did we get to see another great Haskell, but finally the weather was on our side. The racing office did a great job putting together 14 terrific races, and the handle certainly reflected that. The Haskell capped off a great weekend of racing for the State of New Jersey."

Big Brown, who chased Coal Play all around the oval, asserted himself the final furlong while drifting wide and crossed the wire a length and three-quarters in front of his rival. Cool Coal Man, like Coal Play trained by Nick Zito, finished third, four and a quarter lengths farther back.

Alaazo, longest shot on the board at 33-1, finished fourth, followed by Nistle's Crunch, Atoned and Magical Forest.
Big Brown finished the nine furlongs in 1:48 1/5 and paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10 as the overwhelming choice. Coal Play, off at 20-1, completed the $25.20 exacta and paid $8 to place and $4.20 to show. Cool Coal Man, the 6-1 second choice, returned $2.80 to show.

Coal Play broke from the gate like a shot under Joe Bravo and assumed command from the gate. Big Brown found himself trapped on the rail the first turn, first by Coal Play and then by Atoned.

However, the bay colt by Boundary was able to swing out entering the bend, and raced behind and outside Coal Play the entire length of the backstretch.

Coal Play began to get away from Big Brown rounding the turn, and Desormeaux put the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner into a drive to give chase.

Coal Play surged ahead for a furlong, but in the final eighth of a mile, Big Brown asserted himself while racing in the center of the track and drew clear the last sixteenth.

"He found a new gear and just kept sticking his neck out," Desormeaux said. "I knew he was going to get there. At the top of the stretch that horse (Coal Play) took off, but Big Brown took off after him. He just kept coming, and I knew we'd get him."

"He showed up today," Dutrow said of Big Brown. "That other horse ran a huge, huge race. The last eighth, he got himself together and showed us what he's made of."

Michael Iavarone, co-president and co-CEO of the IEAH syndicate, said, "I thought we were in trouble at the quarter-pole. Nick Zito's horse ran so big. He kicked away from us and I thought we were in trouble. This was another dimension for Big Brown - he showed his heart and courage."

Zito, who upset the Belmont with Da'Tara and looked like he would spring another surprise today, was happy with his two-three finish.

"I thought we had a helluva shot turning for home," Zito said. "I thought to myself 'We could do this again.' I'm very happy right now. We made him (Big Brown) run, that's for sure. But this is good for racing. Coal Play ran a big race."

Desormeaux, who has been aboard in all Big Brown's races this year, was effusive in his praise.

"Big Brown is the best horse I've ever ridden," said Desormeaux, who passed the 5,000 mark in career wins last week.

"Today he showed he's a warrior. He's always won his other races with such ease. Today he showed what courage he had. Grade 1's, they don't give them away, and Big Brown earned it today."

The $600,00 winner's share of the Haskell's $1 million purse raised Big Brown's career earnings to $3,314,500.

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August 2, 2008
BIG BROWN ARRIVES AT MONMOUTH FOR HASKELL INVITATIONAL; GRADE 1 TEST GOES AS 13TH OF 14 RACES ON SUNDAY'S PROGRAM
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Big Brown arrived quietly on the Monmouth Park backstretch at 8 a.m. Saturday and settled into trainer Rick Dutrow Jr.'s barn as he gets ready for a major test in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1).

Winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but pulled up in the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown makes his first start since that enigmatic effort on June 7 in the mile and an eighth Haskell. The Boundary colt starts from Post 4 and will be an odds-on favorite against six rivals with regular rider Kent Desormeaux aboard.

The bay colt, owned by IEAH Stables in partnership with Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin and Andrew Cohen, arrived at Monmouth by van from Aqueduct Saturday morning. Big Brown walked once around the shedrow in Dutrow's barn, and then settled into his stall, calmly munching his haynet before coming out for a bath. He was scheduled to school in the paddock with the field for Saturday's first race.

The two other Haskell starters already on the grounds, Dogwood Stable's Atoned and Alien Farm's Nistle's Crunch, both galloped a mile and a quarter Saturday morning. Robert LaPenta's duo of Coal Play and Cool Coal Man, and Zayat Stable's Alaazo, will be shipped down from Saratoga early Sunday morning. Paraneck Stable's Magical Forest also arrives early Sunday after vanning from Aqueduct.

The Haskell, centerpiece of Monmouth's summer meeting, will top a 14-race card Sunday, going as the 13th event on the program. Post time for the Haskell is 6:14 p.m. The race will be televised live on ESPN Classic (6-6:30 p.m.) and also on TVG, which will provide daylong coverage of the entire Monmouth card.

Gates will open at 10 a.m., with the first race slated to go off at 12 noon. The program includes seven stakes races in addition to the Haskell, topped by two Grade 3 turf events - the Taylor Made Matchmaker for fillies and mares (10th race) and the Oceanport Stakes (12th race) for older runners.

The betting program will include an all-stakes Pick 4 starting on the 10th race with a guaranteed pool of $250,000, and a 50-cent Pick 5 starting on the 5th race with a guaranteed pool of $50,000.

Big Brown burst on the racing scene this winter in Florida when he blitzed an allowance field on March 5, and then won the Grade 1 Florida Derby by five lengths. He went into the Kentucky Derby as the favorite and ran to his odds, scoring by nearly five lengths. In the Preakness, he was never extended while winning by more than five lengths, and came into the Belmont Stakes with a chance to become an undefeated Triple Crown winner despite some foot problems.

However, Big Brown was rank and roughed up the first quarter-mile of the mile and a half event, and then steadily dropped back after a mile. Desormeaux pulled him up entering the Belmont stretch and Big Brown failed to finish. Neither the owners nor the trainer have been able to come up with an explanation for the effort.

Big Brown's main rivals in the Haskell will be Atoned, who has two wins and three seconds in five Monmouth starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, and the Nick Zito-trained paid of Coal Play and Cool Coal Man, both of whom have won over the Monmouth strip. The Zito horses will run as separate betting interests.

Pletcher will be going for an unprecedented third straight Haskell victory when he saddles Atoned. The Eclipse Award-winning trainer won in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat and last year with Any Given Saturday.

Nistle's Crunch is a New Jersey-bred who will be making his first start in the state. The son of Van Nistelrooy, trained by Ken McPeek, comes off three straight turf starts.

Alaazo, the least-raced of all the Haskell horses with just four starts, broke his maiden at Monmouth last year, and his dam, Atelier, won the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) here in 2002.

Magical Forest, trained by Joe DeMola, comes into the Haskell off two stakes victories at Delaware Park.
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August 1, 2008
BIG BROWN BREEZES THREE FURLONGS IN :38 3/5 ON AQUEDUCT TURF, SET TO ARRIVE AT MONMOUTH SATURDAY MORNING FOR HASKELL
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Big Brown blew out on the turf at Aqueduct Friday for Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1) and is scheduled to school in the Monmouth paddock Saturday afternoon ... The Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner goes from Post 4 in the mile and an eighth Haskell and is the 1-2 morning line favorite.

BIG BROWN, Post 4, 1-2 - The dual classic winner, who starts from the middle of the field in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage (G1), had his final breeze for the race Friday morning at Aqueduct when he blew out three furlongs in :38 3/5 over the Big A turf course.

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said the Boundary colt will ship to Monmouth on Saturday morning for his date in the mile and a half Haskell. The colt is slated to school in the Monmouth paddock Saturday afternoon with the field for the first race.
Big Brown has been installed the 1-2 morning line favorite by Monmouth oddsmaker Brad Thomas.

Big Brown is owned by the IEAH Stables syndicate in partnership with three New Jersey residents - Paul Pompa Jr., Gary Tolchin and Andrew Cohen.

The colt won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in rousing fashion, but was pulled up and did not finish in the Belmont Stakes, ending his Triple Crown bid. He has been working steadily at Aqueduct since the June 7 Belmont for his return.

Kent Desormeaux, who has been aboard in all Big Brown's starts this year, has the mount in the Haskell. This is the third Haskell mount for Desormeaux, who finished fourth aboard Private Terms in 1988, and third on Free House in 1997.

ALAAZO, Post 3, 30-1 - The Bill Mott-trained colt is expected to ship down early Sunday morning from Saratoga for the Haskell.

Alaazo, a son of A.P. Indy, broke his maiden at Monmouth as a 2-year-old last August, and then was out until February this year when he won an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. The Zayat Stables color bearer was fourth in his most recent start, an allowance at Belmont on June 27.

He has been working steadily at Saratoga for his return to action, most recently turning in a seven-furlong breeze in 1:28 4/5 on Tuesday.

Mott has given the mount on Alaazo to Jose Lezcano, currently the leading rider at Monmouth. This is the second Haskell ride for Lezcano, who finished ninth on Little Cliff in 2006.

The dark bay colt has license to run well at Monmouth. His dam, the Deputy Minister mare Atelier, won the Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) for trainer Shug McGaughey here in 2002.

ATONED, Post 7, 6-1 - Trainer Todd Pletcher has added blinkers to the colt's equipment as he goes for an unprecedented third straight Haskell victory with the Dogwood Stable color bearer, who is stabled at Monmouth in the care of assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta Jr.

Atoned was out on the Monmouth track Friday morning, galloping a mile and three-eighths with Madeline Sciametta aboard.

Atoned, who finished second in both his Monmouth preps for the Haskell - the Spend a Buck Stakes on June 14 and the Long Branch on July 12 - will race in blinkers for the first time Sunday.

The son of Repent, who has two wins and seven seconds in 12 lifetime starts, wore the blinkers last Saturday when he breezed a half-mile in :50 flat at Monmouth.

"I don't know whether he's been unlucky or underachieving or overachieving," Pletcher said of the five photo finishes Atoned has lost. "We're putting blinkers on him for this race to see if we can get him more focused."

Edgar Prado, who won the 2003 Haskell aboard Peace Rules, will take the mount on Atoned for the first time.

Pletcher has won the past two Haskells with Bluegrass Cat in 2006 and Any Given Saturday last year.

COAL PLAY, Post 6, 8-1/ COOL COAL MAN, Post 2, 4-1 - The two sons of Mineshaft both own victories at Monmouth for owner Robert V. LaPenta and trainer Nick Zito. The two colts have been working steadily at Saratoga for the Haskell, and are expected to ship to Monmouth early Sunday morning.

Coal Play made his first start at Monmouth memorable on May 25, when he led all the way at a mile and 70 yards, and then drew off late to win an allowance race by more than nine lengths for his second lifetime score.

In his next start on July 4, Coal Play raced wide while pressing the pace and had to settle for third.

Joe Bravo, who was aboard in both races here, will have the mount on Sunday as he seeks a second Haskell win. The 13-time champion Monmouth jockey won his first Haskell in 2004 aboard Lion Heart.

Cool Coal Man won his only Monmouth start, beating Atoned by a neck in the Spend a Buck Stakes in June, his most recent outing. Zito said he was happy the colt drew Post 2.

"I like the inside post for him," the trainer said. "I'm hoping he can save ground and run a nice race."

The colt was one of Zito's main Kentucky Derby hopes this winter when he won the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. However, he turned in a poor effort over Keeneland's Polytrack in the Blue Grass Stakes, and then finished 15th - nearly 32 lengths behind Big Brown - in the Kentucky Derby. The Spend a Buck was his comeback effort after the Derby.

Eddie Castro, who rode Cool Coal Man in his stakes win here, has the mount for the Haskell. Castro finished fourth aboard Victory Lake in 2006, his only other Haskell mount.

MAGICAL FOREST, Post 1, 10-1 - The son of Forest Camp, who has won his last two, including the Grade 3 Barbaro Stakes at Delaware, will ship to Monmouth on Sunday morning from Aqueduct, where he's stabled with the other horses Joe DeMola trains for owner Ernie Paragallo's Paraneck Stable.

DeMola said the rail post suits the colt just fine.

"I'm ecstatic about the post," DeMola said. "I was hoping for one, two or three, and got what I wanted. This colt has been getting better and better. He and Jorge (jockey Jorge Chavez) put it together in the Barbaro and I'm hoping they can do it again."

Magical Forest has taken four of 11 starts this year, but was fifth in his only Monmouth appearance, the six-furlong Rumson Stakes on May 31 when he appeared to dislike the muddy track.

However, when stretched out after the Rumson, Magical Forest won the Floor Show Stakes at Delaware in June, and followed with his Barbaro score on July 13.

This will be the third Haskell mount for Chavez, who was ninth aboard Halo Hansome in 1989, and sixth on Hero's Tribute in 2001.

NISTLE'S CRUNCH, Post 5, 15-1 -The New Jersey-bred son of Van Nistelrooy, who makes his first home state start Sunday, was able to gallop just three-eighths of a mile Friday morning before the track was closed for an hour because of an injured horse.

Peter Hutton, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek, accompanied the colt on his van ride from Churchill Downs on Thursday, and has galloped Nistle's Crunch here the past two days.

Hutton is a familiar figure at Monmouth because he has served as an assistant to both Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas. The English-born former jockey was with champion filly Silverbulletday here when she won the Monmouth Oaks in 1999, and came with Haskell runner Captain Steve, who was second to Dixie Union in 2000.

Hutton will not be staying for this Haskell, however. He leaves Saturday night for Russia with the McPeek-trained Racecar Rhapsody (fourth in the Preakness), who is scheduled to run in the Russian Derby at the Moscow Hippodrome later this month.

Nistle's Crunch, owned and bred by the Alien Farm of New Jersey residents Michael Harrison and Dr. Alan Furst, has made his last three starts on the grass. He is the only member of the Haskell field to have won on all three surfaces - dirt, turf and synthetic.

The colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 at Churchill Downs last Saturday.

He gets a new rider Sunday in Elvis Trujillo, who will be riding in his first Haskell.

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July 31, 2008
BIG BROWN DRAWS POST 4, INSTALLED 1-2 CHOICE AT MONMOUTH AS 7 ARE SET TO GO IN SUNDAY'S $1 MILLION HASKELL INVITATIONAL
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. -Big Brown, winner of two-thirds of the Triple Crown, drew Post 4 and was installed the odds-on favorite as a field of seven 3-year-olds was entered Thursday for Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage, centerpiece of Monmouth's summer meeting.

Big Brown, who was unbeaten in five races before he was pulled up in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, will try to get back on the right track in this 41st running of the mile and an eighth Haskell, and Monmouth oddsmaker Brad Thomas has made him the 1-2 morning line favorite to resume his winning ways.

The son of Boundary had the outside posts when he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and drew the rail for the Belmont. On Sunday, he goes from the center of the gate with three rivals left and three rivals right of him.

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. named Kent Desormeaux to ride Big Brown again in the Haskell.

The complete Haskell field consists of Paraneck Stable's Magical Forest, Post 1, Jorge Chavez, 10-1; Robert LaPenta's Cool Coal Man, Post 2, Eddie Castro, 4-1; Zayat Stable's Alaazo, Post 3, Jose Lezcano, 30-1; Big Brown; Alien Farm's Nistle's Crunch, Post 5, Elvis Trujillo; Robert LaPenta's Coal Play, Post 6, Joe Bravo, 8-1, and Dogwood Stable's Atoned, Post 7, Edgar Prado, 6-1.

Big Brown clicked off four straight wins as a 3-year-old, and came into the Belmont with a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years. However, he was rank early and then could not make up any ground around the turn. Desormeaux pulled up the colt at the top of the stretch. There is still no definitive answer as to what went wrong.

Michael Iavarone, head of the IEAH Stables syndicate that owns Big Brown in partnership with Paul Pompa Jr., said he was looking forward to the Haskell because he feels fans will see the real Big Brown.

"We're eagerly anticipating this race," Iavarone said. "If it's possible, he's training better than he did before he won the Kentucky Derby."

Trainer Nick Zito, who saddled Da'Tara to upset the Belmont Stakes, has two of the Haskell entrants in Cool Coal Man and Coal Play, sons of Mineshaft who will race as separate betting interests.

Cool Coal Man was made the Haskell second choice at 4-1 based on his race here last out on June 14 when he won the Spend a Buck Stakes by a neck over Atoned. The race marked Cool Coal Man's comeback after a disastrous trip in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 15th, more than 31 lengths behind Big Brown. Earlier this winter, the colt won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream.

"I like the inside post (2) for him," Zito said. "I'm hoping he can save ground and run a nice race."

Coal Play has yet to win a stakes race, but also owns a win over the Monmouth track. He beat older horses by more than nine lengths here on May 25, and last out was third in an allowance, again against older.

"He likes Monmouth Park, and ran big there in his first start over the track. He may have bounced last time, I'm not really sure what happened. He has all the attributes to be a nice horse. I'm just hoping he can put it all together."

Bravo said he looks forward to riding the colt again.

"First time I rode this horse he ran huge," the jockey said. "I had such high hopes after that race, and then he came back to run poorly. The truth is, I learned more about him when we lost than when we won."

Atoned, third choice at 6-1, is trained by Todd Pletcher, who is seeing an unprecedented third straight victory in the Haskell. Pletcher won with Bluegrass Cat in 2006 and Any Given Saturday last year. The colt by Repent has had a "bridesmaid" syndrome his whole career (two wins and seven seconds in 12 starts), but both his lifetime wins have come at Monmouth.

"I don't know whether he's been unlucky or underachieving or overachieving," Pletcher said of the five photos Atoned has lost. "We're trying to figure that out. We're putting blinkers on him for this race to see if we can get him more focused.

"He's performed so well every time we've run him that we feel he deserves a chance in a race as prestigious as the Haskell," the trainer said.

And the chance of hitting a Haskell hat-trick?

"This race is a tall order for any horse," Pletcher said. "But we're confident he's doing well and will give his very best. And maybe we can get lucky."

Magical Forest, trained by Joe DeMola, comes into the Haskell off two straight stakes scores at Delaware, including the Grade 3 Barbaro last out with Jorge Chavez aboard. The son of Forest Camp breaks from the rail in the Haskell.

"I'm ecstatic about the post," DeMola said. "I was hoping for one, two or three and got what I wanted. This colt has been getting better and better. He and Jorge put it together in the Barbaro and I'm hoping they can do it again."

Trainer Ken McPeek said he expects Nistle's Crunch to give his best, as always, in the Haskell. The colt by Van Nistelrooy is the only New Jersey-bred in the race, owned and bred by state residents Michael Harrison and Dr. Alan Furst.

"He's a versatile horse - he's won on turf, dirt and Polytrack - and he tries hard every time," McPeek said. "The owners are from New Jersey and the Haskell is very special to them.

"This horse is very professional, rock-solid," the trainer said. "Aside from Big Brown, the Haskell looks wide open."

Alaazo, a son of A.P. Indy who is trained by Bill Mott, has strong Monmouth connections. The colt broke his maiden here last August in his first career start, and he is out of the Deputy Minister mare Atelier, who won the 2002 running of the Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) over this track.

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July 27, 2008
MONMOUTH CANCELS AFTER 5TH RACE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth Park Racetrack cancelled live racing following the running of the 5th race on Sunday due to inclement weather that included heavy rains and lightning.

"The safety of our riders and our horses is our paramount concern," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.  "With the weather conditions we experienced, and no break in sight, we were left with not other option than to cancel the remainder of the card."

The 5,393 racing fans in attendance can bring their programs back for any live racing date, excluding Haskell Day on Aug. 3, for free admission.

Monmouth Park will continue live racing on Wednesday, July 30 as the track kicks off Haskell week, culminating with the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday.  First post from Wednesday through Saturday will be 12:50 p.m. with live racing getting underway at noon on Sunday.

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July 27, 2008
SHOPTON LANE NEVER HEADED IN SKIP AWAY AT MONMOUTH; FELLOW CRASHER UPSETS 1-10 NOTONTHESAMEPAGE IN TYRO
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Maggi Moss's Shopton Lane took charge out of the gate and never looked back, scoring by two and a half lengths in the $70,000 Skip Away Stakes at Monmouth Park Saturday.

In the day's second feature, Fellow Crasher rallied in the stretch to capture the $65,000 Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds.

No one picked all six winners in the 60-Minute Six wager, and there will be a carryover of $46,881 into next Saturday's 60-Minute Six pool.

Shopton Lane stopped the timer in 1:44 1/5 for the mile and a sixteenth over a fast track and paid $7.80, $5 and $4.40 acorss the board as third choice in the field of five. Longshots Judiths Wild Rush and Sinners N Saints filled the next two spots as Gottcha Gold, the even-money favorite, and Indy Wind, second choice at 2-1, were fourth and fifth, respectively.

The Skip Away serves as a prep for Monmouth's $300,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes(G3) to be run on Aug. 16

Bruce Levine, Monmouth's leading conditioner, trains Shopton Lane, a 4-year-old son of Quiet American who had Jose Lezcano, Monmouth's leading rider, aboard for the first time.

Judiths Wild Rush completed the $84.40 exacta and paid $9.20 and $6.20 after finishing nearly two lengths in front of Sinners N Saints, who paid $5.20 to show.

The race was a surprise right from the gate as Shopton Lane, not Gottcha Gold as expected, took command and opened a daylight lead around the first turn. He continued to lead through fractions of :23 1/5, :46 1/5 and 1:10 3/5 and was never seriously threatened to the wire.

"I knew my horse has early speed, so I just went to the front from the gate," Lezcano said. "Gottcha Gold didn't go for the early lead, so I was able to get my horse to relax up front. He turned it on for me when I asked him."

In the Tyro Stakes, a prep for the Grade 3 Sapling to be run here on Aug. 31, Fellow Crasher ranged up into contention entering the stretch and zoomed past the front-running 1-10 favorite Notonthesamepage at the eighth pole, drawing off to score by two and a half lengths.

The winner, trained by Anthony Dutrow and ridden by Joe Bravo, raced the five and a half furlongs over a fast main track in 1:03 1/5 and paid $11 to win as second choice in the field of three 2-year-olds. Rapid Redux was 12 1/4 lengths farther behind in third.

Notonthesamepage showed his considerable speed early, clipping off fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 2/5. Bravo moved Fellow Crasher into striking position rounding the turn and once straightened away, pounced on the leader and then drew off in the final sixteenth.

This was the second straight win for Fellow Crasher, a son of Graeme Hall who broke his maiden at Philly Park on July 6. He is owned by the partnership of Dubb, Grant & Bayard.

"I didn't know what I was sitting on until the gates opened," Bravo said. "He broke well and relaxed for a bit. He really turned it on for me in the lane when I got into him. This is a really nice colt."

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July 26, 2008
BIG BROWN, ATONED, NISTLE'S CRUNCH BREEZE FOR HASKELL
Monmouth Park.com

Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner who will kick off the second half of his season in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage on Sunday Aug. 3, and Dogwood Stable's Atoned and Alien Farm's Nistle's Crunch all turned in fast breezes Saturday morning.   

Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., zipped six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 at Aqueduct with exercise rider Michelle Nevin aboard.

The Rick Dutrow Jr.-trained colt has not started since June 7, when he was pulled up in the Belmont Stakes for his first loss in six career starts. He has been working steadily at Aqueduct since the beginning of July for his comeback race in the Grade 1 Haskell. Kent Desormeaux will ride.

Atoned, trained by Todd Pletcher, drilled a half-mile in :50 flat over the fast Monmouth strip, with blinkers on for the first time. Madeline Sciametta, wife of Pletcher assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta Jr., was aboard.

Clockers noted the Repent colt worked strongly, getting the first quarter in :26 2/5, and the second quarter in :23 3/5. Atoned galloped out five furlongs in a sharp 1:01 3/5, and went six furlongs eased up in 1:16.

"I don't know how much the blinkers helped," Sciametta said. "He always works good. Todd will decide whether he wears them in the Haskell."

Pletcher, who will be trying for an unprecedented third straight Haskell victory with Atoned, said he was going to experiment with blinkers in a workout before deciding on a change of equipment for the race.

Atoned has had a case of "seconditis" all through his career (he has two wins and seven seconds in 12 lifetime starts), and has been runner-up in both his Monmouth starts this year, finishing behind Cool Coal Man in the Spend a Buck Stakes and Truth Rules in the Long Branch Stakes.

Nistle's Crunch, a New Jersey-bred son of Van Nistelrooy trained by Ken McPeek, breezed five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 over the fast main track at Churchill Downs. The drill was the second-best of 28 at the distance Saturday morning.

The colt was bred by his owners - Michael Harrison and Dr. Alan Furst - who race as the Alien Farm.

No rider has been named yet for Nistle's Crunch, who will be making his first start on the dirt since the March 29 Florida Derby, where he was seventh behind Big Brown. He has a win, a second and a third in three turf starts since then.

Nistle's Crunch is expected to arrive at Monmouth on Tuesday after a van ride from Kentucky.

Bea Oxenberg's Hey Byrn, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., is scheduled to breeze at Monmouth on Sunday morning for the Haskell. The colt by Put It Back, who finished a troubled fourth in the Long Branch, will have a change of rider next Sunday when Edgar Prado takes the mount. Prado has won both times he rode Hey Byrn, scoring in two allowance events at Gulfstream Park.

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July 25, 2008
NISTLE'S CRUNCH RETURNS TO NATIVE SOIL FOR HASKELL
Monmouth Park.com

The $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage will be a homecoming for Nistle's Crunch, one of the 3-year-olds who will challenge Big Brown in Monmouth's signature event on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Nistle's Crunch, trained by Ken McPeek, will be making his first start on native soil in the Haskell, since the New Jersey-bred colt has been doing all his racing to date in Kentucky, Virginia and Florida.

The bay son of Van Nistlerooy - Sam Eye Am, by Island Whirl, was bred by his owners, Michael Harrison and Dr. Alan Furst, and foaled at Joe and Karen Jennings' Walnford Farm in Allentown, N.J.

Harrison, an attorney who lives in Chester, N.J., and Dr. Furst, a medical practitioner who lives in Harding Township, N.J., own the colt under their partnership name of Alien Farm LLC.

The stable name comes not from a positive E.T. sighting but from the first horse the two men owned together, Alien Strike.

"We've been friends for 28 years," said Harrison, who is also president of the Thoroughbred Breeders Association of New Jersey. "We got Alien Strike when she was 2, in 1994, and she was a winner right away and went on to win stakes. She gave us a lot of thrills, especially since it was our first horse. I guess we thought it would always be that easy.

"After that we named the stable for her, and that's how it came to be Alien Farm," he said.

The partners are currently racing a son of Alien Strike - See Morgan First - who broke his maiden at Monmouth in 2004.

The Nistle's Crunch story starts in 1996, when the partners claimed a mare by Henbane named Sammy Ammy from a Monmouth maiden race for $32,000. The mare went on to win twice, and was retired and bred to Island Whirl in the spring of 1998.

The resulting foal - the first horse the partners ever bred -- was a filly they named Sam Eye Am, who won the Miss Liberty Stakes at the Meadowlands and scored in a Monmouth turf allowance. She was retired in October of 2003 with a 4-3-3 record in 23 starts, and the next spring was bred to Van Nistlerooy in Kentucky.

Sam Eye Am was sent back to New Jersey, where she dropped her foal at Walnford Farm on March 15, 2005.

"We put the foal in a Kentucky yearling sale in 2006," Harrison said. "He didn't make his reserve, and we bought him back for $53,000.

"He went to Julia Householder in Kentucky to be broken, and her farm is close to Ken McPeek's place," Harrison said, "and that's how Ken became the trainer."

Nistle's Crunch, who was given his confectionary name by Dr. Furst, broke his maiden at second asking at Keeneland last fall. This year, the colt has won on both dirt and turf, and in his last two starts, he was placed in graded stakes on the grass.

"His only bad race this year was the Florida Derby," Harrison said of the March 29 event at Gulfstream where Nistle's Crunch finished 19 lengths behind Big Brown. "He was just too fast early that day and tired."

McPeek is still shopping for a Haskell rider for Nistle's Crunch. The trainer said the colt will arrive at Monmouth by van from Kentucky either Tuesday or Wednesday next week. Nistle's Crunch is scheduled to breeze at Churchill Downs Saturday.

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July 25, 2008
$100,000 GUARANTEED POOL SET FOR 60-MINUTE SIX SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

The 60-Minute Six, a new pick six wager that combines races from four Eastern tracks, will again have a $100,000 guaranteed pool this Saturday.

This Saturday's 60-Minute Six will combine the sixth and seventh races from Saratoga; the seventh race from Monmouth; the eighth and ninth races from Delaware Park, and the ninth race from Philadelphia Park. The races are chosen so all six will run within a one-hour span. The Saratoga race will be the first leg with a 3:39 p.m. post. The Delaware race will be the final leg with a post time of 4:21.

The 60-Minute Six will be offered every Saturday through Aug. 30, and has a $2 base wager, with $1 part wheels available.   If no one successfully selects all six winners, 75 percent of the pool will carryover to the following Saturday's 60-Minute Six. 

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July 24, 2008
STALLIONS NAMED FOR TAYLOR MADE MATCHMAKER STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

The $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) has been a unique event since its inception in 1967. In addition to its cash prize, the race offers stallion seasons to the first three finishers in the mile and an eighth turf event.

Taylor Made Stallions, Inc, which sponsors the Matchmaker, announced that this year's seasons will be to Wildcat Heir, Northern Afleet and Southern Image. Wildcat Heir stands at Journeyman Stud in Ocala, Florida while Northern Afleet and Southern Image stand at Taylor Made's facility in Nicholasville, Ky.

"The Taylor Made Matchmaker is steeped in tradition and some true greats have won this race in the past with the likes of Politely, Numbered Account, and Susan's Girl to name just a few. We are proud to be part of such an historical race," said Ben Taylor, Vice President, Taylor Made Stallions.

This year's Taylor Made Matchmaker, to be contested on Sunday, Aug. 3, Haskell Day, marks the fourth year that Monmouth Park and Taylor Made have teamed up to present the race.

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July 24, 2008
BIG BROWN LIKELY TO HAVE SIX TO SEVEN FOES IN HASKELL
Monmouth Park.com

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown will likely see six or seven rivals when he kicks off the second half of his 3-year-old season in Monmouth's $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Mike Dempsey, Monmouth's director of racing, said Thursday he expects a field of seven or eight will line up for the 41st running of the Haskell, including some horses who have already enjoyed success over the racing surface here.

Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr., has been training steadily at Rick Dutrow Jr.'s Aqueduct base. The son of Boundary was unbeaten in five lifetime starts until he lost his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes.

Those considered likely to challenge Big Brown in Monmouth's mile and an eighth classic are Atoned, Cool Coal Man, Hey Byrn, Nistle's Crunch, Tale of Ekati and Truth Rules.  Magical Forest remains a possibility for the Haskell.

Cool Coal Man and Truth Rules, both owned by Robert LaPenta and trained by Nick Zito, are winners over the track. Cool Coal Man took the Spend a Buck Stakes here in his last start on June 14, while Truth Rules has a perfect three-for-three record at Monmouth. The son of Vindication broke his maiden here in May, won an allowance race in June, and last out on July 11 scored in the Long Branch Stakes, Monmouth's main prep for the Haskell.

Dogwood Stable's Atoned has a mark of 2-3-0 in five starts at Monmouth. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt broke his maiden and won the Continental Mile Stakes here last year, and this year has run second in both the Spend a Buck and Long Branch stakes.

Pletcher is going for an unprecedented third straight Haskell victory this year. He won the race in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat, and last year with Any Given Saturday.

Charles E. Fipke's Tale of Ekati, training at Saratoga with Barclay Tagg's string, ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last October here, finishing fourth behind War Pass. The son of Tale of the Cat turned in a sharp breeze at the Spa on Wednesday, getting five furlongs in 1:00 flat.

Bea Oxenberg's Hey Byrn, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream in April, finished a troubled fourth in the Long Branch last out, his first Monmouth start for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.

Nistle's Crunch, owned by Alien Farm and trained by Ken McPeek, will be making his first start in his native state. The New Jersey-bred son of Van Nistlerooy is coming off three straight turf races, including a victory at Keeneland.

Magical Forest, owned by Ernie Paragallo's Paraneck Stable and trained by Joe DeMola, finished fifth in the Rumson Stakes run on a muddy track here on May 21. He came out of that sprint to win two mile and a sixteenth stakes at Delaware Park.

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July 23, 2008
CHANGE OF EQUIPMENT COULD BOOST ATONED TO WINNER'S CIRCLE
Monmouth Park.com

Dogwood Stable's Atoned, who has developed a case of seconditis since his two victories at Monmouth last year, is likely to get a chance to make amends in a big way in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 3, trainer Todd Pletcher said.

"We're certainly thinking of the Haskell," said Pletcher, who was on hand at Monmouth Wednesday to look over the string he has stabled here with assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta Jr.
"I have to discuss it again with Mr. Campbell (Dogwood president Cot Campbell) before we make a final decision," the trainer said.

The Haskell is scheduled to be the start of the second season for Big Brown, whose Triple Crown try ended in the Belmont, and at least five 3-year-olds are expected to challenge the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner.

Pletcher, who would be going for an unprecedented third straight Haskell victory with Atoned, said that he might be making a change of equipment for Atoned's next start.
"It's amazing that he's run as well as he has and finished second as many times as he has," Pletcher said. "And he's been second a variety of ways. He's gone to the front too soon at times, and then been too late other times. He's shown hints of moving forward in his races, but he's been kind of a bridesmaid.

"We think he needs a little edge, and maybe blinkers will be that edge. We're thinking of working him in blinkers to see how he responds."

Pletcher won the Grade 1 Haskell in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat and last year with Any Given Saturday, both of whom carried more impressive credentials into Monmouth's signature event.
However, Atoned has flashed signs of brilliance, and even more important a love of the Monmouth racing strip, in his 12 lifetime outings.

The son of Repent was second by a head in his career debut here last June, and then broke his maiden at Monmouth last August. He followed that by winning the Continental Mile Stakes, run on the main track last year.

Then came a string of four seconds, all in stakes, that spilled over from his 2-year-old to his 3-year-old year. On the Triple Crown trail, Atoned was second by a neck in the Grade 2 Remsen, and second by a neck in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby.

He came off his two worst outings of the year (a fourth in the Illinois Derby and an eighth in the Lexington Stakes, both Grade 2) with a rousing late-running second to Cool Coal Man here in the Spend a Buck Stakes. Last out, he made the lead in midstretch in the Long Branch Stakes, but got nailed on the wire by Truth Rules.

In addition to Big Brown and Atoned, other Haskell probables include Truth Rules, Cool Coal Man, Nistle's Crunch and Hey Byrn.  The Haskell remains a possibility for Tale of Ekati.

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July 23, 2008
JOSE VELEZ JR. RETURNING TO RIDE AT MONMOUTH WEDNESDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Jockey Jose Velez Jr., who tried a new scene this year riding at Tampa Bay in the winter and Arlington Park in the summer, will return to the Monmouth riding colony next week.

Velez, who has enjoyed steady success at Monmouth over the years, winning multiple graded stakes, including the Iselin in 2002 and 2005, will have his first mounts here next Wednesday.

His agent at Monmouth will be Kevin Lyons.

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July 22. 2008
RERUN OPENS OFFICES AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

Continuing their commitment to one another and to the health, safety and welfare of the Thoroughbreds on the racetrack and their life thereafter, Monmouth Park Racetrack has provided office space to ReRun, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which provides care and rehabilitation to off the track Thoroughbreds while awaiting adoptive homes.

“This is really win-win for everyone involved,” said Bill Knauf, assistant general manager of Monmouth Park.  “Monmouth Park has always been supportive of programs such as ReRun and we look forward to working together in the future, offering assistance and helping them achieve their goals and objectives.”

The ReRun offices, which are set to open this week, are located on the concourse level of the Administration Building, located just behind the paddock at the racetrack.  Open to the public and horsemen, the office will have set hours as it provides a wide variety of help and information not only about ReRun, but other options, programs and sources of networking about horses who are retired from racing.

“Monmouth Park has been so good to ReRun over the past nine years,” said Laurie Condurso-Lane, president of ReRun.  “This is more than I could have hoped for.  It is a wonderful opportunity for our organization and one that will ultimately benefit what we all care about - the horses.”  

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July 20, 2008
SLY STORM ROLLS TO VICTORY IN THE MONGO QUEEN STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Glen Hill Farm's Sly Storm kicked clear of her foes to post a 3 1/2 length win in the $70,000 Mongo Queen Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Thomas Proctor, Sly Storm covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09 1/5 and returned $4.40, $2.80 and $2.20 as the favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.  Shining Image completed the $22.60 exacta and returned $3.80 to place and $2.40 to show.  It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Throbbin' Heart, who returned $2.20 to show.

"It was an easy ride for me," said winning jockey Jose Lezcano.  "She broke well and was able to relax a little bit down the backside.  Turning for home I called on her and she gave me everything she had."

Sunday's stakes score was the third win in four starts for Sly Storm, a daughter of Storm Cat from the Broad Brush mare Brushed Halory.  She has now earned $108,906 for her connections.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, July 23 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 19, 2008
BEAU DARE WINS KLASSY BRIEFCASE STAKES, EQUALS TRACK RECORD ON MONMOUTH TURF; SOPHIE'S SALAD 2ND, DON'T STOP DREAMIN 3RD

Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Walts David Stable's Beau Dare took command out of the gate and was never headed as she equaled the course record in winning the $60,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Beau Dare, trained by Monmouth's leading conditioner Bruce Levine and ridden by Stewart Elliott, stopped the timer in 1:01.85 for five and a half furlongs on the firm turf course, exactly matching the mark set by In Summation last year and Chitoz last month.

The 5-year-old mare by Military scored by a half-length and paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.80 across the board as the favorite in the field of eight fillies and mares.

Sophie's Salad, who tried her best to get by the winner, settled for the place, paying $4.20 to place and $3.20 to show and completing the $27.20 exacta. Don't Stop Dreamin was a half-length farther back in third and paid $3.40 to show.

There was very little drama in the running of the Klassy Briefcase. Elliott got Beau Dare away alertly from her outside post, and the mare made all the running, getting a quarter in :22 1/5 and a half in :45. Through the stretch she maintained her advantage over Sophie's Salad for the final furlong.

"Knowing she had speed, I figured we'd be close up early on," said Elliott. "She broke so good that I put her right on the front end. She went to the front and started rolling. That horse (Sophie's Salad) came up and challenged us in the stretch, but I felt I had enough horse left, and I did."

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July 16, 2008
WEEKEND TO REMEMBER FOR 'FAGEDABOUDIT' GANG
Monmouth Park.com

First there was Fagedaboudit Sal. Then came Fagedaboudit Gal. Now there's Fagedaboudit Pal. Has Salvatore Racing Stable gone over the top? Fagedaboutit!

The racing stable owned by Salvatore Tringola, who named all the horses, came into the spotlight last weekend when "Sal," the 6-year-old New Jersey-bred by Yarrow Brae, led every step at 39-1 to win the Bob Harding Stakes in his first turf start on Saturday, and "Gal," a 3-year-old Unbridled filly, broke her maiden on turf at 12-1 on Sunday.

"Sal" has run well against New Jersey-breds in the past, winning the Bernie Dowd and Lincroft handicaps here last year. But the Harding was an open event, and marked his turf debut. Even the owner was skeptical.

"Sal called me on Friday and asked if I was drinking when I made the entry," said trainer Luis Carvajal Jr. with a smile. "He said we were in over our heads, and he wanted me to scratch the horse.

"I told him that the horse had some turf pedigree and was doing really well. I figured he would like the turf course really firm. I knew he was going to the front from the start, and they would have to catch him.

"Sal said he thought I was crazy, but go ahead," Carvajal said. "And it worked out great."

"Gal," still a maiden after 10 starts, apparently caught the winning stable vibes Saturday night because on Sunday, she came out rolling in a mile and a sixteenth maiden claimer on the grass and led every step.

But Carvajal will have to wait a while to complete the triple. "Pal," a 2-year-old colt by Tree, bucked shins after his first career start here on May 18. He'll be back by mid-August, though, so pay attention.

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July 14, 2008
DANCE HALL DAYS TAKES SERENA'S SONG STAKES; ROUSE THE CAT LOWERS COURSE RECORD IN McSORLEY SCORE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Edward P. Evans's Dance Hall Days split horses in late stretch to post a neck victory in the $70,000 Serena's Song Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

In the $60,000 John McSorley Stakes, Rouse the Cat came home a three quarter length winner and stopped the timer in 1:01.75, besting the old track record of 1:01.91 set just one day prior by Sir Winston.

Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Dance Hall Days covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:44 1/5 and returned $23.60, $13.40 and $7.40.  Hartigan completed the $143.20 exacta and paid $7.40 and $3.20.  It was another neck back to Awesome I Am, who paid $5.20 to show.  Charming, the 6-5 choice, pulled up around the far turn after leading throughout.

"She didn't break too sharp," said winning jockey Jose Lezcano, "so I took her back off the pace and settled in behind horses.  Turning for home I started to ask her and she kicked in pretty well for me.  She split horses gamely and dug in."

The Serena's Song win was the third in seven starts for Dance Hall Days, a 3-year-old filly by Seeking Daylight from the Capote mare Dance Move.  She has now earned $120,300 for her owner.

Trained by Ollie L. Figgins III, Rouse the Cat engaged the early pacesetter Southwestern Heat before putting away that rival inside the 1/8th pole to score the upset win.  Rouse the Cat returned $40.20, $12.60 and $6.20 and topped a $147.20 exacta.  Our Friend Harvey, the 2-1 favorite, returned $3 to place and $2.20 to show.  Lord Robyn finished another length back in third and paid $4 to show.

"It was a really fast trip," said winning rider Christopher Vanhassel.  "I couldn't believe how fast we were going.  I had to lean on him real hard around the turn because we took it so sharply.  I got the lead and before I knew we were at the wire already."

Sunday's score was the seventh in 13 starts for Rouse the Cat, a 4-year-old by Sir Cat from the Strike Gold mare Crouse Mill.  He increased his lifetime earnings to $133,800.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, July 16 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 13, 2008
PICK 5, PICK 4 CARRYOVERS FOR SUNDAY; 60-MINUTE SIX CARRYOVER NEXT SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

With several longshots late on the Saturday card at Monmouth Park, carryovers in the Pick 5 and the Pick 4 will await players on the Sunday, July 13 program.

In addition, in the 60-Minute Six, no one correctly selected all winners in that wager, providing a carryover into next Saturday's 60-Minute Six.

Monmouth's Saturday Pick 5 got underway in the fifth race with Most Distinguished ($5.60).  Fleet Appeal ($6.20) won the sixth as Travolta ($21.40) took the seventh.  Fagedaboudit Sal ($80.40) lit up the tote board in the eighth race, the Bob Harding Stakes, just before Truth Rules ($35.80) sprung the upset in the Long Branch Stakes.  Four out of five winners returned $422.60 for the 50-cent wager.

A carryover of $17,429 awaits Pick 5 players on Sunday's Monmouth card, which gets underway with race five.

Saturday's late Pick 4 at Monmouth combined Travolta, Fagedaboudit Sal and Truth Rules with Bold Survivor ($5.20) in the finale.  Three out of four returned $198.90 for $1.

The carryover of $21,483 will be added to the pool for Sunday's early Pick 4, which starts with race two.

The 60-Minute Six, which combines races at Monmouth Park, Belmont Park, Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park, also had the top prize go unclaimed as no one correctly selected all six winners.

The 60-Minute Six started with Belmont's sixth race when Senor Musician ($13.60) came home on top.  Travolta took the second leg as Proud Spell ($2.60) captured the third leg, race eight from Delaware.  The wager continued at Philly Park, as Gran Cesare ($8.60) won the fourth leg and Fagedaboudit Sal captured the penultimate race in the bet.  Rain Date ($4.80) completed the 60-Minute Six.  Five out of six winners paid $702 for $1.

A carryover of $67,440 awaits players for next Saturday's 60-Minute Six, a wager that will be offered every Saturday through Aug. 30.

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July 12, 2008
CHARLES HESSE 3rd HANDICAP ON AUG. 3 TO CARRY $100,000 PURSE
Monmouth Park.com

The top New Jersey-bred contest on the Haskell Day undercard on Sunday, August 3, will be the Charles Hesse 3rd Handicap, which has received a purse boost to $100,000.

Monmouth director of racing Mike Dempsey said that Marianne Hesse had contributed $40,000 to the purse of the race named for her late husband. The mile and 70-yard race was slated to have a $60,000 purse.

"Charlie and Marianne Hesse have been great contributors to New Jersey's racing program for more than 30 years," Dempsey said, "and this is just the latest example of their generosity."

The Hesses, who lived in Leonardo, N.J., raced as the Char-Mari Stable for 30 years, and Mrs. Hesse still races in the Char-Mari colors. She is also a partner in the Double H Stable with Mrs. Leon Hess.

Mr. Hesse, whose father built the original Monmouth racing strip in 1946, passed away in 2006.

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July 12, 2008
TRUTH RULES UPSETS ATONED IN LONG BRANCH AT MONMOUTH; FAGEDABOUDIT SAL, $80, SCORES SHOCKER IN HARDING ON TURF
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Upsets ruled at Monmouth Park on Saturday as Robert LaPenta's Truth Rules scored a shocker in the $150,000 Long Branch Stakes and Salvatore Racing Stable's Fagedaboudit Sal, the longest shot on the board, captured the $70,000 Bob Harding Stakes on turf.

Truth Rules, sent off the absolute outsider in the field of five 3-year-olds at 16-1, rallied from dead last on the turn to run down favored Atoned by a head at the wire, stopping the timer in 1:45 1/5 for the mile and a sixteenth.

The victory likely earned the colt a berth in Monmouth's $1 million Haskell Invitational on August 3.

The son of Vindication, trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Stewart Elliott, paid $35.80, $9.40 and $3.20 across the board and topped the $94.80 exacta. Atoned, sent off the 9-5 favorite, paid $3.40 and $2.10, and Z Humor, who was three and a quarter lengths farther behind, paid $2.10 to show.

Elliott took Truth Rules back to last early as Indy Joe carved out early fractions of :24 for the quarter and :47 4/5 for the half. Coming into the stretch, Atoned made a move between horses to reach the lead while Truth Rules was circling the field on the outside.

In the final sixteenth, Truth Rules made a determined run at the leader and caught Atoned at the wire.

"They told me before the race that I'd be in the back," Elliott said. "There was a lot of speed in the race. About the half-mile pole, I eased him out because he didn't seem to like the dirt coming back at him.

"He was picking it up a little and then I just tapped him a couple of times and he started moving a little quicker. At the quarter-pole the other horses were all together and I thought I had a shot at it. Atoned kicked away from me a little bit in the stretch, but my horse just kept digging and got up when it mattered."

This was the third straight victory at Monmouth for Truth Rules, who broke his maiden here in May and won an allowance last month.

In the Bob Harding Stakes, Fagedaboudit Sal had a memorable debut on the grass as he led from start to finish as a rank outsider and beat Kiss the Kid, the 3-2 favorite, by a length and a half.

The winner, trained by Luis Carvajal Jr. and ridden by Pablo Fragoso, stepped the one mile over firm turf in 1:34 3/5 and paid $80.40, $23.80 and $10.60 across the board as the longest shot in the field of 10.

Kiss the Kid made a belated rally to get second, paying $3.80 to place and $3 to show and completed the $433.20 exacta. Classic Campaign, second choice at 2-1, was a length and a quarter farther back and paid $2.80 to show.

This was the first-ever turf try for Fagedaboudit Sal, a 5-year-old son of Yarrow Brae who was the only New Jersey-bred in the field. The gray gelding improved his record at Monmouth to 6-4-2 in 23 starts here. The winner's share of $42,000 raised his lifetime total to $369,838 for the Salvatore Racing Stable.

Fagedaboudit Sal came out of the gate running and clipped off fractions of :24 1/5 for the quarter, :48 for the half and 1:11 for the six furlongs. He stayed strong through the stretch, racing the last quarter in :23 3/5.

"Our goal was to get to the Hesse Handicap (state-bred race on Aug. 3)," Carvajal said. "There wasn't a race between now and then and I didn't want to wait that long, so we took a shot in here. I've always had confidence in this horse, so we gave him a try on the grass. Obviously it worked out well. We'll go back to the main track in the Hesse after this."

Fragoso said, "Luis told me that if this horse takes to the grass, he'll give everything he has. That's exactly what happened today. We got soft early fractions and this horse gave it his all."

In the second race of the day, Sir Winston established a new turf course record for five and a half furlongs on the hedge as he won the claiming event by a half-length.

The 4-year-old son of Dance Master, with Stewart Elliott aboard, carried 119 pounds over the distance in 1:01.91 to easily eclipse the old mark of 1:02.49 set in August of 2006 by Terrific Challenge.

Sir Winston's record is for the exact distance of five and a half furlongs with no temporary rail in place. Terrific Challenge still holds the record for the "about" five and a half furlongs on the hedge with his 1:01 flat clocking in September of 2006.

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July 8, 2008
LEZCANO, LEVINE, BROOME TOP MONMOUTH STANDINGS
Monmouth Park.com

With 39 of the 99 days of racing at the 2008 Monmouth Park meet in the books, Jose Lezcano tops the rider standings; Bruce Levine leads all trainers; and Eddie Broome shows the way in the race for top owner.

Through Sunday’s race card, Lezcano, a 23-year-old native of Panama, has 56 wins, one more than Eddie Castro.  Thirteen time riding champion Joe Bravo is third with 46 victories, 16 more than the pair of C.H. Marquez Jr. and Pedro Cotto Jr.

Over in the trainer’s race, Bruce Levine continues to dominate, sending out 30 winners from 65 starters.  Eddie Broome is second with 16 wins, six more than the trio of Richard Dutrow Jr., Gregg Sacco and Kelly John Breen.

Eddie Broome, with ten winners, tops the race for top owner.  Repole Stable is second with nine wins, one more than George and Lori Hall.

The 2008 Monmouth Park season runs through Sunday, Sept. 28.  First post is 12:50 p.m.
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July 8, 2008
ST. PATRICK’S DAY IN JULY RETURNS THIS SUNDAY AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

It’s time to break out the green for the annual St. Patrick’s Day in July celebration at Monmouth Park this Sunday, July 13.

All those “wearin’ o’ the green” will receive free grandstand or half-price clubhouse admission as well as an entry blank to win a trip for two to Ireland.

Sponsored by Guinness, the St. Patrick’s Day in July celebration will include the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipe & Drum Band performing on the track and the Bobby Byrne Band playing “On the Green.”  In addition, traditional Irish food will be on the menu at concession stands and in restaurants throughout the track.

As always on Sundays at Monmouth Park it’s Family Fun Day, with clowns, pony rides, face painters, bounce houses and more to entertain the kids.

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July 6, 2008
DYNA'S LASSIE TAKES MISS LIBERTY STAKES AT MONMOUTH; COLTS NECK HANDICAP TO WHO'S THE COWBOY
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Eldon Farm Racing Stable's Dyna's Lassie kept her 2008 record a perfect two-for-two in winning the $70,000 Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

In the day's other stakes event, Gerald Sleeter's Who's the Cowboy got back to his winning ways at Monmouth Park, taking the $60,000 Colts Neck Handicap, the 6-year-old gelding's first win in nearly two years.

Dyna's Lassie, a 4-year-old filly by Dynaformer from the Thunder Gulch mare Tortuga Lady, covered the mile and a sixteenth over "good" turf in 1:42 3/5 and returned $19.80, $9.40 and $6.80.  Rasta Farian, who finished a half-length back in second, rallied up the inside to complete a $157.60 exacta and paid $8.20 and $5.  It was another length and a quarter back to Bachata, the favorite, who returned $3.40 to show in the field of 12 fillies and mares.

"She's a very professional, push-button kind of horse," said winning rider Carlos H. Marquez Jr.  "I found a hole at the 3/8ths pole and when I pushed the button she just took off from there."

Trained by Doug Fout, Dyna's Lassie improved her lifetime mark to 4-3-0 from seven starts.  Sunday's win increased her lifetime earnings to $113,190.  Her connections indicated that her next start will be the Grade 3 $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes here at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3 - Haskell Day. 

Ridden by Stewart Elliott, Who's the Cowboy covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09 4/5 and returned $5.80, $3.40 and $2.40 as the second choice in the field of seven New Jersey-bred colts and geldings.  It was three-quarters of a length back to Bythebeautifulsea who completed a $28 exacta and paid $4.60 to place and $2.40 to show.  Hey Chub, sent off the 8-5 choice, was another head back in third, good for a $2.20 show mutuel.

"We're just happy to get the win," said Kevin Sleeter, who conditions the horse for his father.  "It's good to see him back in the winner's circle.  He ran his race today, and it all worked out."

Who's the Cowboy was last seen in the Monmouth winner's circle in the Friendly Lover Handicap on Sept. 16, 2006.  The homebred son of Intensity from the Better Arbitor mare Image's Image has now banked $714,360 for his connections.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, July 9 - first post 12:50 p.m. 

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July 5, 2008
17TH ANNUAL BACKSTRETCH APPRECIATION DAY SET JULY 14
Monmouth Park.com

The 17th annual Backstretch Appreciation Day Picnic at Monmouth Park will be held on Monday, July 14, rain or shine, starting at noon.

The picnic, which is open to all backstretch employees and their families was started by Dan Perlsweig in 1991 as a way of thanking all the people who work with the horses and keep racing going smoothly.

Last year, the picnic drew more than 2,000 people, and this year's event is expected to lure the same.

The theme of the picnic is food and fun. The menu offers chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, watermelon and more. Beverages include soda and beer.

There will be games and raffles all afternoon, with more than 500 prizes given away. In addition, more than 800 t-shirts will be handed out to backstretch employees.

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July 5, 2008
PRESIOUS PASSION, NOTIONAL HEADING FOR CALIFORNIA AFTER UPSET VICTORIES IN BREEDERS' CUP CHALLENGE AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The band played "California Here I Come" at Monmouth Park on Saturday as Patricia Generazio's Presious Passion scored a front-running upset victory in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) and J. Paul Reddam's Notional captured the $300,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3).

Both the United Nations and the Salvator Mile are Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" events, and the winners of both races earned automatic starting berths at the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 24-25.  The U.N. winner, Presious Passion, is guaranteed a spot in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf, and the Salvator winner, Notional, has a starting date in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Monmouth's on-track handle of over $1 million and total handle of $6.7 million were the best of the season thus far.

"It's the largest total handle outside of a Haskell Day in recent memory," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "It was a terrific card and the wagering reflected just that."

Presious Passion, who never gets any respect in the mutuels despite his record at his home track here and his victories in graded events, went off at 13-1. He took command from the start and Eddie Castro nursed him along all the way to reach the wire a neck in front of Strike a Deal, the 2-1 second choice, with Equitable a length and a quarter farther back. Champs Elysees, the 11-10 favorite, finished sixth.

The winner raced the mile and three-eighths over a turf course termed yielding in 2:13 4/5, just one second off the course record.

Presious Passion gave his trainer, Monmouth-based Mary Hartmann, her first-ever victory in a Grade 1 event with her first starter in a major event.

The winner paid $29.60, $8.80 and $5.40 across the board and topped a $109.20 exacta. Strike a Deal returned $4 to place and $3 to show, and Equitable paid $4.20 to show.

"I'm shaking," Hartmann said. "This is the best feeling in the world. I'm just enjoying the win today. I'll talk with the owners, Pat and Frank Generazio, to see what path we'll take to get to the Breeders' Cup, but that's the plan for sure.

"It didn't bother me at all when I saw the early fractions of :24 and then :49. I thought he might sprint away a little bit from there and make them come and catch him, but it all worked out perfectly. I don't think the mile and three-eighths is his best distance. I think a mile and a half is.

"He's a very easy horse to train," Hartmann said. "I think he'll just get better from here. This is just amazing."

The race was really devoid of drama, as is reflected in jockey Castro's comments.

"I got the early lead pretty easily," Castro said, "I didn't have to use too much horse. I was able to relax on the front end and get soft fractions. At the three-eighths pole, I just let him go and he kept on going."

The winner's prize of $450,000 nearly doubled Presious Passion's lifetime earnings, which now total $908,028 on a record of 8-4-2 in 29 starts. He won the Grade 2 McKnight last year and the Grade 3 Pan American this year.

In the Salvator Mile, Notional sat behind Gottcha Gold's steady early pace until the quarter-pole, when Joe Bravo sent him to challenge for the lead. The winner, trained by Mark Hennig, battled with Gottcha Gold through the stretch and was finally able to draw clear in the final yards, scoring by two and a quarter lengths.

Notional, sent off at 7-1 in the field of six, raced the one mile over a fast track in 1:35 4/5 and paid $17.80, $5.40 and $2.80 across the board. Gottcha Gold, the 4-5 favorite, completed the $48.40 exacta and paid $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Honest Man was two and a quarter lengths farther back and returned $2.60 to show. Indy Wind, the second choice, finished fourth.

Gottcha Gold, who used his front-running style to win last year's Salvator Mile, went right to the front from the gate, running a quarter in :23 and a half-mile in :46.  After six furlongs in 1:10, Notional pounced on Gottcha Gold and engaged in a head-and-head duel entering the stretch. Bravo kept busy on the winner, who tried to lug in a bit at the eighth pole, and Notional straightened out the last sixteenth and increased his margin to the wire.

"I was sitting way off the pace early," Bravo said, "and when I asked him, he went from about six or seven lengths back to right up with the leader. I thought I might have moved too soon, but luckily not. Gottcha Gold was battling back, but my horse put him away inside the sixteenth pole and ran on from there."

This was the first win this year for Notional, a 4-year-old son of In Excess who was a stakes winner last year as a 3-year-old for trainer Doug O'Neill and finished second in the 2007 Florida Derby. He suffered a fractured cannon bone and did not return to the races until this February. The Salvator was Notional's fourth lifetime win, and the winner's prize of $180,000 raised his bankroll to $695,790.

Hennig, who watched the race on television, said, "Mr. Reddam thought the artificial surface in California wasn't suiting him well. He sent him to me in New York at the beginning of June. Doug (former trainer O'Neill) and I talked about him. He was frustrated out there. He didn't know if he could attribute it to the surface or his injury after the Florida Derby. Doug and I worked together well - it was an East-West attack."

In the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes, Silly Goose Racing Stable's Maddy's Lion made a big run through the stretch to nail the front-running Joey P. on the wire.

Maddy's Lion, trained by Gregg Sacco and ridden by Carlos Marquez Jr., was up to score by a neck, completing the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09 1/5. Sent off third choice in the field of seven older sprinters, Maddy's Lion paid $10.80, $3.60 and $2.60 across the board.

Joey P., the even-money favorite, completed the $30.40 exacta and paid $2.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Mr. Umphrey, who was nearly four lengths farther back, paid $2.60 to show.

It was the first win in three Monmouth starts this year for Maddy's Lion, a 6-year-old son of Lion Hearted who finished second to Mr. Umphrey in the Longfellow Stakes here last month.

Joey P., who was coming off a victory in a four and a half-furlong stakes race at Charles Town, set all the pace, clipping off fractions of :21 4/5 for the quarter and :44 2/5 for the half. He held a clear lead at the eighth pole, but Maddy's Lion made a determined run in the middle of the track to get up in time.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, July 6 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 4, 2008
J BE K, 2-5 CHOICE, EASILY CAPTURES JERSEY SHORE STAKES AT MONMOUTH; SILVER EDITION 2ND, INDY JOE 3RD IN GRADE 3 SPRINT
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Zayat Stable's J Be K left no doubt about who was best in the $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Friday as he assumed command at the quarter pole and rolled to a handy four-length victory.

Sent off the 2-5 favorite in the field of six 3-year-olds, J Be K stopped the timer in 1:09 flat over the fast main track and paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10 across the board. It was the fifth victory in seven lifetime starts for the son of Silver Deputy, who is trained by Steve Asmussen. Garrett Gomez came in from New York for the ride and registered his fourth victory on J Be K.

Silver Edition, second choice at 5-1, finished second to complete the $8.40 exacta. He paid $3.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Indy Joe was six lengths farther back in third and returned $2.60 to show.

The Jersey Shore was the third graded stakes victory for J Be K, who was coming off a victory in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont and in April won the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct.

Any drama was short-lived in the running of the Jersey Shore. Gomez was content to sit behind the speed for the first quarter, completed in a quick :21 2/5, but sent J Be K into command approaching the quarter-pole. The winner skipped the half-mile in :44 1/5, and was just cruising through the stretch as Gomez throttled him down late.

"Going into the race, I knew I was on the best horse," Gomez said. "I really wanted to keep him in the clear and out of trouble. He's a great horse with a great mind, and is maturing at a good rate. He's like a teenager just getting out of high school and adjusting to everything the right way."

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday with a 12-race program, highlighted by the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile.

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July 1, 2008
SEVEN STAKES HIGHLIGHT 4TH OF JULY FESTIVITIES AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth will celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with seven stakes races over three days, topped by the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day events; a $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool; a fundraiser for the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund; a backpack giveaway, and Family Fun Day activities all three days.

The stakes action gets underway on Friday, July 4, with the 17th running of the $150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3), which features top 3-year-old sprinters, and the $65,000 Choice Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Saturday is Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day when Monmouth offers two “win and you’re in” stakes events. The winner of the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) is guaranteed a berth in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 25, and the winner of the $300,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) earns a starting spot in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile the same day.  A $100,000 guaranteed Pick 4 pool, which includes the U.N. and Salvator Mile, will be up for grabs on the days final four races.

Also on tap that day is the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes for older sprinters.

The holiday weekend stakes action concludes on Sunday, July 6, with the $70,000 Miss Liberty Stakes for fillies and mares on turf and the $60,000 Colts Neck Handicap for New Jersey-bred sprinters.

The Don MacBeth fundraiser on Friday features autographed racing memorabilia, artwork, lucky horseshoes and raffles. Live music will be provided by Cats on a Smooth Surface.

On Saturday, July 5, there will be a backpack giveaway, with all paid admissions receiving a Monmouth logo backpack while supplies last.

The Mike Dalton Band will provide live entertainment “On the Green.”

On Sunday, the Family Fun Day activities (free pony rides, face painters, clowns and more) continue, and music will be provided by the Rory Daniels Band.

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July 1, 2008
DAWN PATROL TOURS BACK AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth Park’s popular Dawn Patrol tours of the stable area are back, and will be held every Friday and Saturday through August 30. The tours are free of charge, and guests are treated to complimentary juice, coffee and pastries.

Dawn Patrol takes guests on a tram tour through the Monmouth Park stable area for a glimpse into the everyday life of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. The tour also includes a visit to the jockeys’ room on the frontside.

The Friday Dawn Patrol starts at 7 a.m., and the Saturday tours begin at 8 a.m.

Reservations are required for the Dawn Patrol tours, and can be made by calling 732-571-5542, or by stopping in the Media Relations office in the Administration Building at the track.

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June 29, 2008
DEVIL HOUSE GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN WINNING LIGHTHOUSE STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Glencrest Farm's Devil House showed the most speed from her inside post and took her five foes wire-to-wire in winning the $70,000 Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by the meet's top conditioner, Bruce Levine, Devil House covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:42 flat and returned $30.80, $14.40 and $6.60 after coming home a 10 1/4 length winner.  For Kisses rallied from last to complete a $137.40 exacta and paid $5 and $4.  It was another 4 1/4 lengths back to Prop Me Up, who returned $3.40 to show.  Debbie Got Even, the 9-5 favorite, finished fifth.

"The original plan was to sit off the early pacesetters," said winning rider Daniel Centeno, "but she broke so sharply and I saw nobody leave.  After that, I just let her go and got her to relax down the backside.  I looked back at the 1/4 pole to see if anyone was behind me and there was nobody coming."

The Lighthouse Stakes score marked the seventh in 17 starts for Devil House, a 4-year-old filly by Chester House from the Diablo mare Diablo's Bobett.  She has now earned $264,660 for her connections.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, July 2 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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June 28, 2008
JOEY P. ON TRACK FOR THREE MORE MONMOUTH STARTS THIS SUMMER
Monmouth Park.com

John Petrini's Joey P., who has become one of the all-time favorite sprinters at Monmouth, is expected to be back in action at Monmouth Park next weekend after a successful road trip last Saturday.

The 6-year-old son of Close Up, who has won 12 of 20 Monmouth starts - all sprints - took down top money in the Charles Town Dash Handicap on June 21. In that four and a half-furlong event on the small (six furlongs) Charles Town oval, Joey P. was hustled out of the gate by jockey Travis Dunkelberger, gained a clear advantage after a furlong, and then opened up in the stretch to win by three lengths in :50.75, just a few ticks off the track record.

"He's something else," trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said of Joey P. "He's ready to run again. It's like he just had a fast four and a half-furlong workout.

"He'll start in the stakes next weekend," the trainer said, "which will set him up to run again on Haskell Day (Aug. 3), and then again on the New Jersey-bred day (Sept. 20)."

The weekend event is the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes, an open six-furlong event to be decided on Saturday, July 5.

On Haskell Day, the sprint feature is the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes, and on the New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival card, the top sprint test is the $60,000 Lincroft Handicap.

Joey P., who won the John J. Reilly Handicap here on May 24, has now earned a career total of $871,918, with $596,991 of that gleaned at Monmouth.

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June 28, 2008
MY PRINCESS JESS SETS RECORD IN BOILING SPRINGS STAKES AS BRAVO WINS BOTH STAKES; SPRUCE FIR 'CAP TO OPEN SKIES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Lael Stable's My Princess Jess set a turf course record in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes, and ELR Corp.'s Open Skies took the $60,000 Spruce Fir Handicap as jockey Joe Bravo swept the main events at Monmouth Saturday.

In the Grade 3 Boiling Springs, My Princess Jess gained command on the turn and had enough left late to hold off the closing charge of Much Obliged for a neck victory. The 3-year-old filly by Stormy Atlantic, trained by Barclay Tagg, stepped the mile and a sixteenth over a firm turf course in 1:39.81, breaking the record of 1:40.41 set by Giant Wrecker in 2006.

Sent off the 9-5 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies, My Princess Jess paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.60 across the board and topped a $29.20 exacta with Much Obliged, who was a 3-1 chance in the wagering and returned $4 to place and $3.40 to show. Forest Trail was third, three and a half lengths behind the top pair, returning $3.40 to show.

This was the second straight stakes score, and first graded victory, for My Princess Jess, who took the Gaviola Stakes at Belmont last month.

Bravo kept her off a fast early pace until approaching the turn, when he gunned his filly to the front. My Princess Jess opened a clear lead in midstretch, and then had to drive to the wire to outfinish Much Obliged, who lost ground circling the field on the turn.

"I was very impressed, we all were," said Tagg. "She broke the track record today. This filly has a very nice turn of foot. This was her first start for us. Mr. (Roy) Jackson purchased her after her last start."

"Barclay Tagg made me look good," Bravo said. "This filly was much the best today. I had ridden her down in Florida two starts ago when she ran a bang-up second."

Roy Jackson, owner of Lael Stable, said, "She looked like she would be a real nice turf filly, so we purchased her after her last race (May 8 at Belmont)."

In the Spruce Fir at one mile and 70 yards, Open Skies gained command after a half-mile and was uncatchable thereafter, cruising to the line three and a half lengths in front of Talkin About Love, the 125-pound highweight and even-money favorite in the field of five New Jersey-bred fillies and mares.

Open Skies, trained by Tim Hills, raced the distance in 1:43 flat over a fast track under the low weight of 111 pounds, and paid $5, $2.60 and $2.60 across the board as the second favorite. Talkin About Love, who stumbled coming out of the gate, returned $2.40 and $2.20 and completed the $10 exacta. Summer Sting, the longest shot on the board at 19-1, finished nearly two lengths behind her stablemate and paid $4 to show.

It was the first career stakes win for Open Skies, a 3-year-old filly by Defrere, who won an allowance race here last out. This was her third victory in five starts this season. She took her first-level allowance race at Gulfstream Park in April.

Open Skies broke a bit slowly, but Bravo let her settle off the early pace set by Solar Powered. He gunned the filly into the lead at the half-mile pole, and she flew around the turn and opened a big advantage in the stretch. Talkin About Love mounted a belated rally but never could pose a real threat.

"She's a very nice filly," said Hills. "She matured so much between her 2- and 3-year-old seasons. She's always been a little slow out of the gate, but once she gets going she's just awfully tough to catch. We'll see what opportunities come our way, but the Monmouth Oaks (G3 on Aug. 9) could be a possibility."

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June 26, 2008
$64K CARRYOVER INTO SATURDAY'S SIXTY 60-MINUTE 6
Monmouth Park.com

The 60-Minute Six, a new wager combining races from Monmouth, Belmont, Philadelphia Park and Delaware, debuted last Saturday and instantly produced added excitement for its second installment this Saturday, June 28.  No one correctly selected all six winners in the initial 60-Minute Six, thereby producing a carryover of $64,477.55 into this Saturday's wager.

Created by the joint effort of Monmouth, Philadelphia Park, Delaware and the New York Racing Association, the 60-Minute Six combines a pair of races from two of the tracks with one each from the other two.  The races are chosen so that all six run within a one-hour span.

The 60-Minute Six will be offered every Saturday, through Aug. 30.

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June 25, 2008
ARCH NEMESIS SETS COURSE RECORD IN MONMOUTH TURF WIN
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Brazil Stable's Arch Nemesis got up in the final stride to capture Wednesday's $45,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park in record time.

The 4-year-old daughter of Arch, trained by Angel Penna Jr. and ridden by Eddie Castro, stopped the timer in 1:46.72 for the mile and an eighth over the firm turf course, beating the old mark by nearly three full seconds. The previous record for the distance, starting from the infield chute with the portable rail set out 36 feet, was 1:49.60, set by Greenery on June 14 last year.

Arch Nemesis defeated Jade Queen, the even-money favorite, by a nose and paid $10.80, $4.40 and $3 across the board. Jade Queen completed the $23.40 exacta and returned $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Winsome Ways was a distant third and paid $2.60 to show as second choice in the field of six fillies and mares.

Arch Nemesis tracked the pacesetters until midstretch when she launched her rally on the inside. Jade Queen was the clear leader with just 100 yards to go, but the winner put on a burst of speed that carried her to victory.

This was the first win of the year for Arch Nemesis, who was making her Monmouth debut.

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June 22, 2008
JOSE LEZCANO WINS SIX ON SUNDAY'S CARD, TIES MONMOUTH RECORD
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jockey Jose Lezcano rode six winners on Monmouth Park's Sunday card, equaling a Monmouth Park record.

Lezcano's "six-bagger" kicked off in Sunday's 2nd race with Shore ($4.20) and continued in the 3rd atop Sweet Sugardaddy ($3), the 6th aboard Adjust ($7.80), the 7th with Way With Words ($9.20), the 9th atop Coli Bear ($11) and the last with Brush the Rail ($15).

Walter Blum, in 1961, was the first rider to set the mark.  It was equaled in 1984 by Chris Antley, in 1987 by Julie Krone and by Joe Bravo in 1994, 2002, 2005 and 2006.

A 23-year-old native of Panama, Lezcano returned to win his six on Sunday after being unseated from his mount, Brainy Baxter, in Saturday's finale.

Following Sunday's card, Lezcano leads the Monmouth rider standings with 42 victories, two more than Eddie Castro and 13-time leading jockey Joe Bravo.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, June 25 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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June 21, 2008
J Z WARRIOR CAPTURES DEARLY PRECIOUS STAKES BY FOUR
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Zayat Stables's J Z Warrior took command at the start and was never threatened as she sped to a four-length victory in the $70,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, a new wager, the Sixty Minute Pick 6, made its debut and immediately guaranteed excitement for next Saturday when it produced a carryover result. The new wager, which started with a guaranteed pool of $100,000, attracted total betting of $114,627. Five of six winners returned $3,907.60, and a total of $64,477.55 will be carried over to next Saturday's Sixty Minute Pick 6.

J Z Warrior, sent off the 13-10 favorite in the field of six fillies and mares, raced the six furlongs in 1:09 4/5 over the fast main track and returned $4.60, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board.

Irish Smoke, the second choice at 4-1, finished second to complete the $20.40 exacta, paying $4.80 and $3.20. D'Wild Ride, the longest shot on the board at 10-1 was third, returning $3.20 to show.

The winner, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Joe Bravo, scored her first win this year in five starts. This was the first stakes victory for the 3-year-old daughter of Harlan's Holiday.

Bravo put J Z Warrior on the lead soon after the start, and the filly clipped off fractions of :21 4/5 and :44 2/5 to discourage all her rivals and was being geared down at the wire.

"I'm just very happy to get to ride when Bill Mott sends a horse here," Bravo said. "It makes my job very, very easy. All I had to do with this one was hold on. Anytime you have a sprint race you have to worry about the break, and she broke beautifully."

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June 20, 2008
SEATS AVAILABLE FOR AUG. 3 HASKELL FEATURING BIG BROWN
Monmouth Park.com

Reserved seats are on sale for the 41^st running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 3, and are expected to go quickly now that the Grade 1 race will showcase the return of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown.

The owners of Big Brown have announced that the colt will run in the Haskell as his first race back after the Belmont Stakes. The mile and an eighth Haskell begins his drive toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 26.

“We’re ecstatic to see that Big Brown plans on running in the Haskell,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. “He’s a tremendous horse with a ton of talent. I know racing fans at the Jersey Shore welcome the news as much as we do and look forward to another great renewal of the Haskell on August 3.

“Last year we got to see Curlin in the Haskell,” Dowd said, “and he went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Horse of the Year honors. The Haskell has stamped itself as the next logical step for horses after the Triple Crown and for those looking at year-end honors. This year’s race should continue that tradition.”

The owners and trainer of Big Brown will receive a bonus of $50,000 each for running in the Haskell because the colt won two legs of the Triple Crown. The owner and trainer of Da’ Tara, the Belmont winner, would each receive a $25,000 bonus for competing in the Haskell.

Grandstand and clubhouse reserved seats are available for $10 to $17, while box seats can be purchased for $12 each for Haskell Day. Seats can be purchased Wednesday through Sunday by calling 732-571-5563. Visitors to the track can purchase seats any racing day at the reserved seat booth located on the second floor of the grandstand.

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June 19, 2008

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR THE HASKELL?

David Grening of the Daily Racing Form and The Asbury Park Press are reporting that Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will be pointed to the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3 for his next start, per Michael Iavarone, head of the International Equine Acquisitions Holdings Inc. Stable that owns 75 percent of Big Brown.

"The Haskell's clearly a first target right now," Iavarone told the media.

The Haskell, run at 1 1/8 miles, would be Big Brown's first start since he finished last in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 after jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled him up with a quarter-mile left to run. Iavarone said there is still no plausible excuse for Big Brown's performance in the Belmont, but added that the horse is training forwardly at Aqueduct for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. He could breeze next week.

By choosing the Haskell over the Jim Dandy and Travers - run July 27 and Aug. 23 at Saratoga, respectively - Iavarone said he is hoping to remove some of the variables that he assumes may have contributed to Big Brown's Belmont loss.

"We're trying to avoid certain things that happened in the Belmont," he said. "We're trying to avoid the heat. It's a lot more hot and humid [at Saratoga], it's a lot cooler down by the Jersey Shore. More importantly is the surface. It's a lot tighter racetrack, more conducive to his style."

Iavarone said that the timing of the Haskell is better for Big Brown should Iavarone and Dutrow decide to run him again before the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

Iavarone said that if Big Brown runs in the Haskell, it "would be a longshot" that he runs back in the Travers 20 days later. "But I don't rule out anything."

By virtue of the conditions of a bonus announced last month, Monmouth Park officials will pay the owners, IEAH and Paul Pompa Jr., $50,000 and Dutrow $50,000 to run Big Brown in the Haskell since Big Brown won two Triple Crown races.

"That's clearly not even a consideration," Iavarone said.

"We're ecstatic to see that Big Brown plans on running in the Haskell,'' said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates Monmouth Park, to The Press. "He's a tremendous horse with a ton of talent.''

Dowd added, "I know racing fans at the Jersey Shore welcome the news as much as we do.''

The 2007 Haskell was won by Any Given Saturday in front of a crowd of 43,106. Wagering on the 14-race card by at-the-track patrons was $3.5 million, with the total swelling to $14.1 million with simulcast bets, a record for a race card in New Jersey.

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June 19, 2008

DAWN PATROL TOURS SET TO START ON FRIDAY, JUNE 27

Monmouth Park.com

Dawn Patrol takes guests on a tram tour through the Monmouth Park stable area for a glimpse into the everyday life of Thoroughbreds and the people who care for them. The tour also includes a visit to the jockeys' room on the frontside.

The Friday Dawn Patrol starts at 7 a.m., and the Saturday tours begin at 8 a.m.

Reservations are required fort he Dawn Patrol tours, and can be made by calling 732-571-5542, or by stopping in the Media Relations office in the Administration Building at the track.

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June 17, 2008

$100,000 GUARANTEED POOL SET FOR SIXTY MINUTE 6 DEBUT SATURDAY

The Sixty Minute 6, a new pick six wager that combines races from Monmouth Park, Belmont Park, Philadelphia Park and Delaware Park will debut with a $100,000 guaranteed pool this Saturday, June 21.

“It’s a new, fast-paced version of the traditional pick six that many racetracks offer,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.  “This action-packed wager will provide fans with an attractive wagering option and something new and different to look forward to each and every Saturday.

Created by the joint effort of Monmouth, Philly, Delaware and the New York Racing Association, the Sixty Minute 6 combines a pair of races from two of the tracks with one each from the other two.  The races will be chosen so all six will run within a one-hour span.

The Sixty Minute 6 will be offered every Saturday through Aug. 30, and has a $2 base wager.  If no one successfully selects all six winners, 75% of the pool will carryover to the following Saturday’s Sixty Minute 6.  The takeout rate for this new wager is 25% with a guaranteed pool of $100,000 up for grabs for the inaugural Sixty Minute Six this Saturday. __________________________

June 15, 2005

23,058 ON-HAND FOR FATHER'S DAY AT MONMOUTH PARK AS CALL MY BLUFF AND LUNA PARK SCORE IN SUNDAY STAKES

Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - A season-high crowd of 23,058 were on track for Father's Day at Monmouth Park to see Call My Bluff upset the $70,000 Battlefield Stakes and Luna Park surprise his foes in the $60,00 Bernie Dowd Handicap.

"It was a great card and a great afternoon of racing," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.  "Despite the rain we got late this morning and early this afternoon, an enthusiastic crowd showed up to watch 11 great races.  It was the most electric crowd thus far this year and hopefully a sign of things to come in the months ahead."

Call My Bluff, ridden by Pedro Cotto Jr., took command right from the start and never looked back, scoring by 8 1/4 lengths after covering the mile and an eighth over the sloppy main track in 1:50 4/5.  The winner returned $10 and $3.60 and topped a $40 exacta.  Presious Passion closed for second, paying $3.20.  It was another 5 3/4 lengths back to I'm Only Laughing with Ballonenostrikes rounding out the field that scratched down to four runners after being transferred from the turf.  There was no show wagering offered on the Battlefield.

"We were going to the lead today, that was the plan," said winning trainer Derek Ryan.  "This horse has a lot of back class and he's very versatile.  We'll keep our options open for now, but we'll bring him back here in something.  He really likes this track."

The Battlefield win was the sixth in 28 starts for Call My Bluff, a 6-year-old gelding by Pine Bluff from the Affirmed mare Kerplop.  He boosted his lifetime bankroll to $201,036.
In the $60,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap, Luna Park wore down a game Meadow Blue to post a nose victory after stepping the mile and 70 yards in 1:42 flat.

Trained by John Tammaro III, Luna Park returned $29, $11.20 and $5.60 and topped a $180.20 exacta.  Meadow Blue paid $7.20 and $3.20.  Cuba, who finished another 6 3/4 lengths back in third, paid $2.40 to show.

"I know Tammaro's horses always have horse until the end," said winning rider C.H. Marquez Jr., "and when I asked the horse, he just kicked in for me and got game until the wire."

Sunday's win marked the fifth in 19 starts for Luna Park, a 5-year-old gelding by Dance Brightly from the Affirmed mare Secret Surprise.  He has now won $169,344 for owner Chad S. Anshelewitz.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, June 18 - first post 12:50 p.m.  With no one selecting all five winners in Sunday's Pick 5, Wednesday's card will have a carryover of $9,848 in the Pick 5, which gets underway with race five.

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June 14, 2008

SOCIAL QUEEN BEATS CHESTORIA BY NECK IN EATONTOWN STAKES ON MONMOUTH TURF; COOL COAL MAN CAPTURES SPEND A BUCK

Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jayeff B Stables' Social Queen showed her love of Monmouth's turf course Saturday as she closed with a rush in the stretch to capture the $150,000 Eatontown Stakes (G3), first graded event of the season.

In the day's co-feature, the $70,000 Spend a Buck Stakes for 3-year-olds, Cool Coal Man proved best by a neck after a spirited stretch duel with Atoned.

Social Queen, who improved her record here to four wins in five starts, outgamed Chestoria through the stretch to score by a neck. The 4-year-old Dynaformer filly, trained by Alan Goldberg and ridden by Jose Lezcano, raced the mile and a sixteenth over a firm grass course in 1:40 2/5.

The winner returned $8, $4.20 and $3 across the board as second choice in the field of eight fillies and mares. Chestoria, third choice at 9-2 who briefly held the lead, returned $5.60 and $3.40 and completed the $43 exacta. Miracle Moment, who set all the early fractions, held on for third, two and a quarter lengths farther back, paying $5.40 to show.

Social Queen won the Politely Stakes here on May 26 in her first start of the season. Last year she won an overnight stakes and an allowance race on the grass here.

The winner was content to stay far back early as Miracle Moment set solid fractions. Coming to the quarter-pole, both Social Queen and Chestoria launched their rallies. Chestoria briefly moved into the lead, but Social Queen would not be denied and resolutely ran her down.

"She's gotten bigger and stronger from her 3-year-old season," Goldberg said. "She's always been a nice horse for us and we always expected her to do good things. That was her second start in three weeks, so we'll give her a little break and try her in the Matchmaker (G3 on Aug. 3)."

"She's a really nice filly, a push-button horse," said Lezcano. I started to ask her going into the far turn, and when I called on her, she really kicked in."

In the Spend a Buck Stakes, one of Monmouth's prep races for the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on Aug. 3, Robert LaPenta's Cool Coal Man regained his winning ways, outdueling Atoned through the stretch for a hard-fought neck victory.

The winner, trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Eddie Castro, raced the mile and 70 yards over a fast track in 1:41 4/5 and returned $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10 across the board as the 4-5 favorite in the field of five 3-year-olds.

Atoned, second choice at 6-5, paid $2.40 and $2.20 and completed the $5.40 exacta. Chirac held third, nearly six lengths behind the top pair, and paid $2.80 to show.

This was the first win for Cool Coal Man since he took the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. After that, he was a well-beaten ninth in the Blue Grass Stakes and then ran a dismal 15th in the Kentucky Derby.

This was the fifth lifetime win in 10 starts for Cool Coal Man, a bay son of Mineshaft. Even though it was a dry racetrack, the colt wore front mud caulks.

Cobra Strike set all the early pace, with Cool Coal Man sitting to his outside and Atoned content to follow along the rail. At the quarter pole, the winner made his move to the lead. At the same time, Atoned gunned up along the inside. The two hooked up in early stretch and dueled to the wire, with Cool Coal Man proving best.

"He broke sharply out of the gate and got good early position," said Castro, who was aboard for the first time. "I just kept him on the outside in the clear because I didn't want to get in any trouble. I sat with him down the backside and waited. When I asked him, he just exploded, and then stayed tough through the lane."

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June 12, 2008

SPEND A BUCK STAKES A TESTING GROUND FOR 3-YEAR-OLDS

Monmouth Park.com

Saturday's $70,000 Spend a Buck Stakes is a testing ground for 3-year-olds. Because it's restricted to sophomore runners, trainers can get a line on their horse's development relative to the age group. Allowance races against older horses tend to confuse the issue.

And sometimes, it's just a good spot to experiment, to see if a horse can move forw