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August 29, 2010
JUST JENDA GOES OUT A WINNER IN MOLLY PITCHER; A BRILLIANT IDEA RALLIES LATE TO TAKE JUNIOR CHAMPION STAKES
Monmouth Park.com 

In the final start of her career, J. Larry and Cindy Jones’ Just Jenda went out a winner and re-affirmed her love for Monmouth Park by capturing the 65^th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes, while A Brilliant Idea stormed home to take the Junior Champion Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Ridden by Terry Thompson for trainer Cindy Jones, Just Jenda rallied from mid-pack to collar odds-on favorite Malibu Prayer in the stretch and go on to a 3 1/2-length score.  The 3-1 second choice in the field of five covered the one mile and 1/16 in 1:43 2/5.

It was the fourth local stakes win for Just Jenda who took last year’s Serena’s Song and Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks as well as this year’s Monmouth Beach.   

The 4-year-old filly by Menifee out of the Pine Bluff mare Liberty School paid $8.00, $3.00, $2.20 across the board.  Heavy favorite Malibu Prayer [$2.40, $2.10] held on for second in the stretch and capped a $16 exacta.  Milwaukee Appeal was two lengths further back after rallying from last in the stretch to get third and paid $2.80.

“What a way to go out,” trainer Cindy Jones said.  “When she works fast, she runs fast.  She went :58 and four at Delaware the other day.  She was on top of her game and the race just worked out perfectly.  She didn’t have to chase the speed today, but could sit back and relax.  This was a real tough field and we couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The Molly Pitcher was the eighth and final win of Just Jenda’s career from 17 starts.  She’ll retire with earnings of $750,680 and, according to her connections, will be bred to Proud Citizen in Kentucky.

In the $100,000 Junior Champion Stakes, George and Lori Hall’s A Brilliant Idea rallied strongly from last in the field of nine for her first-career victory.

Ridden by Garrett Gomez, the 2-year-old daughter of Afleet Alex ran one mile on the firm turf course in 1:35 1/5.  A Brilliant Idea paid $8.40, $3.60 and $2.80 across the board.

Dos Lunas, sent of the 1.70-1 favorite, held on for second after setting the pace and paid $3.40 and $3.00 and completed a $28.00 exacta.  Sleepless Dixie, who like the winner was trained by Kelly Breen, finished third and paid $2.60.

“To run first and third in a stakes is terrific,” Breen said.  “Galloping out, she [A Brilliant Idea] was at the seven-eighths pole when the others were just hitting the wire.  She’s obviously very talented.  We would love to get her to Churchill Downs.  I think she has the ability for the Breeders’ Cup [Nov. 5] and she showed that today.”

With her maiden score, A Brilliant Idea increased her lifetime earnings to $67,500.  Her lifetime record is now 3-1-0-2.

Live racing will return to Monmouth Park on Friday, September 3 for a special four-day Labor Day weekend of live racing that will conclude the Elite Summer Meet.  As always, the track will be open Monday through Thursday for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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August 28, 2010
TEAKS NORTH CAPTURES RESTORATION STAKES AT MONMOUTH; MY IRISH GIRL A PERFECT 7-FOR-7 IN 2010 WITH MISS WOODFORD WIN
Monmouth Park.com 

Julia C. Boutelle’s Teaks North upset his eight rivals in the $100,000 Restoration Stakes, winning by a length as My Irish Gal reported home a 2 ¾ length winner in the $100,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Justin Sallusto, Teaks North covered the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:46 2/5 and paid $24.60, $9 and $4.80.  Post-time favorite Beau Choix checked in second, paying $3.60 and $2.60 and completing the $75.60 exacta.  It was another length and three-quarters back to Lighthouse Sound, who paid $3.60 to show.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better trip,” said winning rider Jose Valdivia Jr.  “This horse broke well and got me in a great spot.

“He was very game when we hit the lane and the second and third-place finishers (Beau Choix and Lonesome Street) came at him, but he prevailed.  He was a little tired, but he dug in.  He got the mile and an eighth distance and could maybe even go further.”

The Restoration Stakes win marked the second-consecutive victory on turf for Teaks North, who took an entry-level allowance on Haskell Day, Aug. 1.  The 3-year-old gelding by Northern Afleet from the High Honors mare Teaksberry Road sports a record of 3-1-0 from seven starts and earnings of $118,900.

In the Miss Woodford Stakes, My Irish Girl swept to the lead nearing the 1/8^th pole before opening up through the lane.

Trained by Brad H. Cox, My Irish Girl stepped the six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:10 2/5 and paid $8.80, $5 and $3.80.  Longshot Karmageddon rallied to complete the $234 exacta and paid $25.80 to place and $10 to show.  Funny Feeling was another three-quarters of a length back in third, good for a $4.80 show mutuel.  Favorite Starlite Starbrite was fourth in the field of eight 3-year-old fillies.

“We got a perfect trip from the outside post,” said winning jockey Israel Campo.  “I knew there was a lot of speed and she’s able to sit off the pace and come from behind.  That’s just what she did today.  She’s shown she can handle any track.”

The Miss Woodford win was the seventh in as many starts this year for My Irish Girl, who races in the colors of Midwest Thoroughbreds.  The daughter of Closing Argument from the Rizzi mare Rich Assertion has now earned $171,250.  Her lone loss came in her debut on Dec. 5, 2009 at Remington Park, where she was fifth.

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August 28, 2010

FIVE STEEPLECHASE RACES SET FOR SEPT. 25, NEW STAKES ADDED

Monmouth Park.com 

Celebrating its second year, the Monmouth Park-Meridian Health Steeplechase on Saturday, Sept. 25, will feature a total of five steeplechase races, including the Grade 1 $100,000 Helen Haskell Sampson Stakes.  In addition, Monmouth Park has added the $100,000 Garden State Stakes for 2-year-olds at one mile on the main track to the schedule. 

Including the Helen Haskell Sampson Stakes, the Steeplechase festival will feature $250,000 in total purses and will showcase the $70,000 Metcalf Memorial Novice Stakes, the $30,000 Guelph Stakes, as well as a claiming event and a maiden race. 

Entry to both the Clubhouse and Grandstand that day is $10, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. 

The entire card will feature 12 races, and was without a “flat” stakes race prior to the addition of the Garden State Stakes.  Nominations for the 2-year-old event close on Sept. 18. 

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August 25, 2010
MONMOUTH FALL MEET TO OFFER PURSES OF $375,000 A DAY
By Mike Farrell, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Purses will be higher than initially expected for the post Labor Day portion of the Monmouth Park meet. The 22 days from Sept. 11 to Nov. 21 will average $375,000 a day, well above the projected $275,000.

The windfall is the product of two factors: higher than anticipated business during the summer and an underpayment to the purse account.

The 50-day Elite Meet, May 22 to Sept. 6, which was scheduled to offer $50 million in purses, has surpassed projections in every major statistical category.

Using comparable data for the corresponding Friday through Sunday dates from last year, Monmouth’s average daily all-sources handle this meet has more than doubled to $8,013,169 through Sunday. Last year’s total average daily handle averaged $3,752,852. Average daily ontrack handle is up 42 percent to $779,728, while weekend attendance has increased almost 14 percent to 10,758.

The track hasn’t been able to give away the money fast enough. Even factoring in elements like breeders awards and the rewarding of every starter at least $1,500, the Monmouth purse account is projected to fall $4 million short of the $50 million target.

The underpay, obvious earlier in the meet, will be made up in the fall. A decision was made to hold back the money rather than further inflate the summer purses, which were already at record levels.

“It made no sense to raise the purses then,” said Bob Kulina, Monmouth’s vice president and general manager. “I wanted to make the purses as large as possible for the fall meet. In my opinion, it’s a win-win for everybody. It made no sense to raise a $75,000 maiden special to $80,000 on the Fourth of July.

“The hardest thing was us to figure how to give away that kind of money. We weren’t sure what races would go. It was a learning process.”

The purses for the fall meet, racing only on Saturdays and Sundays, will exceed last year’s average of $332,672 for the entire May through September Monmouth season.

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August 25, 2010
COLLMUS'S 'WIFE' STRETCH CALL BECOMES NATIONAL SENSATION
Monmouth Park.com

During the stretch of Sunday’s seventh race at Monmouth Park, track announcer Larry Collmus found himself in the middle of every spousal argument ever waged. 

“Mywifenosevrything.  Thewifedoesntknow.  They’re one-two.  Of course they are!”   

In the end, it was Mywifenosevrything in front, and Collmus’ call of the action has since become a national phenomenon and a viral sensation on YouTube.   

On Monday, ESPN’s Sportscenter made the ‘wife’ call the third best play of the day in their Top Ten plays.  Collmus’s call has since been seen on national broadcasts Good Morning America, The Today Show, and World News with Diane Sawyer, and has garnered world-wide interest from media networks in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand.  Domestically, in addition to local affiliates in New York and Philadelphia, national outlets such as CNN and The Associated Press have also expressed interest in the now-famous race call.   

The nationally syndicated Inside Edition was on-track at Monmouth Park Wednesday for interviews with the horse’s owners and is expected to feature the race, as well as an in-studio interview with Collmus, on tonight’s broadcast. 

On YouTube alone, the video has already received nearly 69,000 views as of noon on Wednesday. 

Welch and Giorgio Stable’s Mywifenosevrything, ridden by jockey Elvis Trujillo for trainer Jane Cibelli, went off the 2-1 betting favorite in the 10-horse field that lined up for the $25,000 claiming event on Sunday while Thewifedoesntknow, ridden by Carlos Marquez, Jr. for trainer Eddie Broome, was sent off at odds of 6-1.  Neither horse was claimed. 

Mywifenosevrything captured the $22,550 winner’s share of the $41,000 purse, which increased her lifetime earnings to $65,500.  The 3-year-old filly has won three races in her 10-race career. 

Thewifedoesntknow brought home $8,200 for her second-place finish bringing her career earnings over $50,000.   

Backers of Mywifenosevrything received $6.20 for a $2 win wager.  Fans of Thewifedoesntknow were rewarded with $5.20 for a $2 place wager.  The ‘wife’ exacta returned $29.40 for a $2 wager. 

Monmouth Park’s 2010 racing season runs through Sunday, Nov. 21. 
 

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August 22, 2010
LOVE THAT DANCE TAKES TRENTON STAKES; HOP SKIP AND AWAY LAST TO FIRST IN COLTS NECK 'CAP
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – John Petrini’s Love That Dance charged hard in the lane to post a length-and-a-half win in the $100,000 Trenton Stakes as Hop Skip and Away went from last to first to take the $100,000 Colts Neck Handicap at Monmouth Park on Sunday. 

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Love That Dance covered the six furlongs over a sloppy main track in 1:09 4/5 and returned $26, $12.80 and $6.40.  Longshot All Giving held for second, paying $41 to place and $15 to show.  It was another half-length back to Lady Alexander, who returned $3 to show.  The exacta in the field of nine fillies and mares paid $716.60. 

“I told Elvis to use his judgment,” said winning trainer Ben Perkins Jr.  “We were on the outside so just break and go from there.  I thought she would run real well today.  She got in lighter than the others in there and I know she fits well with these.” 

The Trenton Stakes victory was the sixth in 20 starts for Love That Dance, a 4-year-old by Not For Love from the Broad Brush mare Broad Exchange.  She has now earned $346,794. 

In the Colts Neck, Janet Laszlo and H.C.B. Lindh’s Hop Skip and Away, under jockey Pedro Cotto Jr., sat last early before coming with a powerful wide run to post a length win over odds-on choice Unwritten. 

Trained by Joe Pierce Jr., Hop Skip and Away covered the six furlongs over the off going in 1:10 2/5 and returned $23.80, $5.20 and $3.40.  Unwritten paid $2.60 and $2.10 and completed the $48.80 exacta.  It was another length back to Evenings End in third, who paid $3.60. 

Sunday’s stakes win was the sixth in 31 starts for Hop Skip and Away, a 5-year-old gelding by Gold Fever out of Wingspread by Gulch.  The New Jersey-bred has now banked $353,233 for his owners.           

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, August 27 – gates open at 11:30 a.m., with first post set for 12:50 p.m.  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe. 

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August 21, 2010
DUKE OF MISCHIEF, $34.60, UPSETS RIVALS IN ISELIN STAKES; REDDING COLLIERY 2ND, I WANT REVENGE 3RD IN $300,000 RACE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – With a powerful move around the far turn, Duke of Mischief swept to the lead and opened up to a 2 ¼ length win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Iselin Stakes before a crowd of 13,404 at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

After sitting off slow fractions of :24 4/5 for the quarter and :49 2/5 for the half-mile, Duke of Mischief began to inch closer going into the far turn before he was asked for his best by jockey Eibar Coa and exploding to the lead just inside the quarter pole.   

“The Duke” returned $34.60, $8.20 and $3.40 and topped a $118 exacta.  Redding Colliery, the odds-on choice in the field of six colts, gained command near the 3/8ths pole, but could not answer the big move of Duke of Mischief.  Redding Colliery returned $3.20 to place and $2.20 to show.  I Want Revenge, making just his second start since scratching as the morning line favorite in last year’s Kentucky Derby, checked in four lengths further back in third, good for a $2.20 show mutuel.

“One thing about this horse, when he shows up and runs his A-1 race, I don’t think there’s anyone that can beat him,” said Coa, after capturing his first win in the Iselin.  “I moved him to the outside and let him go.  That was the plan from the beginning and I wasn’t going to change that.”

Winning trainer David Fawkes echoed Coa’s sentiments.
“This horse likes to get an outside trip,” the trainer said.  “Going down the backside, I got a little nervous because he was still on the inside, but he (jockey Coa) said he was just biding his time.”

Coming off a runner-up finish in the Salvator Mile (G3) here on July 3, Duke of Mischief racked up his sixth career win by taking the mile and an eighth Iselin in 1:51 flat.  The 4-year-old by Graeme Hall from the Real Courage mare My Lady Amelia has now banked $910,642.

In the day’s other stakes action, J.H. Richmond-Watson’s Tottie wore down pacesetter Speak Easy Gal to post a neck win in the $100,000 Omnibus Stakes.

Ridden by Alan Garcia, Tottie stepped the mile and three-eighths over firm turf in 2:15 flat and paid $5, $2.60 and $2.20 as the second choice in the field of eight fillies and mares.  Speak Easy Girl, the post-time favorite, completed the $12.40 exacta and paid $2.80 and $2.40.  It was another length and a half back to Tarrip, who rallied to pay $3.40 to show.

“Alan gave her a nice, patient ride,” said winning trainer Chad Brown.  “This filly has a tendency to lug in a little bit in the lane and Alan did a great job of correcting her.  He made all the difference.”

The Omnibus win marked the fifth trip in 16 starts to the winner’s circle for Tottie, a 4-year-old by Fantastic Light from the Komaite mare Katy Nowaitee.  She has now earned $225,834 for her connections.

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August 15, 2010
Dubai Majesty Reigns Supreme in Incredible Revenge
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Dubai Majesty rallied strongly in the lane to run down odds-on favorite West Ocean to capture the $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes by a neck at Monmouth Park on Sunday before a crowd of 11,421.

Trained by W. Bret Calhoun, Dubai Majesty covered the 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:02 1/5 and paid $6.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the second choice in the field of six fillies and mares.  West Ocean completed the $11.20 exacta and paid $2.20 and $2.10.  It was 3 ¾ lengths back to Lady Rizzi, who returned $3.40 to show.

“I just wanted to ride her with patience,” said winning jockey Miguel Mena.  “I’ve ridden the horse a couple times, so I know her pretty well.  When I swung her out in the stretch she exploded.  She was full of run in the end.”

Sunday’s stakes score was the 10^th in 31 starts for Dubai Majesty, a 5-year-old by Essence of Dubai from the Great Above mare Great Majesty.  She has now earned $769,243 for her connections.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, August 20 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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August 14, 2010
No Such Words Captures Monmouth Oaks; Rustler Hustler Muscles Way to Continental Mile Win
Monmouth Park.com

Brereton C. Jones’s No Such Word sat off the early pace before swooping past the leaders turning for home and holding off Seeking the Title to capture the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks as Rustler Hustler took the $100,000 Continental Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

No Such Word, sent off the 6-5 choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, returned $4.40, $2.60 and $2.10 after stepping the mile and a sixteenth over the fast track in 1:45 flat.  Seeking the Title, who finished a length-and-a-half behind the winner, rallied to complete the $12 exacta and paid $2.60 and $2.20.  It was eight lengths back to C C’s Pal, who paid $3.40 to show.

“I knew the outside horse (Seeking the Title) would be running late so I wanted to make sure I got the jump on her,” said winning jockey Terry Thompson.  “The trip set up ideally for us.”

“Terry did a great job of letting her get into the race,” said winning trainer Cindy Jones.  “When he called upon her, she responded well like she always does.”

Cindy Jones became the second member of her family to take the Monmouth Oaks, following her husband, J. Larry Jones, who won this race in 2008 with Maren’s Meadow and last year with Just Jenda.

Bred in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by her owner, No Such Word scored her second Grade 3 win and her fifth lifetime victory in taking the Monmouth Oaks.  The daughter of Canadian Frontier, who stands at Gov. Jones’s Airdrie Stud in Kentucky, from the It’s Freezing mare Muskoka has now earned $383,213 for her owner.

In the Continental Mile, Blazing Meadows & M. H. Stanley’s Rustler Hustler closed quickly down the inside to post a neck victory in the Continental Mile, a 2-year-old test at a mile on turf.

Dismissed at 13-1 in the wagering, Rustler Hustler paid $29.60, $13 and $8.20 across the board.  The Flying Whizzer finished in a dead-heat with Pluck for second, but the latter was disqualified and placed fourth for interference with Powhatan County in the stretch.  The Flying Whizzer completed the $845.80 exacta and paid $36.40 and $12.60.  Powhatan County, who was two lengths behind the runners-up, returned $3.  The time over firm turf was 1:35 1/5.

“Once I took a good hold of him, he relaxed nicely,” said winning rider Pablo Morales.  “Down the backstretch he was just galloping along.  I knew I had a ton of horse, it was just a question of whether the inside was going to open up.  Once that happened he ran on real strong.”

Trained by Timothy E. Hamm, Rustler Hustler recorded his second win in four starts.  The son of Ecton Park from the Cozzene mare Cozzy Temper has now earned $96,470 for his connections.
 

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August 8, 2010
OUT OF RESPECT TOO TOUGH IN SELECT STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – JMJ Racing Stables’ Out of Respect dueled with odds-on favorite Comedero through wicked fractions of :21 2/5 for the first quarter mile and :43 3/5 for the half before putting away that foe and drawing off to a length-and-a-quarter score in the $100,000 Select Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday. 

Trained by Scott Volk, Out of Respect paid $6, $2.40 and $2.10 as the second choice in the field of five 3-year-old colts and geldings.  Comedero completed the $9.20 exacta and paid $2.20 and $2.10.  It was another length back to Catalan, who rallied to pay $3 to show.  The final time for the six furlongs over the fast main track was 1:10 flat. 

“The trainer just told me to put him wherever he was comfortable,” said winning jockey Paco Lopez, currently the top rider at Monmouth’s Elite Summer Meet.  “I was happy with my position even though we were going really fast.” 

A gelding by Read the Footnotes from the Diablo mare Val’s Diablo, Out of Respect earned his fourth win in seven starts after taking the Select Stakes and has never been worse than second in all of his outings.  Sunday’s win boosted his lifetime bankroll to $197,620. 

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, August 13 – gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe. 

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August 7, 2010
A UNIQUE TREASURE SCORES IN MY FRENCHMAN; TWELVE PACK SHELLY TAKES COLLEEN STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Laurence I. Foggle’s A Unique Treasure showed speed right from the start before opening up to a length and three-quarters score in the $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes as Twelve Pack Shelly held on by a length to capture the $100,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday. 

Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, A Unique Treasure stepped the about 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:01 2/5 and returned $14.40, $6 and $3 across the board.  True to Tradition rallied to complete the $76.60 exacta and paid $5 to place and $3.60 to show.  It was another length back to General Perfect, who returned $3.20 to show.  The 5-2 favorite, Barge, checked in sixth in the field of eight colts and geldings. 

“I was a little worried going into the race that there wasn’t that much speed,” said winning trainer Jane Cibelli.  “Usually he likes a target to run at.  But he broke so sharply and it wouldn’t have made any sense to wrangle him back after that.  Elvis (jockey Trujillo) did a great job nursing him along.” 

The My Frenchman win was the sixth in 21 starts for A Unique Treasure , a 5-year-old by Snow Ridge from the Concorde’s Tune mare Curious Treasures.  He has earned $203,976 for his connections. 

In the Colleen Stakes, Twelve Pack Shelly battled early with Tomica’s Sprit, going the opening quarter in :21 2/5 and the half in :45 1/5.  Turning for home, Twelve Pack Shelly opened up a daylight lead and held off the late charge of R Heat Lightning to take the 5 ½ furlong test in 1:05 flat. 

Trained by John E. Salzman Jr., Twelve Pack Shelly returned $7, $3.60 and $2.60.  R Heat Lightning paid $3.40 and $2.10 and completed the $21.60 exacta.  It was another 7 ¾ lengths back to post-time favorite Sleepless Dixie, who returned $2.20 to show in the field of six 2-year-old fillies. 

“She had a perfect trip, not too fast,” said winning jockey Harry Vega.  “I always thought she was a good horse since I first got on her.  She’s shown me that she wants to win – just has that winning attitude.” 

The Colleen Stakes was the third in five lifetime starts for Twelve Pack Shelly, a daughter of Deputy Storm from the Two Punch mare So Smashing.  She has now banked $111,200. 

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August 6, 2010
GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT RERUN SET FOR SEPT. 28
Monmouth Park.com

The second annual golf tournament to benefit RERUN, a program for retired racehorses in New Jersey, will be held Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Pebble Creek Golf Club in Colts Neck. 

The golf outing will include a Chinese auction, 50-50 raffle, hole-in-one car, longest drive, closest to the pin and mulligans as part of the effort to raise money for RERUN’s work with retired racehorses. 

Cost of the outing is $100 per player or $400 per foursome, with payment due by Sept. 1. The golf tournament is slated to start at Noon on Sept. 28. 

Those seeking more information are invited to call Lisa Ellison at 732-337-4118, or Mike Musto at 732-996-8796. 

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August 5, 2010
LOOKIN AT LUCKY STILL AT MONMOUTH AFTER RUNNING TEMPERATURE
Monmouth Park.com

Lookin at Lucky, who won Sunday’s $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational (G1) with a tour de force performance, remained in his stall at Monmouth Park Thursday morning after running a temperature in the days following the race. 

Dr. Bernie Dowd is attending veterinarian at Monmouth for the Bob Baffert-trained colt, who is in the care of longtime Baffert head traveling groom Roberto Luna. 

“He ran a temperature Tuesday morning,” Dowd said, “and we’re treating him for that. 

“It’s a pretty hot time of year,” Dr. Dowd said. “We want to make sure he’s totally stable and normal, and then he can travel. He’s a very healthy horse. He’s bright and alert. He’s doing well, and he’s in good hands.” 

Lookin at Lucky, last year’s 2-year-old champion, took a giant step toward the 3-year-old title when he drew off to win the Haskell by four lengths over a talented field. 

He was scheduled to be shipped back to Baffert’s Southern California headquarters at Del Mar on Tuesday, but ran a temperature and was treated with penicillin. 
 

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August 5, 2010

PRESIOUS PASSION READY TO RESUME TRAINING AT MONMOUTH

Monmouth Park.com

Patricia Generazio’s Presious Passion, who was sent to a local farm for some R&R following subpar efforts in both the Dubai Sheema Classic in March, and the Monmouth Stakes here in June, will return to his stall at Monmouth Park Friday, trainer Mary Hartmann said. 

“I’m going over to pick him up,” the trainer said Thursday. “He’s had his rest, and he’s doing great. He’ll go back into training as soon as I get him back here.” 

Presious Passion, a 7-year-old by Royal Anthem, won the 2008 and 2009 runnings of Monmouth’s Grade 1 United Nations Stakes, and finished second in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.  

He started this year on a winning note, taking the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream, but then finished last of 16 in the Dubai race, and seventh of nine in the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes that served as a prep for the United Nations. 

Hartmann sent him to a nearby farm after that June 12 race, and Presious Passion has been there for the past six weeks. 
 

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August 1, 2010
FAVORED LOOKIN AT LUCKY DRAWS OFF TO WIN HASKELL BY 4 OVER TRAPPE SHOT AS MONMOUTH WAGERING HITS $17,442,170
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Lookin at Lucky moved to the head of the 3-year-old class at Monmouth Park Sunday as he dominated his rivals in the 43^rd running of the $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational (G1).

Sent off the 6-5 favorite in a field of seven that included the Kentucky Derby winner and two other Triple Crown-placed runners, Lookin at Lucky drew off through the stretch to win by four lengths under jockey Martin Garcia, giving trainer Bob Baffert a record fourth victory in the Haskell. He raced the mile and an eighth over a fast main track in 1:49 4/5.

The Haskell Day crowd of 40,904 at Monmouth bet $3,270,939, and helped set an all-time record for Haskell handle, as $4,463,736 was bet on the race. The total handle for the 14-race card was $17,442,170, second highest ever for a non-Breeders’ Cup program, and just a shade under the 2008 mark of $17,642,955, when $4,257,409 was bet on the Haskell.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better day,” said Dennis R. Robinson, president and CEO of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. “Racing, wagering and attendance, it was an across-the-board winner. The fans really came out for a great day and an exceptional race.

“To see the numbers we posted today is further testament to the racing experiment at Monmouth Park this year, and what we hope is the new and bright future of racing in the Garden State,” Robinson said.

Lookin at Lucky, owned by the partnership of Karl Watson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman, took a huge step toward the 3-year-old title with his Haskell victory, which followed his score in the Preakness Stakes. The bay colt by Smart Strike was the 2-year-old champion of 2009.

Baffert, who had been tied with Jimmy Croll and Sonny Hine with three Haskell winners each, moved into the top spot as Lookin at Lucky followed Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Roman Ruler (2005) into the Monmouth winner’s circle for the California-based trainer.

Trappe Shot, sent off the 5-2 second choice in the Haskell, closed to be second, three-quarters of a length in front of First Dude, who made all the running and held gamely to take third by a nose over Derby winner Super Saver. Afleet Again was fifth, a length and a half farther back, and a length in front of Ice Box, who had two lengths on Our Dark Knight.

Lookin at Lucky paid $4.40, $3 and $2.40 across the board and topped the $17.20 exacta. Trappe Shot returned $3.40 and $2.60, and First Dude was $3 to show.

Lookin at Lucky earned the $600,000 winner’s share of the Haskell, bringing his career total to $2,713,000 on a record of 8-1-1 in 11 starts.

First Dude took the track from the gate with Our Dark Knight and Super Saver close behind. Garcia, who broke from the rail but took his colt to the outside around the first turn, was content to sit fourth with Lookin at Lucky for the first six furlongs.

With three furlongs to go, he sent Lookin at Lucky after the front runners. The winner raced on even terms with Super Saver around the far turn, but Lookin at Lucky gained command turning for home, shook off the challenge from Super Saver, and then widened his margin through the stretch in a show of strength.

“He broke fine,” Baffert said, “and Martin eased him to the outside. I knew we’d lose a little bit of ground, but that was the winning move. This was really a break-out race.

“At the three-eighths pole, that’s when you know you’ve got a good horse because they’ll be pulling you. Martin was still sitting, but when he pushed the button, the horse really took off. You can’t make that move on synthetic, but on dirt it was the winning move. That’s really what I like to see – running fast horses on fast tracks.

“I’ve been coming here since 1997 when we ran Anet,” Baffert said. “Win, lose or draw, I know we’ll have a great time at Monmouth.”

Winning jockey Martin Garcia, who picked up the mount on Lookin at Lucky in time to win the Preakness, knows his colt very well.

“I’ve been working this horse for a long time now,” Garcia said. “Bob told me, ‘You know you’re on the best horse. Just give him a breather and then send him.’

“I moved him to the outside because I knew I was on a super horse and I wanted to keep him out of trouble. I knew I was on the best horse.”

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Trappe Shot, said, “He ran well – very well. We were second to a top horse. We’re disappointed because we think an awful lot of this horse. But this race is the best of the best, and right now we’re in second place.”

Dale Romans, who saddled First Dude, said, “He got challenged a little earlier on the lead than I would have liked, but I guess every trainer with a horse on the lead says that. I was happy with the way he dug in.”
 

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August 1, 2010
LOOKIN AT LUCKY CRUISES TO FOUR-LENGTH WIN IN HASKELL
By Jay Privman, DRF

Lookin At Lucky, ridden by Martin Garcia, scores by four lengths in Sunday's Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

OCEANPORT, N.J. - For all he had accomplished throughout his career, ranging from the 2-year-old male championship of last year to the Preakness Stakes this year, there still was an element of mystery to Lookin At Lucky, namely, just how good is he? On Sunday at Monmouth Park, given a chance to train into the race fresh, and given a trouble-free trip by jockey Martin Garcia, Lookin At Lucky, as co-owner Mike Pegram said, got a chance to “show off” in the $1 million Haskell Invitational.

Against a field that included Super Saver, the Kentucky Derby winner, and Trappe Shot, the late-blooming star of the 3-year-old division, Lookin At Lucky blew them all away, romping to a four-length victory before a crowd of 40,904.

“Today,” trainer Bob Baffert said, “he was phenomenal.”
Lookin At Lucky started from the rail, but was taken outside horses soon after the start in order to race in the clear the rest of the way. He ranged up three paths wide on the far turn, disposed of First Dude and Super Saver, spurned a mild bid from Trappe Shot, then shot clear in upper stretch. Trappe Shot finished bravely to hold second, three-quarters of a length in front of First Dude.

Super Saver was fourth and was followed, in order, by Afleet Again, and the Nick Zito-trained pair of Ice Box and Our Dark Knight.

Uptowncharlybrown was scratched Sunday morning because of a high fever, according to his trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, leaving a field of seven.

The win was a record fourth in the race for Baffert, who honed Lookin At Lucky in recent weeks at Del Mar, including a telling five-furlong drill in 58.60 seconds on Monday morning. Baffert’s previous Haskell winners were War Emblem, Point Given, and Roman Ruler, all in the last decade.

Lookin At Lucky ($4.40), the favorite, completed 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track in 1:49.83. The race was run under cloudy skies, a significant break on an afternoon in which threatening skies were all around the area. There was mild rain before the first race, but nothing of substance the rest of the way.

Pegram owns Lookin At Lucky along with Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. He has now won 8� of 11 starts. He earned a first prize of $600,000 to bring his career bankroll to $2,713,000.

Lookin At Lucky is now 2 for 2 under Garcia, who took over in the Preakness after several rough trips under jockey Garrett Gomez, including a nightmarish trip from the rail in the 20-horse Kentucky Derby, in which he finished sixth.

“He broke fine and Martin eased him to the outside,” Baffert said. “I knew we’d lose a little bit of ground, but that was the winning move. This was really a break-out race.”

Baffert said he had yet to decide if Lookin At Lucky would remain on the East Coast and run Aug. 28 in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

“Right now, I’m not sure,” Baffert said.

McLaughlin, the trainer of Trappe Shot, said he was disappointed to lose the race.

“We think an awful lot of him,” McLaughlin said. “We were running against the best of the best. I guess we’re number two.”

No question, as he was at the end of last year, Lookin At Lucky is still the best of his generation.
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July 29, 2010
LOOKIN AT LUCKY 5-2 FAVORITE OVER SUPER SAVER (3-1), SIX OTHERS IN SUNDAY'S $1 MILLION IZOD HASKELL INVITATIONAL
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Preakness winner Lookin at Lucky drew Post 1, Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver drew Post 6, and the late-developing “now” horse Trappe Shot drew the outside as eight 3-year-olds were entered today for Sunday’s $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational (G1), traditional centerpiece of Monmouth Park’s Elite Summer Meeting and a race that will produce the leading candidate for championship honors.

In what is widely regarded as one of the most competitive renewals in the Haskell’s 43-year history, Lookin at Lucky, with three Grade 1 victories, is the favorite, but only at a lukewarm 5-2 on the morning line. To illustrate the depth of the field, which also includes the horses who were second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Monmouth oddsmaker Brad Thomas made Super Saver, a Grade 1 winner, and Trappe Shot, who will be competing in his first graded event, co-second choices at 3-1.

In fact, there are no long longshots in the field, with every horse accorded a decent chance to win the mile and an eighth test. Last year, Rachel Alexandra was 4-5 on the morning line and won the Haskell in a romp as the 1-2 choice.

The complete field for the 43^rd running of the Haskell, as drawn Thursday, consists of Lookin at Lucky, Post 1, Martin Garcia, 5-2; Afleet Again, Post 2, Joe Bravo, 12-1; Ice Box, Post 3, Jose Lezcano, 9-2; First Dude, Post 4, Ramon Dominguez, 6-1; Our Dark Knight, Post 5, Elvis Trujillo, 15-1; Super Saver, Post 6, Calvin Borel, 3-1; Uptowncharlybrown, Post 7, Rajiv Maragh, 15-1, and Trappe Shot, Post 8, Alan Garcia, 3-1.

Lookin at Lucky, who has overcome adversity several times in a 10-race career and famously couldn’t when he drew Post 1 in the Derby, once again drew the rail, which had trainer Bob Baffert shaking his head.

“His name has jinxed him all his life with the draw,” said Baffert from his Southern California headquarters. “I can’t believe how poorly this horse draws. He’s the most poorly drawn horse I’ve ever had.”

Baffert, who will be looking for a record fourth victory in the Haskell Invitational, has borne sad witness to Lookin at Lucky’s total lack of luck at entry time. The Smart Strike colt drew the far outside Post 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year – a winless spot at Santa Anita – and finished second. Then, in this year’s Derby, he drew Post 1 in a field of 20, again an impossible task, and ran sixth.

Baffert changed riders to Garcia for the Preakness, and this time “Lucky” drew lucky Post 7 and scored by three-quarters of a length over First Dude for owners Karl Wilson, Mike Pegram and Paul Weitman.

“Garcia had been working the horse (prior to the Preakness),” Baffert said of the switch from Garrett Gomez. “He knew the horse really well. You can’t fire the trainer, so we decided to switch riders.”

Baffert said Lookin at Lucky was coming into the Haskell in top form, but knows his horse will have to work hard if he’s to become the trainer’s fourth winner (following Point Given, War Emblem and Roman Ruler).

“I think it’s the toughest Haskell I’ve seen in all these years,” he said.

Todd Pletcher, who has won the Haskell for WinStar Farm with Bluegrass Cat and Any Given Saturday, scored his first Kentucky Derby victory with Super Saver, and then watched that Maria’s Mon colt finish 8^th in the Preakness.

The trainer feels the Haskell will be Super Saver’s chance to move forward in the race for 3-year-old honors.

“He’s training exceptionally well,” Pletcher said. “During the freshening, he’s put on weight and gained strength. His mental outlook is excellent.”

Mill House’s Trappe Shot is the wild card in this running of the Haskell. The son of Tapit did not break his maiden until Feb. 21 this year, but has won four in a row now, including the Long Branch Stakes here on July 10 in his first try going two turns. The Haskell will be his first start in a graded race.

“He is the ‘now’ horse,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, “and he’s won four in a row. But he’s never run against Grade 1 horses.”

In Trappe Shot’s favor, McLaughlin said, is the fact that the colt has won over the Monmouth track.  

“We know he likes the track,” the trainer said, “and he should handle the distance. But the competition is different. There are a few proven horses in there.

“Whoever wins this race will move to the head of the 3-year-old class,” he said.

Trainer Nick Zito has one of those proven horses in Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box, who won the Grade 1 Florida Derby in March, and then overcame a world of trouble to finish second to Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby. The colt failed to fire in the Belmont Stakes, however, and finished ninth.

“The Haskell’s a great race,” said Zito, “and this is the toughest Haskell I’ve seen. But I’m hoping for an honest pace, so my colt can come with his run like he always does.”

Zito will also saddle LaPenta’s Our Dark Knight, a Medaglia d’Oro colt who loves running on or near the lead and will help insure that honest pace.  

“He’s an up-and-coming 3-year-old and he’s at the best I can get him right now,” Zito said. “He impressed me in his last race (a win at Monmouth on June 19). That was against older horses and he was very professional.”

Donald R. Dizney’s First Dude broke his maiden at Gulfstream in February, and has not won a race since, but trainer Dale Romans has watched the Stephen Got Even colt flash his speed to finish third in both the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), sandwiched around a spirited second in the Preakness, less than a length behind Lookin at Lucky.

“He’s training very well,” Romans said. “He seems to have come out of the Triple Crown as good or better than he went in. He doesn’t have to be on the lead, but if he breaks sharply, he’ll be there. If someone wants to go, then he can sit off.

“It’s a very tough race,” the trainer said. “The winner of the Haskell is going to put themselves at the top of the 3-year-old class.”

Kiaran McLaughlin will also saddle Fantasy Lane Stable’s Uptowncharlybrown, who will be a sentimental favorite for some Monmouth fans in the Haskell.

The son of Limehouse, who won an ungraded stakes at Tampa Bay in January and most recently finished a decent fifth (just 3 lengths back) in the Belmont Stakes, became a McLaughlin trainee in May, shortly after the sudden death of Monmouth regular Alan Seewald.

The only Haskell horse currently training at Monmouth is Cash Is King LLC’s Afleet Again, who has finished third in the Spend a Buck and second in the Grade 3 Pegasus for trainer Robert E. (Butch) Reid Jr. The trainer thinks the home field will be to his advantage.

“He’s proven he likes this track,” Reid said, “and all he has to do on race day is walk out of his stall and over to the paddock. No shipping at all. It’s a big advantage to train here.”

Reid said another major asset for Afleet Again is the presence of Monmouth’s leading rider Joe Bravo in the irons.

“Joe knows his way around this oval,” Reid said by way of understatement in describing Bravo, 13 times Monmouth’s champion jockey. “He breezed this horse a couple of times before his last race (the second in the Pegasus), and he learned some things about him.”

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July 27, 2010
DERBY WINNER SUPER SAVER ALL SET FOR PREAKNESS REMATCH
Monmouth Park.com

Super Saver took round one beneath the Twin Spires. Lookin at Lucky captured round two at Old Hilltop.

In Sunday’s IZOD Haskell, Super Saver will look to take round three in his first start since the Preakness and third against his familiar foe.

“If Baffert’s got a three-year-old, you know he’s showing up at Monmouth,” said Elliott Walden, VP and racing manager for WinStar Farm.  “We anticipated Lookin at Lucky coming from the time we started thinking about the race.”

Since the Preakness, Super Saver has worked steadily for his return to the races, highlighted by a five-furlong move in 1:00 at Belmont Park on July 18.

“Todd [trainer Pletcher] said that was the best work he’s ever seen him put in,” Walden said.  “We feel very good about his fitness level and how he’s coming up to the Haskell.”

Without a clear standout in the 3-year-old division, Walden believes a good second half of the year from Super Saver could lead to an Eclipse Award.

“I think at this time of year in the three-year-old crop, it’s a new season,” he said.  “The race is going to be run for the three-year-old champion in the second half of the year.  You have a few horses on even ground, Super Saver being one of them.  That’s one of the reasons we’re going to Monmouth.  We want it to be settled on the track.”

WinStar Farm is no stranger to the Haskell winner’s circle.  They remain the only owner to capture back-to-back runnings of the Grade 1 race – 2006 with Bluegrass Cat and 2007 with Any Given Saturday.

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July 27, 2010
PREAKNESS WINNER SHIPS EAST 'LOOKIN' FOR HASKELL GLORY
Monmouth Park.com

When it comes to Monmouth Park’s premier summer race, trainer Bob Baffert is no stranger to the winner’s circle.

On Sunday, Baffert will try for an unprecedented fourth win in Monmouth’s Grade 1, $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational with Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram and Paul Weitman’s Preakness hero Lookin at Lucky.

Last year’s Champion 2-Year-Old is scheduled to arrive on the Jersey Shore Thursday afternoon following his final pre-Haskell work on Monday morning at Del Mar.   

“He worked very well yesterday,” Baffert said referring to a bullet five furlong move in :58 3/5.  “He looks like he’s ready for a big race.  It’s not an easy spot, but from here on out none of them are easy.”

Following a juvenile campaign that saw him win a trio of Grade 1 races en route to capturing an Eclipse Award as the nation’s best 2-year-old colt, Lookin at Lucky shipped to Oaklawn Park to take the Grade 2 Rebel in his 2010 and dirt debut.   

The son of Smart Strike then shipped back to California and finished a troubled third in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby before running sixth in the Kentucky Derby as the favorite.

Two weeks later, Lookin at Lucky returned to the winner’s circle in the Preakness, finishing ahead of fellow Haskell contenders First Dude and Super Saver.

Baffert, who has won the Haskell with Roman Ruler (2005), War Emblem (2002), and Point Given (2001), says Sunday’s race is one of the deepest Haskell fields he’s ever seen.

“I think it’s probably the toughest of all the Haskell’s that I’ve been in,” said Baffert, who on Sunday will attempt to become the first trainer to ever saddle four Haskell winners. “I’ve always had a lot of success at Monmouth and I like going where I’ve had a lot of success.  The fans really get into it that day.  There should be a huge crowd that day with the group of horses they’ve assembled.”

In addition to Lookin at Lucky, the field for the IZOD Haskell is also expected to include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Derby runner-up Ice Box, Preakness runner-up First Dude, Long Branch Stakes winner Trappe Shot, Withers champion Afleet Again, Pasco Stakes winner Uptowncharlybrown and recent allowance winner Our Dark Knight.

“We’re all in the business to see who has the best horse,” Baffert said. “When you can beat them it makes it even better.  Everyone in the race thinks they have the best horse.”

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July 25, 2010
VENGEFUL WILDCAT ROLLS TO VICTORY IN TYRO STAKES
Monmouth Park.com  

OCEANPORT, N.J. – New Farm’s homebred Vengeful Wildcat asserted his dominance inside the eighth pole and drew clear to a 3 ½ length win in the $100,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Vengeful Wildcat covered the 5 ½ furlongs over the “muddy” track in 1:04 2/5 and paid $7.40, $4 and $3.80.  Brother in Arms, the early pacesetter, held the place and paid $3.40 and $3.60.  It was another 2 ¾ lengths back to first time starter Christiesborntorun, who returned $5.80 to show.  Sweet Ducky, the 4-5 favorite in the field of six 2-year-old colts, rallied from last to finish fourth.

“With the smaller field, I told Tiki [jockey Carlos H. Marquez Jr.] just to let him run out of the gate and settle,” said winning trainer Ben Perkins Jr.  “He seemed very relaxed and had run the whole way.”

The winning rider echoed the trainer’s assessments, “I just let him run out of the gate and then I saw Bravo [rider of runner-up Brother in Arms] go to the lead so I just stayed within range,” Marquez said.  “Turning for home, I called on him and he just ran off.  This is a really nice colt.”

Vengeful Wildcat is by Vindication from the mare Wild Snitch, who was also owned and bred by New Farm.  Wild Snitch, also conditioned by Ben Perkins Jr., captured the Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park in 2002.

Sunday’s stakes score marked the second win in as many tries for Vengeful Wildcat, who has now earned $96,250 for his connections.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, July 30 – first post 12:50 p.m.  This weekend marks the running of the racetrack’s signature event, the $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational, which is expected to draw Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness champion Lookin at Lucky.

As always, Monmouth is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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July 24, 2010
RACHEL ALEXANDRA CRUISES TO LADY'S SECRET STAKES WIN; RECORD HANDLE OF $11,421,794 WAGERED ON SATURDAY'S CARD
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Rachel Alexandra was back in Oceanport on Saturday afternoon and did not disappoint the nearly 13,000 fans who showed up to see the reigning Horse of the Year dominate her rivals in the $400,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes.

Wagering on the card totaled $11,421,794, a new record for Monmouth Park outside of a Breeders’ Cup or Haskell Day in track history.  The previous mark of $9,787,620 was set on July 3^rd this year.

Rachel, who did not have an anxious moment the whole way, sat off the early pace set by Queen Martha, who went the opening quarter in :23 4/5 and the half-mile in :47 4/5.  The champion moved on the leader as they hit the six furlong mark in 1:12 1/5 before Rachel assumed command entering the stretch and widening her advantage to three lengths at the wire.  She stopped the timer in 1:49 3/5 for the mile and an eighth over the fast main track.

“I’m very pleased with how she went today,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen.  “I was happy with how she looked.  She was very relaxed.  I love where her mind is at right now.  She’s more mature and she’s carrying a little more weight.”

Rachel Alexandra, sent off the 1-10 favorite, returned $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board and topped an $8.20 exacta. Queen Martha, who held the place, paid $2.80 and $2.40.  It was another 7 ¾ lengths back to Ask the Moon, who paid $3.80 to show.

The Lady’s Secret Stakes was the second win this year and second in as many tries at Monmouth Park for Rachel Alexandra.  Last year, she dominated her male rivals in Monmouth Park’s signature event, the Haskell Invitational, where she romped home a six-length winner.

“She won very easily again today,” said winning rider Calvin Borel.  “I let her run a little bit in the stretch to make sure she got something out of the race, but I think we saved a little bit in the tank for next time.

“It was great to be back at Monmouth.  The fans really love Rachel here.”

A 4-year-old filly by Medaglia d’Oro from the Roar mare Lotta Kim, Rachel Alexandra now sports a record of 13-4-0 from 18 starts.  She has earned $3,446,730 for her connections.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, July 25 – first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 23, 2010
BEYONDALLBOUNDARYS DRAWS OFF FOR DEARLY PRECIOUS SCORE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Ronnie Lamarque’s Beyondallboundarys sat off the early pace of Whoopi Kitten before powering past that rival in mid-stretch and drawing off to a 2 ¼ length score in the $100,000 Dearly Precious Stakes at Monmouth Park on Friday afternoon.

Trained by Tom Amoss, Beyondallboundarys covered the six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:10 flat and paid $5.40, $3 and $2.60 as the second choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.  Whoopi Kitten, the 3-5 favorite, paid $2.20 and $2.40 and completed the $21.20 exacta.  It was another four lengths back to Southern Truth, who returned $6 to show.

“The outside horse [Whoopi Kitten] went to the front, so I was able to relax in behind her,” said winning jockey Paco Lopez after capturing his third race on the card.  “Turning for home, I started to ask her for more and she just ran down the leader.”

A 3-year-old daughter of Saint Liam from the A.P. Indy mare In Secure, Beyondallboundarys increased her lifetime mark to 3-1-0 from five starts.  She has now earned $112,160 for her connections.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 24 – first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 21, 2010
REPORT RECOMMENDS NEW JERSEY SELL TRACKS
By Matt Hegarty, Daily Racing Form

A report prepared by a panel studying the racing and gambling industries in New Jersey has recommended that the state sell Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, or, alternately, close the Meadowlands as a live-racing location or lease it to harness interests, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

The report was expected to be given by the panel's chairman, Jon Hanson, on Wednesday morning to Gov. Chris Christie, who commissioned the panel in February. Efforts to obtain the report on Wednesday morning were unsuccessful.

According to the Star-Ledger, which said it had reviewed a copy of the report, the panel will recommend that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority become "a landlord for the facilities it now operates." The NJSEA owns Monmouth and the Meadowlands racetrack, along with several sports facilities at the Meadowlands complex.

Although it was unclear how the NJSEA would retain its ownership of the racetracks as a landlord while selling the operations, the Star-Ledger said that the report would recommend that the Meadowlands racetrack be sold for a "token $1" to Standardbred interests or closed to live racing while remaining open as a year-round off-track betting location. The state should also consider selling Monmouth according to the report, the Star-Ledger said.

The report rules out slot-machine gambling at the Meadowlands, despite its ideal location, in deference to Atlantic City casino interests. The brunt of the report's recommendations are focused on Atlantic City's casino industry, which has struggled over the past five years in the face of new competition in neighboring Pennsylvania and New York.

According to a separate report released earlier this year, the NJSEA's racing operations lost $13 million in 2009. This year, Monmouth Park cut its summer meet from 93 days to 50 days, while boosting purses to a planned total distribution of $50 million. The purse account is being subsidized by a payment of $17 million from Atlantic City casinos under an agreement that ends payments to the Thoroughbred and harness industries this year.

It is unclear how many parties would be interested in either Monmouth or the Meadowlands, given their financial difficulties, without assurances from the state that slot machines would be given consideration at the tracks. That is considered a political longshot due to the political power of the casino lobby in the state, but some companies might be willing to bid on the tracks in the hopes that the political situation could change in the future.

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July 20, 2010
ICE BOX HEADED TO HASKELL
By David Grening, Daily Racing Form

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Ice Box, who finished a troubled second to Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby, will get a chance to avenge that loss when the two meet again in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 1.

Trainer Nick Zito confirmed Tuesday that Ice Box would make his next start in the Haskell, while Fly Down, Zito's other top 3-year-old, would make his next start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 31.

"I feel that's the best way to go," Zito said Tuesday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. "Monmouth's track is playing [toward] closers, and Ice Box comes from behind. The turns are pretty sharp there, and Fly Down would be better off here; he's a longer horse, a bigger horse."

In the Derby, Ice Box was second-to-last for the first three-quarters of a mile before launching a strong rally around the turn. He was blocked twice and had to alter course from the quarter pole to the wire, before finishing second, 2 1/2 lengths behind Super Saver.

"A lot of people think he should have won it," Zito said of Ice Box.
Jose Lezcano will ride both horses. John Velazquez rode Fly Down in the Belmont.
Zito skipped the Preakness with Ice Box and ran him in the Belmont, where he finished ninth (but was moved to eighth with the disqualification of Uptowncharlybrown) as the 9-5 favorite. Zito said Ice Box displaced his palate in the race, which compromised his ability to breath.

Since the Belmont, Ice Box has had four half-mile workouts, including a breeze in 48.60 seconds Monday over the Oklahoma training track.

Fly Down, who finished second to Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes after beating that same rival by six lengths in the Grade 2 Dwyer four weeks earlier, worked four furlongs in 48.50 seconds Monday at Saratoga.

Zito said he is leaving his options open regarding Miner's Reserve, who finished second, 2 1/4 lengths behind A Little Warm in a hot second-level allowance race at Delaware Park on June 29. One potential spot is the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1.

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July 20, 2010
RACHEL ROLLS INTO MONMOUTH
By David Grening, Daily Racing Form

Following an early morning departure from Saratoga, Rachel Alexandra arrived by van at around 9 a.m. Tuesday at Monmouth Park, where she is to run in Saturday's $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes.

Trainer Steve Asmussen, who was at Saratoga Tuesday, said he is following the "same routine" he used last summer when Rachel Alexandra won the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth. She had her final workout at Saratoga before shipping to Monmouth. On Monday, Rachel Alexandra breezed four furlongs in 49.60 seconds over the Oklahoma training track.

"She left on Tuesday after her work on Monday, it worked out for her really well," said Asmussen, who plans to leave for Monmouth following Friday's opening-day card at the Spa.

Rachel Alexandra was accompanied by assistant trainer Scott Blasi, who said the reigning Horse of the Year shipped in fine.

Asmussen said Rachel Alexandra would school in the Monmouth Park paddock sometime during Friday's races.
Post positions for the Lady's Secret will be drawn on Wednesday. A field of five or six is expected.
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July 17, 2010
WEST OCEAN MUCH THE BEST IN KLASSY BRIEFCASE STAKES; PATRIOTIC VIVA GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN SERENA'S SONG
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Wertheimer and Frere’s West Ocean sat off the early pace before making a powerful stretch move to post a 2 ¾ length win in the $100,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes as Patriotic Viva took her five rivals wire-to-wire to capture the $100,000 Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, West Ocean returned $3, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board as the heavy favorite in the field of five fillies and mares. Candy Cane completed the $5.20 exacta and paid $2.60 and $2.10. It was another head back to Life Lesson, who paid $2.40 to show.

“There were really no anxious moments at all,” said winning jockey Garrett Gomez. “She did whatever I needed her to do to get the job done. When I asked her on the turn she really responded and put in a good run.”

West Ocean covered the about 5 ½ furlongs on firm turf in 1:01 3/5 as she recorded her sixth win in nine career starts. The daughter of Elusive Quality from the Belong to Me mare Ocean Drive has now earned $274,640 for her connections.

In the Serena’s Song Stakes, Patriotic Viva took command right from the start and never looked back, coasting to a convincing 3 ¾ length victory, stopping the timer in 1:41 4/5 for a mile and 70 yards over the fast main track.

Conditioned by Patrick Biancone, Patriotic Viva paid $4.80, $2.60 and $2.40 as the favorite and topped an $11.60 exacta. C C’s Pal rallied to pay $2.80 to place and $2.20 to show. Silver La Belle checked in third, good for a $3.60 show mutuel.

“This filly’s been begging for more distance and today she really enjoyed it,” said winning jockey Joe Bravo. “I don’t even know what to say, the gates opened and it was over. All I had to do was hold on.”

Patriotic Viva scored her second win in five starts by taking the Serena’s Song. Her trainer indicated she will go on to the $200,000 Monmouth Oaks (Aug. 14, Grade 3) for her next start.

A 3-year-old by Whywhywhy, who was also conditioned by Biancone, Patriotic Viva boosted her lifetime bankroll to $108,880 after Saturday’s stakes score.

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July 17, 2010
STALLIONS ANNOUNCED FOR TAYLOR MADE MATCHMAKER STAKES TO BE RUN ON HASKELL DAY, AUG. 1
Monmouth Park.com

Taylor Made Stallions, the annual sponsor of the Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) featured on the Haskell Invitational program at Monmouth Park, announced that Northern Afleet, Old Fashioned and Wildcat Heir are the three stallions the farm will offer the choice of a breeding season, which will be awarded to the top three finishers in this year’s race.

The Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes, a $200,000, 1 1/8-mile event for fillies and mares to be contested on August 1st over the Monmouth turf course represents a unique partnership between the racetrack and the stud farm. In addition to its purse, the owners of the first three finishers get the choice to breed to one of the three aforementioned Taylor Made-managed stallions.

Northern Afleet, a Top 10 General Sire in North America a year ago, is the sire of such current top performers as Grade 1 winners Evening Jewel and Negligee. Wildcat Heir is the No. 2 Second Crop Sire in North America, and comes off a record-setting 2009 with his first crop of 2-year-olds winning more races than any stallion in North America. Old Fashioned, a multiple graded stakes winner by Unbridled's Song, recently completed his first season at stud.

“The Taylor Made Matchmaker is an important event on an important day for horse racing, and we're proud to be entering our sixth year of partnership with Monmouth Park on it,” said Ben Taylor, Vice President of Taylor Made Stallions. “This graded stake has a significant history and some great racemares have won it, including the likes of Politely, Numbered Account and Susan's Girl, to name just a few. It certainly helps make the Haskell card one of the finest racing has to offer.”

Northern Afleet, a Taylor Made/Win Star Venture Stallion, and Old Fashioned, a Fox Hill Farm Stallion, both stand at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, KY, while Wildcat Heir, who is a Taylor Made/ WinStar/New Farm Venture Stallion, stands at Brent & Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stud in Ocala, FL.

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July 15, 2010
MONMOUTH'S AVERAGE FIGURES JUMP
By Mike Farrell, Daily Racing Form

Business is up substantially midway through Monmouth Park's 50 day, $50 million meet.
The leading indicators - average attendance, ontrack handle, and total handle from all sources - show big increases through the first 24 days.

Monmouth cut back to a three-day schedule this year, running Friday through Sunday plus holiday cards on Memorial Day and Independence Day. The figures are matched against the first 24 last year, excluding the Wednesday and Thursday cards that were eliminated from this year's schedule.

Average attendance this year is 10,572 compared with 9,354, a 13 percent improvement.
On track handle is averaging $752,718 vs. $527,415, a 43 percent increase.
The biggest impact of the shortened meet is seen in the average handle from all sources: $7,672,255, up 118 percent from the $3,521,434 last year

"Everyone at the Sports Authority had high hopes for this bold experiment," said Dennis Robinson, president and chief executive officer of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns and operates Monmouth. "To say at the midway point that this meet has been a success is an understatement. We're cautiously optimistic that the second half of the 'Elite Summer Meet' will continue to exceed all expectations."

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July 14, 2010
NACHO FRIEND LOOKS UNLIKELY FOR HASKELL
By Mike Farrell, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Nacho Friend earned an invitation to the $1 million Haskell with his second-place finish last weekend in the Long Branch Stakes. After studying the likely lineup for the Grade 1 Haskell for 3-year-olds on Aug. 1 at Monmouth Park, trainer Kelly Breen might respectfully decline the offer.

Expected runners in the Haskell include Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, and Trappe Shot, who beat Nacho Friend by 2 1/2 lengths in the Long Branch.

"It's a small option," Breen said of the Haskell. "If everyone who says they are coming do come, it might be an opportunity for us to pick up the pieces somewhere else. We're going to keep our eyes open as to other races and who is going where before we see what we're doing."

Nacho Friend earned a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in the Long Branch, his first race wearing blinkers. It was the colt's best effort since a first-level allowance win at Pimlico on April 29.

Although the Long Branch had only four runners, Nacho Friend wound up with a wide trip. He ranged into contention on the final turn but could not reel in the promising Trappe Shot.

"We had the worst of the race," Breen said. "The horse that won the race looks to have a nice future ahead of him. We got a great Beyer number. Maybe Secretariat would have won going wide all the way around, but not Nacho Friend."

Southern Ridge eyes Ohio Derby
Southern Ridge, third in the Long Branch after setting the pace, could be headed to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown on July 31.

"He came out of the race really good," trainer Pat McBurney said. "The Ohio Derby is being kicked around, or we could just stay home here. After we have him back on the track four or five days, we'll see how we feel about Ohio."

The Long Branch didn't unfold according to plan when Southern Ridge, making only his third start, wound up on the lead with Carlos Marquez Jr. aboard.

"We didn't want to be there," McBurney said. "The 1 post was the worst he could get."
A stumble at the break didn't help.
"Carlos said once he stumbled, he got himself back up and took off," McBurney said. "From there, he had his right ear cocked back, listening to the horses behind him. Carlos went wide on the first turn, hoping somebody would come up inside and take the lead. Instead, everyone stayed outside of us."

Eventually, Trappe Shot took that inside route on his way to the win.
"He is still a green horse and he got jostled a little bit turning for home and he got a little intimidated by everything," McBurney said. "Overall, it was a good experience for him."

Moneigh Lisa still improving
Things are falling nicely into place for trainer Jane Cibelli, who got her first stakes win of the meet last weekend when Moneigh Lisa captured the Spruce Fir Handicap for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares.

The good news continued with Chirac, the star of the stable, who is finally back at the barn to resume serious training.

Moneigh Lisa was a pleasant surprise at 15-1 in the Spruce Fir, at a mile and 70 yards. Moneigh Lisa, a 4-year-old had never run beyond six furlongs in 16 previous starts. Having won a second-level New Jersey-bred allowance earlier in the meet, Moneigh Lisa wasn't eligible to much unless she ventured into open company.

"She's obviously a different horse than what she was last year," Cibelli said.
"We gave her the winter off, and she's improved immensely. She grew up and she's a completely different horse that is getting better and better."

The Spruce Fir was a distance experiment that panned out.
"There was reason to think she would go long," Cibelli said. "She closes going short, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will get two turns. It was a question of the a-other-than open or do we try the stakes? We would have hated to run in the a-other-than going long and find out we should have run in the stakes."

Moneigh Lisa will likely next face open company going long in a second-level allowance followed by another New Jersey-bred stakes later in the year.

As for Chirac, his first breeze since suffering a soft-tissue injury following last year's victory in the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes last August could come next week.

"He's been training on a farm," Cibelli said. "We'll start getting him ready again. I don't see any reason why he wouldn't come back."

Chirac was one of the stars of the 2009 Monmouth meet. In addition to the Iselin, Chirac also captured the Skip Away Stakes and a fourth-level allowance.

"With the injury, we decided we weren't going to push him," Cibelli said. "I don't know what happened. It turned into more time that we thought. It didn't really heal up properly but in the last three months, it took a turn for the better."

There is no target for a return, other than to get Chirac back to the races sometime later this year before a winter campaign at Gulfstream Park.

"He came back to the barn the day that Moneigh Lisa won," Cibelli said. "I said 'Wow, it doesn't get much better than this!"

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July 11, 2010
GENERAL PERFECT TOO TOUGH IN JOHN MCSORLEY STAKES; MONEIGH LISA TAKES SPRUCE FIR HANDICAP
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Pasquale Vizzoni’s General Perfect grabbed the lead right out of the gate and led every step of the way to capture the $100,000 John McSorley Stakes as Moneigh Lisa won the $100,000 Spruce Fir Handicap at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Trained by Frank Costa, General Perfect covered the about 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:01 2/5 and returned $25, $5.40 and $3.20 as he reported home a length and a half winner.  Silver Timber, the odds-on favorite, rallied to complete the $60 exacta and paid $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.  It was 2 ½ lengths back to Just Playin Around, who returned $2.60 to show.

“My horse likes to run on the lead,” said winning jockey Pablo Fragoso.  “I just wanted to break well and give him the opportunity to race on the lead.  I had plenty of horse the whole way and I knew nobody was going to be able to run us down.”

A 7-year-old gelding by Perfect from the General Assembly mare General Tree, General Perfect now sports a record of 9-4-4 from 34 starts.  He has earned $381,709 for his connections.

In the Spruce Fir Handicap, Rookie Thoroughbred Racing Stable’s Moneigh Lisa powered to an impressive 2 ¾ length score, going the mile and a 70 yards in 1:42 flat over the fast main track.

Moneigh Lisa returned $32.80, $12.40 and $4.60 across the board and topped a $223.20 exacta.  Pacesetter Love That Dance held the place and paid $6.40 and $3.20.  Post-time favorite Way With Words was another three-quarters of a length back in third, good for a $2.20 show mutuel.

“We thought if we’re going to stretch her out, let’s try her in a state-bred stakes and this race came up,” said winning trainer Jane Cibelli.  “She certainly runs six furlongs like the added distance would be no problem, but of course you never know until you do it.  Her mother could run long and this horse is going just terrific right now.  Everything worked out great today.”

The Spruce Fir win was the fourth in 17 starts for Moneigh Lisa, a 4-year-old by Mo Mon from the Dove Hunt mare Dove Creek.  Last out she was third in the Open Mind Handicap at six furlongs here on June 13.  She’s now earned $220,332 for her connections.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, July 16 for a special twilight card.  Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 2:10 p.m.  As always the track is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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July 10, 2010
TRAPPE SHOT IMPRESSIVE IN LONG BRANCH; LIKELY TO START NEXT IN AUG. 1 IZOD HASKELL
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – After scoring an impressive victory in the $175,000 Long Branch Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, Mill House’s Trappe Shot may have earned himself a ticket to face Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver in the Aug. 1 IZOD Haskell Invitational.

Trappe Shot broke alertly and settled in behind pacesetter Southern Ridge going into the first turn.  Up the backstretch Trappe Shot found himself last of four for a brief moment before shooting up the inside and never looking back, capturing the mile and a sixteenth Long Branch by 2 ½ lengths.

“He’s obviously a very nice horse,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.  “We’ll talk it over with the owners, but going into this race we thought if he ran well we’d bring him back in three weeks for the Haskell.

“I don’t think this race took too much out of him.  He’s certainly bred for the distance and handled everything perfectly today.”

Trappe Shot went the mile and a sixteenth over the fast main track in 1:43 2/5 and returned $3 and $2.10.  Nacho Friend paid $3.80 to place and finished 3 ½ lengths ahead of Southern Ridge.  Latigo Shore was last of the quartet.  There was no show wagering offered on the Long Branch.

“We wanted to play the race by how everyone broke,” said winning jockey Alan Garcia.  “We did think we would be behind horses and make one run.  I had a lot of horse the whole way, and I had to move inside the leader [Southern Ridge], but I knew the only way someone was going to beat me was to run a big race.  Two turns was no problem for him today.”

The Long Branch win was the fourth in five starts for Trappe Shot, a 3-year-old colt by Tapit from the Private Account mare Shopping.  Trappe Shot has now earned $187,050 for his connections.

In the day’s other stakes event, the $100,000 Battlefield, Banrock shot through an opening on the inside turning for home, but could not hold off the late charge of Violon Sacre, who reported home a neck winner in the mile turf test.

Violon Sacre returned $9.80, $4.20 and $2.80 and covered the distance over firm going in 1:35 1/5.  Banrock completed the $49 exacta and paid $3.60 and $2.60.  It was another length and a quarter back to Whatsthescript, who paid $2.80 to show.

“He ran very well last time, he just got a little bit tired at the end,” said winning trainer Patrick Biancone.  “He was still trying to acclimate to America.  He was training very well leading up to this race and we were very confident.

“We’ll take a look at how he comes out of this race and the race on Haskell Day [$200,000 Oceanport Stakes, Aug. 1] is a possibility.”

Ridden by Pablo Fragoso, Violon Sacre earned his eighth career win in taking the Battlefield.  The 5-year-old by Stravinsky out of the Kendor mare Histoire Saint was making just his second start in the U.S.  On May 31, he was fourth in an allowance event at Monmouth.

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July 9, 2010
COA CAPTURES CAREER VICTORY 4,000; RIDES MADDY CROWD TO WIN MONMOUTH'S 9TH RACE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Jockey Eibar Coa reached a career milestone as he piloted his 4,000^th career winner when Maddy’s Crowd captured the ninth race at Monmouth Park on Friday. 

“Obviously you don’t start out thinking you’re going to win 4,000 or any number of races,” said the 39-year-old Coa after setting the career mark.  “You just go out there and do the best you can and when things like this happen, it makes it even sweeter.” 

Coa sat fifth early aboard Maddy’s Crowd before swinging that charge to the center of the course and running down his rivals by a length.  Trained by Tim Hills, Maddy’s Crowd paid $7.40 for the victory. 

“I was really happy to get this win at Monmouth,” Coa said.  “I’ve been very lucky here and a lot of my friends are here in the jockey’s room.  It’s a special place and I’m glad this happened here.” 

A native of Monagas, Venezuela, Coa began riding in his native country before moving to the United States in 1993.  In addition to riding titles at Monmouth Park in 2001 and 2002, Coa has been top jockey at Aqueduct, Belmont, Calder, Gulfstream and Tropical at Calder.

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July 5, 2010
ROARING LION VICTORIOUS IN MR. PROSPECTOR; FANTASTICO ROBERTO GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN CHOICE STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Repole Stable’s Roaring Lion reeled in pacesetter Unwritten and held off the charge of Wildcat Brief to capture the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes by a nose as Fantastico Roberto took his foes wire-to-wire in the $100,000 Choice Stakes at Monmouth Park on Monday.

Trained by Bruce Levine, Roaring Lion sat off Unwritten’s fractions of :22 for the quarter and :44 for the half mile before coming home in 1:09 flat for six furlongs over a fast main track.  The winner returned $10.40, $6.20 and $4.80 and topped the $74.20 exacta.  Wildcat Brief paid $8.40 to place and $6.40 to show.  It was another length back to Unwritten, who returned $5.80 to show.

“The race set up just as we thought,” said winning rider Eddie Castro.  “We were able to sit right behind the two leaders.  In the stretch, he ran on well and dug in to hold off the other horse (Wildcat Brief).”

In capturing the Mr. Prospector, the 6-year-old Roaring Lion improved his record to 10-4-5 from 26 starts.  The son of Lion Hearted from the Horatius mare Smartly has now earned $399,370.

Fantastico Roberto took the course right from the start of the Choice Stakes and never looked back, winning by 3 ¼ lengths in 1:47 1/5 for the mile and an eighth over firm turf.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fantastico Roberto paid $6.40, $4 and $2.80 as the favorite in the field of six 3-year-old-old colts and geldings.  They Call Me Giant rallied to complete the $29.80 exacta and paid $3.80 and $3.  Devon Rock was another neck back in third, good for a $3.20 show price.

“We planned to sit close to the pace, but he took me right to the lead out of the gate,” said winning jockey John Velazquez.  “I tried to get him to relax as much as I could down the backside and he did for a bit, but as soon as the horses came back to us, he was right back in the bridle.  We came to the 3/8ths pole and I was very confident.  I thought he had a lot of horse and he just gave the answer I was looking for when I asked him.”

A son of Refuse to Bend from the Fantastic Light mare Fantastic Account, Fantastico Roberto earned his first stakes victory in the Choice and his first trip to the winner’s circle since taking his debut and subsequent start in Italy back in 2009.  He now boasts a record of 3-2-1 from seven starts and earnings of $136,312 for owner Team Valor International.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, July 9, for the first of three twilight cards.  Gates open at 11:30 a.m. – post time 2:10 p.m.  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.
 

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July 4, 2010
DISCREETLY MINE MAKES STRONG RALLY TO WIN JERSEY SHORE; BREEDERS' CUP WINNER MARAM TAKES MISS LIBERTY STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Mrs. E. Paul Robsham’s Discreetly Mine saved ground through the first half-mile before angling out at the quarter pole and running down Out of Respect to capture the $200,000 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.  Approximately 28 minutes later, Maram, winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, wore down her rivals to capture the $100,000 Miss Liberty Stakes.

Discreetly Mine, who earlier this year finished 13^th in the Kentucky Derby, returned $4.80, $3.20 and $2.20 across the board as the 7-5 choice in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore.  The Todd Pletcher-trainee stepped the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:09.71.  It was a length and a quarter back to Out of Respect, who completed the $33.60 exacta and paid $8.60 to place and $3.60 to show.  Safe Trip was another length back in third, good for a $2.40 show mutuel.

“The only thing I wanted to make sure of was that I wasn’t head-to-head for the lead,” said winning jockey John Velazquez.  “He kind of got squeezed coming out of there in the first four or five jumps and I had to encourage him a little bit to make sure he wasn’t too far back.  Once I pulled him out around the turn he was on his game.”

The Jersey Shore was the first victory for Discreetly Mine since capturing the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on February 20.  Last out, the 3-year-old colt by Mineshaft from the blue hen mare Pretty Discreet, by Private Account was runner-up in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park.  The Jersey Shore win was the third in 11 starts for Discreetly Mine, who has now earned $559,350 for his owner.

In the Miss Liberty Stakes, Maram, trained by Chad Brown, rallied from last to first to post a head victory, covering the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf in 1:41.56.  She returned $4.40, $2.60 and $2.20 as the favorite and topped a $14.60 exacta.

“She settled at the back of the pack,” said winning jockey Jose Lezcano, “and even through they were going slow up front, I wasn’t worried.  When I asked her in the stretch, she really ran on very well and we were able to nail the other horse (Strike the Bell) at the wire.”

Strike the Bell, who took over in mid-stretch but could not hold off the oncoming Maram, paid $3.20 to place and $2.80 to show.  Eye of Taurus was another half-length back in third and returned $3.20.

A 4-year-old filly by Sahm from the Quest for Fame mare American Dreamer, Maram improved her record to 5-1-1 from eight career starts.  She has earned $884,520 for owners Karen N. Woods and Saud bin Khaled.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Monday, July 5, for a special 12-race holiday card.  Gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.

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July 4, 2010
RESERVED SEATS STILL AVAILABLE FOR IZOD HASKELL, RACHEL'S RETURN
Monmouth Park.com

With just four weeks until the Grade 1, $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational, some reserved seats remain available for Monmouth Park’s biggest race of the season.   

General seats are available in the Grandstand Mezzanine for $10 each and can be reserved by calling 732-571-5563 or by visiting the reserved seating booth on the second floor of the Grandstand any live racing day.  Grandstand box seats are $12 each while Grandstand preferred seats are $17. 

For a complete listing a prices and available seats, visit www.monmouthpark.com or go to www.ticketmaster.com.  
Reserved seats for July 24 Lady’s Secret Stakes – scheduled to feature reigning Horse of the Year and 2009 Haskell winner Rachel Alexandra – are also on sale.  Prices are $2 for general Grandstand seats and $3 for general Clubhouse seats. 

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July 3, 2010
CHINCHON SWOOPS TO VICTORY IN UNITED NATIONS AT MONMOUTH; GONE ASTRAY WINS SALVATOR; NON-HASKELL BET RECORD SET
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – European invader Chinchon made a dramatic swooping move around the far turn and then rolled right on by his rivals in the stretch to capture the $750,000 Betfair TVG United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

In the day’s other Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In event, Phipps Stable’s Gone Astray closed fastest of all to score by five lengths in the $250,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3).

A crowd of 13,783 was on hand for United Nations Day, and they contributed to a non-Haskell record betting total of $9,787,620 for the day. The wagering eclipsed the former non-Haskell Day mark of $9,357,444 set here on opening day, May 22.

Garrett Gomez allowed Chinchon, an Irish-bred 5-year-old trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias, to race along last of the nine runners until the quarter-pole, when he moved outside the entire field. Chinchon was widest of all as he started his run, hit full stride at the furlong pole, and then just sailed past Take the Points in deep stretch to score by a length and a half.

The winner raced the mile and three-eighths over firm turf in 2:11.77, and paid $9.60, $4.80 and $3.40 across the board as the third choice.

Take the Points, who started the 5-2 favorite, gained the lead briefly at the sixteenth pole, but had to settle for second, a half-length in front of Winchester, who closed strongly to gain the show by a nose over Straight Story.

Take the Points paid $3.80 and $2.80 and completed the $39.20 exacta, while Winchester returned $2.80 to show.

This was the second win of the year in four starts for Chinchon, a 5-year-old son of Marju – Jarama, by Hector Protector, who was racing in France before being sent to the U.S. for this race. He earned an automatic starting berth in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf to be run at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.

Get Serious and Acclamation set the pace through pedestrian fractions, with Straight Story right behind. Chinchon was last at every call.

On the final turn, Straight Story went by Get Serious and took the lead, and then Take the Points came to gain command in midstretch. But Gomez had launched his rocket on the turn, and when Chinchon straightened out for the drive, he dug in and had plenty of momentum to sail right past the leaders.

“I was pretty nervous halfway through the race with how slow the early pace was,” said Laffon-Parias. “I knew it would be tough for him to close. This horse doesn’t care about the type of ground he’s running on, he just runs. He doesn’t like to be in between horses, though.

“Now we’ll give him a break back home in Europe. After today, we’ll keep the Breeders’ Cup in mind. If we decide to go to the Breeders’ Cup, we’ll give him a prep in Europe.”

Gomez said he was never really worried as his horse trailed the field.

“I thought they would have gone faster up front, but the pace was very reasonable,” the jockey said. “After the break, I just eased him over to the fence and sat last most of the way. He was enjoying himself, being all alone in the back.

“I squeezed him a little at the quarter-pole and started advancing up the inside because I didn’t want to have to swing widest for the drive. Just after we turned for home, I took him to the outside and he really exploded. He flew home.”

Edgar Prado, who rode Take the Points, said, “He was running very easily, I was in great position, I was very happy. When I asked him for a little, he gave it to me every time. I thought I had it won in the stretch, but we just couldn’t hold off the winner.”

Chinchon went over the $1 million mark in earnings with his victory, as the $450,000 winner’s share of the United Nations kicked his bankroll to $1,005,200.

In the Salvator Mile, Gone Astray earned a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with his dramatic victory.

The 4-year-old colt by Dixie Union, trained by Shug McGaughey and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, raced the one-mile over a fast track in 1:38 and paid $16.20, $6 and $3.80 across the board as the second longest shot on the board in the field of five.

Duke of Mischief held off You and I Forever by a neck to take the place and complete the $70.20 exacta, paying $4.40 to place and $3.60 to show. You and I Forever paid $4.20 to show.

Le Grand Cru (2-1) and Munnings (6-5) finished fourth and fifth.

Gone Astray was content to sit behind a slow pace (:50 for the half and 1:14 for the six furlongs) until he was ready to make his move in the stretch. He came running fastest of all and blew on by his rivals for a daylight score.

“The pace was so slow, but I was never worried,” Velasquez said. “On the far turn, Edgar’s horse (Le Grand Cru) and Garrett’s horse (Munnings) dropped out of it, so I had to swing my horse to the outside. He had so much run I never had a question.”

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July 3, 2010

THOMPSON ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS WITH 'TWO NOTCH'

Monmouth Park.com

There’s one fact about Monday’s $100,000 Choice Stakes that definitely falls under the heading of “oddity.” That would be that a Glenn Thompson-trained horse is bringing an unbeaten record on the Monmouth turf into the route for 3-year-olds. 

Two Notch Road, owned by Thompson in partnership with breeder James Hackman, is three-for-three on the Monmouth green, including a win in the Continental Mile Stakes, where he broke his maiden at a $216.40 mutuel. 

And his backers deserved every nickel of that price, because before that race last Aug. 15, Thompson had a less-than-stellar record on the turf. 

“I hate to admit this,” said Thompson with a sheepish grin, “but before Two Notch Road won the Continental Mile, I hadn’t won a turf race since 1984!” 

Like 25 years ago, 1984? 

“Yes, it was a long time,” Thompson said. “It got so bad that every time I entered a horse in a turf race, my assistant and my entire crew would cringe. They feared the worst, and the worst is what always happened. Weird stuff that you never think about. But always something.” 

Two Notch Road, a Virginia-bred son of Partner’s Hero – Capiana, by Capote, changed all that in a little more than a minute and a half last August. 

“I had been dying to get him on the grass,” Thompson said, “even with my record. I knew he would really improve on the turf. It was quite a way to break his maiden.” 

Two Notch Road won both his allowance starts at Monmouth this year, and last out ran a very game third in the Grade 2 Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs. Now he’s back to his favorite track, with regular rider Shannon Uske back aboard. 

“He seems to thrive on the firm course here,” Thompson said. “He’s been going to the front in some of his races, but he doesn’t really have to be on the lead. He’s flexible, and I’ll leave strategy in the jockey’s hands. Shannon is great at getting him to relax.” 

Thompson acquired Two Notch Road from a yearling sale. Hackman, who has been one of his clients for several years, put the horse in the sale. Bidding was light, and Thompson got the youngster for $2,500. He thought the breeder would like to be part-owner, so he traded Hackman a piece of Two Notch Road for a piece of the filly Cristiane, who runs in the sixth race here Sunday. 

Two Notch Road is named for the road that runs next to the Aiken, S.C., training track, where Thompson’s horses spend their winters. 

“It’s a great place, and I’m fortunate to have clients who let me take their horses there each year,” Thompson said. “You know Two Notch Road (the street) in Aiken is famous. Some of the best horses in history have crossed it when Greentree Stable and Woody Stephens and Mack Miller trained there.” 

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July 1, 2010
LADY'S SECRET NEXT FOR RACHEL
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Rachel Alexandra is headed for a Jersey Shore encore.
According to Jess Jackson, who owns Rachel Alexandra in partnership with Harold McCormick, the defending Horse of the Year is scheduled to make her next start at Monmouth Park in the $400,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on July 24.

The Lady's Secret, an ungraded race, was originally scheduled for Aug. 1, Haskell Day, with a purse of $150,000 and at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. The purse increase is contingent on her running in the race. The date of the stakes will be moved, regardless of her participation.

Rachel Alexandra was a dazzling four-length winner in the slop here last summer, beating colts in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.

"We had a great experience at Monmouth Park," Jackson said, "and we appreciate the overwhelming show of support the fans there have given us. It's the perfect place to start what we hope will be another championship run."

Now 4, Rachel Alexandra has run three times this season. She was beaten three-quarters of a length by Zardana in the New Orleans Ladies at Fair Ground on March 13 and then was second by a head to Unrivaled Belle in the La Troienne at Churchill Downs in her next start. She romped by 10 1/2 lengths most recently in the Fleur De Lis at Churchill Downs, her first victory of 2010.

"Having Rachel return will be an exciting moment for racing fans in New Jersey and would undoubtedly be one of highlights of our season," said Bob Kulina, Monmouth's vice president and general manager.

The Lady's Secret serves as a prep for the Monmouth meet's premier race for older fillies and mares, the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 29. The Molly Pitcher has a scheduled purse of $300,000.

Rachel Alexandra is currently stabled at Saratoga after having shipped from Churchill Downs on Wednesday. The new date of the Lady's Secret corresponds with opening weekend of the Saratoga meet. Saratoga has a Rachel Alexandra hat giveaway scheduled for Aug. 8.

NYRA officials expressed disappointment that Rachel Alexandra would not be running in the Grade 1, $250,000 Ruffian at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 1. Rachel Alexandra capped her perfect Horse of the Year campaign in 2009 with a rafter-shaking victory in the Woodward against older males.

"We are puzzled and disappointed that Rachel Alexandra, who performed so well at Saratoga last year, is passing up the Grade 1 Ruffian to run in a non-graded race at Monmouth over the same distance," NYRA president Charles Hayward said in a prepared statement. "We remain hopeful that the Saratoga fans will have the opportunity to see Rachel later in the meet."

Mike Dempsey, the racing secretary at Monmouth Park, said, "There are no appearance fees for anyone involved, and there is not a charity involvement at this time, even though something could come together later on."

Last year when Rachel Alexandra ran in the Haskell, Monmouth donated $20,000 to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a breast cancer organization.

- additional reporting by David Grening

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July 1, 2010
PRESIOUS PASSION SENT TO FARM
By Mike Farrell , DRF

Presious Passion is on vacation.
The winner of the last two runnings of the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes will not defend his title on Saturday at Monmouth Park, and trainer Mary Hartmann said the 7-year-old gelding is getting a freshening at a private farm in nearby Colts Neck, N.J.

Presious Passion did not run well in his last two races, finishing 16th in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27 and seventh in the Monmouth Stakes on June 12.

"Physically, he's fine," Hartmann said. "He just didn't seem to be on his game. I wouldn't send him out and embarrass him."

This could be the first extended break for Presious Passion, a career winner of over $2.6 million. There is no target date for a return.

Hartmann said Presious Passion had brief turnouts in the past but never seemed comfortable on a farm. She is hopeful the gelding will have a more relaxing experience this time.

"Generally, he doesn't like the farm," Hartmann said. "This is right here, and I can visit often. If he doesn't like the farm, he rest here back at the track."

In addition to a second U.N. victory, Presious Passion had a banner year in 2009. He also won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes and ran second in the Breeders' Cup Turf, beaten a half-length by Conduit.

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July 1, 2010
PRESIOUS PASSION TO PASS ON UNITED NATIONS
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
OCEANPORT, N.J. - There will be no three-peat for Presious Passion in the United Nation Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park. The winner of the last two editions of the Grade 1 stakes was not entered on Wednesday for the 1 3/8-mile race on the turf.

Presious Passion had not run well in his last two outings, finishing 16th in the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27 and seventh in the Monmouth Stakes on June 12. Attempts to reach trainer Mary Hartmann were not successful.

Even without Presious Passion, the premier turf event of the meet drew five Grade or Group 1 winners: Telling, Acclamation, Winchester, Take the Points, and Jeune-Turc from Brazil.

Winchester could be favored in the nine-horse field following his upset of stablemate Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Manhattan at Belmont Park.

As in the Manhattan, Winchester will have an uncoupled barnmate. Trainer Christophe Clement has also entered Laureate Conductor, winner of the Choice Stakes here last summer.

A strong case can also be made for Acclamation, shipping in from Hollywood Park following consecutive handicap wins in the Grade 2 Murray and the Grade 1 Whittingham.

Take the Points, fourth most recently in the Manhattan, earned his Grade 1 stripes last year in the Secretariat at Arlington and the Jamaica at Belmont.

Telling pulled off the 33-1 shocker in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga last August. His latest effort was a fifth-place finish in the Louisville Handicap.

Jeune-Turc is a multiple Group 1 winner in his native Brazil.
Chinchon returns from France for the first time since getting fourth in last year's Man o' War at Belmont.
Get Serious and Straight Story are the two local runners in the field. The New York-bred Get Serious was the pacesetting winner of the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes, the prep race over the course for the U.N.

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June 30, 2010
NINE ENTERED FOR SATURDAY'S BETFAIR/TVG UNITED NATIONS; GRADE 1 TURF TEST SET TO GO AS RACE 10 ON 12-RACE PROGRAM
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – A field of nine, including five Grade or Group 1 winners, will assemble at Monmouth Park this Saturday for the Grade 1, $750,000 BetFair/TVG United Nations Stakes.  The U.N., one of the most anticipated events of the summer season, will go as race 10 on the 12-race program.

Among those entered in the U.N. is the John Forbes-trained Get Serious, who captured the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes on June 12 – Monmouth Park’s prep for the U.N.  Also slated for the U.N. is Acclamation, who exits a victory in the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham at Hollywood on June 5.  Trained by Donald Warren, Acclamation will be reunited with Eclipse Award winning jockey Christian Santiago Reyes, who will also make the trip to Oceanport, N.J. from his California headquarters.

Inaugurated at Atlantic City Racecourse in 1953, the U.N. moved to Monmouth Park in 1999.  The mile and three-eighths turf race has seen 20 champions and six Breeders’ Cup winners compete in the event.

In addition to day-long coverage of Monmouth Park’s full card, Television Games Network (TVG) will broadcast the United Nations live.  TVG is also the presenting sponsor of the $250,000 guaranteed Pick 5, which covers races six through 10 and concludes with the 57^th running of the U.N.

The full field, including rider assignments, for the BetFair/TVG United Nations Stakes is:

1.  Telling (Eibar Coa)

2.  Get Serious (Pablo Fragoso)

3.  Acclamation (Christian Santiago Reyes)

4.  Straight Story (C.H. Marquez Jr.)

5.  Winchester (Cornelio Velasquez)

6.  Jeune-Turc (Jose Lezcano)

7.  Take the Points (Edgar Prado)

8.  Chinchon (Garrett Gomez)

9.  Laureate Conductor (Joe Bravo)
 

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June 27, 2010
WAY WITH WORDS KEEPS ON WINNING AT MONMOUTH; GREELEY'S ROCKET FIRES HOME IN CRANK IT UP STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – George L. Schwartz’s Way With Words continued her winning ways at Monmouth Park on Sunday, taking the $100,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes, her second consecutive stakes score at the meet as Greeley’s Rocket flew home to take the $100,000 Crank It Up Stakes.

Ridden by Eddie Castro, Way With Words sat patiently early before angling out for the drive and running down pacesetters Rated Fiesty and Saarlight in the final yards to post a neck win.  Way With Words covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 1/5 and paid $7.20, $3.40 and $2.40.  Saarlight, who dueled early with Rated Fiesty, completed the $28.60 exacta and paid $3.20 and $2.20.  Rated Fiesty was another three-quarters of a length back in third, good for a $2.20 show mutuel.

“She always tries her hardest and thankfully today she had enough to get there,” said winning trainer Mary Eppler.  “She really likes Monmouth Park.  She’s very easy on herself in the mornings – easy to gallop.  She’s just a professional.”

A 6-year-old mare by Sefapiano from the Belong to Me mare Swiftly Tilting, Way With Words now boasts a lifetime mark of 11-4-2 from 26 starts with eight of those victories having come in Oceanport.  The Blue Sparkler victory boosted her lifetime bankroll to $521,900.

In the Crank It Up Stakes, Greeley’s Rocket powered past pacesetter Whoopi Kitten just after turning for home and opened up to score a 4 ¼ length victory.

Trained by W. Bret Calhoun, Greeley’s Rocket stepped the about 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:01 4/5 and returned $9.60, $3.80 and $3.  Whoopi Kitten completed the $21.20 exacta and paid $3.40 to place and $2.80 to show.  It was another length and three-quarters back to Full of Gut, who paid $4.

 “We were able to sit right behind the speed horses,” said winning jockey Jeremy Rose.  “I was told to just break sharp and find our spot.  She was very comfortable the whole way.  I knew if anyone was going to beat us, they were going to have to run one heckuva race.”

Sunday’s stakes score was the fourth win in 10 starts for Greeley’s Rocket, who races in the colors of Richard L. Davis.  The filly by Mr. Greeley from the American Chance mare Clay’s Rocket has now earned $181,591.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, July 2 - first post 12:50 p.m.  Monmouth will host four days of live racing next weekend, Friday through Monday (Fourth of July holiday).  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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June 27, 2010
WAY WITH WORDS UP IN TIME AT MONMOUTH
By Mike Farrell , DRF

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Way With Words, the only New Jersey-bred in the field, rallied to beat Saarlight by a neck on Sunday in the $105,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.

It was the second straight stakes win here for the 6-year-old trained by Maryland-based Mary Eppler. Way With Words beat statebreds in her previous race, the Open Mind Handicap. The Blue Sparkler, at the same six-furlong distance, was a stiffer test against open company.

Once again, Way With Words was up to the challenge at the track where she is 8-3-0 in 15 races.
Turning for home, Saarlight and Rated Feisty were hooked in a spirited duel and it appeared the outcome would be decided by those two.

Way With Words, with Eddie Castro aboard, kept gaining with every stride.
"I wasn't sure she was actually going to get up," Eppler said. "I know that she's tenacious and that she tries. She just dug in and kept coming."

Way With Words paid $7.20 to win as the second choice. The time was 1:10.39.

Greeley's Rocket wins second straight with blinkers
Greeley's Rocket ($9.60) beat Whoopi Kitten by 4 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Crank It Up for 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Greeley's Rocket made a smooth transition back to grass following a pair of synthetic-track races for trainer Bret Calhoun. Jeremy Rose guided the winner to her fourth win in 10 starts, and second in a row since adding blinkers. The time was 1:01.81 on the firm course.

Bravo, Ortiz weren't in the wrong
The stewards found Joe Bravo and Felix Ortiz both guilty of careless riding which resulted in a double disqualification in Friday's fifth race.

Under a new policy in effect this year, a first-time offender at the meet has the option to accept either a three-day suspension or a $3,000 fine.

Bravo opted to pay the fine. Ortiz filed an appeal.

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June 27, 2010
SUPER SAVER TO MAKE NEXT START IN IZOD HASKELL INVITATIONAL; KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER TO RUN AUG. 1 AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – WinStar Farm’s Super Saver, winner of the Kentucky Derby, will make his next start in Monmouth Park’s Grade 1 IZOD Haskell Invitational, it was confirmed today by his conditioner. 

“We’re pointed for the Haskell,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains the Classic winning colt.  “He’s training great and we’re on schedule to be at Monmouth on Aug. 1.” 

No stranger to the IZOD Haskell, Pletcher and WinStar Farm teamed to take back-to-back runnings of the $1 million race in 2006 with Bluegrass Cat and 2007 with Any Given Saturday. 

Super Saver, under jockey Calvin Borel, rallied to a 2 ½ length win in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, giving Pletcher his first victory in the Run for the Roses.  In his last start, the Preakness Stakes, Super Saver stalked the early pace, but faded in the lane to finish eighth.  Since the Preakness, he sports a trio of works at Belmont – a pair of four furlong breezes and a five furlong move this morning in 1:01 4/5. 

The IZOD Haskell Invitational will air live on ABC from 5 to 6 p.m.  Reserved seats for Haskell Day can be purchased through the Monmouth Park Admissions Office, 732-571-5563, or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. 

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June 26, 2010
STRIKE IT RICH GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE IN BOILING SPRINGS; GOMEZ SWEEPS SATURDAY STAKES, WINS LIGHTHOUSE ON MALIBU PRAYER
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Waterville Lake Stable’s Strike It Rich took control right from the start and never looked back, winning the Grade 3, $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday afternoon by a length and a quarter.  In the day’s other stakes action, Malibu Prayer provided Garrett Gomez a stakes sweep by taking the $100,000 Lighthouse Stakes.

Strike It Rich covered the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf in 1:40 1/5 and returned $8.40, $4.40 and $3 as the second choice in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies.  Bay to Bay, the 9-5 favorite, charged hard in the lane to complete the $30 exacta and paid $3.20 to place and $2.60 to show.  It was another length back to Triple Cream, who paid $4.20 to show.

“I thought the five horse [Island Time] would be on top, but I found myself on the lead,” said winning jockey Garrett Gomez.  “She ran :46 last time and still ran on and this time she was able to go :48.  We went slow early and fast late.  She did everything I asked of her.”

After watching Strike It Rich score her fourth win in eight starts, trainer Christophe Clement said, “She’s an improving filly, a great horse.  We’re not sure where she will go next, we focused on today.”

The Boiling Springs victory was the second consecutive turf stakes win at Monmouth for Strike It Rich, who won the Little Silver Stakes here on May 30.  The daughter of Unbridled’s Song from the Dehere mare Belle of Perintown has now earned $185,755 for her connections.

In the Lighthouse Stakes, Malibu Prayer took the lead early, gave it up to Ask the Moon before retaking that foe on the inside just before the quarter pole and reporting home a 4 ½ length winner.

“I talked to Todd [trainer Pletcher] this morning and he told me to just put her someplace near the pace,” said Gomez.  “Around the far turn, I let her go a little and she responded, handled the turn well and had plenty for the finish.”

Malibu Prayer, who paid $5.20, $3.80 and $2.60 as the second choice in the field of eight fillies and mares, covered the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43 2/5.  Luna Vega rallied to pay $7.60 and $4.20 and completed the $51.60 exacta.  It was another half-length back to race favorite Just Jenda, who paid $2.20 to show.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Malibu Prayer improved her lifetime mark to 5-3-2 from 11 starts.  The daughter of Malibu Moon from the Grand Slam mare Grand Prayer has now earned $408,026 for owner Edward P. Evans.
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June 26, 2010
19TH ANNUAL BACKSTRETCH PICNIC SLATED FOR MONDAY, JULY 12
Monmouth Park.com

The 19^th annual Backstretch Appreciation Day Picnic at Monmouth Park will be held on Monday, July 12, rain or shine.

The event recognizes all the people who help put on the “racing show” and is open to all backstretch workers and their families.

The festivities will run from noon until 3 p.m., with games for the kids; Jack Russell Terrier races; face painters, balloon games, carriage rides and raffles for prizes throughout the afternoon.

The All-American picnic menu will include chicken, hot dogs, corn on the cob, salads, baked beans, watermelon and more.

For more information, contact picnic chairman Dan Perlsweig (732-222-3737) or co-chairman Kevin Weldon (732-571-5380).

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June 26, 2010
STRIKE IT RICH TAKES THEM ALL THE WAY
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
Strike It Rich led all the way as speed remained golden on Monmouth Park's turf course in the Grade 3, $150,000 Boiling Springs for 3-year-old fillies.

Duplicating her pacesetting win last month in the Little Silver Stakes, Strike It Rich again flashed the style that perfectly suits the Monmouth course dominated this meet by front-running winners.

Garrett Gomez guided the 3-1 second choice right to the front at the start of the 1 1/16-mile race. They led by a comfortable margin throughout, finishing 1 1/4 lengths ahead of the late-running Bay to Bay.

"She broke running," Gomez said. "I thought Island Time would be on top, but I found myself on the lead. We went slow early and fast late. She did everything I asked of her. I never hit her."

Later that afternoon, Gomez nabbed another stakes win aboard Malibu Prayer in the $100,000 Lighthouse Stakes.
Trained by Christophe Clement, Strike It Rich improved to 4 for 8 with a third straight win. The time was 1:40.25 on the firm course.

Bay to Bay, the 19-10 favorite, had the misfortune of drawing the outside post in the 10-horse field. She was wide throughout before launching a strong charge to get second.

"Nobody went with the pacesetter," said Alan Garcia, Bay to Bay's rider. "My horse ran on really well. There was just no pace in front of me."

Triple Cream was third.

Lighthouse: Malibu Prayer romps
Malibu Prayer won the Lighthouse for fillies and mares by a commanding 4 1/2 lengths over Luna Vega, with Just Jenda third.

Malibu Prayer, the 8-5 second choice, earned her first win beyond one mile. She ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.40, with Gomez aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Just Jenda, the 13-10 favorite, suffered her first loss at Monmouth following three wins here, including the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks last summer.

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June 25, 2010
ROMAN TIGER WEIGHING UNITED NATIONS
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Owner-trainer Dennis Manning is still on the fence with respect to running Roman Tiger in next Saturday's $750,000 United Nations Stakes.

The U.N. tops the Independence Day holiday weekend at Monmouth Park, one of the biggest and busiest periods of the meet with four cards Friday through Monday.

The U.N., at 1 3/8 miles on turf, and the $1 million Haskell Invitational are Monmouth's two Grade 1 stakes.
The U.N. has started to take shape. Presious Passion, looking for a record third straight U.N. victory, tops stakes coordinator Dan Dufford's list of likely runners. He will be challenged by Grade 1 winners Winchester, Telling, and Take the Points.

This year's U.N. could have a strong international flavor, with Chinchon from France and Jeune-Turc from South America expected.

Straight Story and Get Serious, winner of the Monmouth Stakes, are likely local runners.
Where does that leave Roman Tiger, the rallying runner-up in the Monmouth Stakes?
Squarely on the bubble.

"I want to see how big the field is going to be," Manning said. "If it's a big field, I'm not going. I'll look at who is in the race, look at my numbers, and if I think I'll be competitive, then I'll take a shot. If not, I'll run him back in a two-other-than."

Roman Tiger, 5, is 2 for 12 in a career compromised by injuries and allergies.
"I'm just trying to put him in the right spot," Manning said. "Each time he's run, his numbers get better."
Since he owns the horse, the U.N. decision rests strictly with Manning.

"I don't have any owner pressure," he said.

Out of Respect steps up to stakes
The $200,000 Jersey Shore Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters next Sunday will be a step up in class for the New York-bred Out of Respect.

Trainer Scott Volk is feeling confident after the gelding posted a first-level win here June 13 in his first start since March 17 at Aqueduct.

"He's a good horse," Volk said "He ran a big race off a huge layoff last week. We were very, very confident going into that race. He won very easily and he's doing well."

The best part about that victory was that it came at Monmouth.
"We expected to win that race, and it was a very good thing because we walked out of our barn and got the job done without getting on a van," Volk said.

Out of Respect captured his debut at Calder last October. His next three races were against New York-breds at Aqueduct. He was second, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in a New York Stallion Stakes, followed by a first-level win and a head loss in a second-level allowance.

This will be the second straight race in open company and Out of Respect's toughest challenge yet.
"He's got to step up to the plate a little bit," Volk said.
Other possible runners in the Jersey Shore include the New Jersey-bred Partyallnightlong and the filly Christine Daae.

No suspension following DQ
The stewards found jockey Joe Bravo blameless for the disqualification of Escrow Kid from first to sixth in the Anderson Fowler Stakes last Sunday, following an extensive video review of the race Friday.

After splitting foes in the lane, Escrow Kid ducked out sharply into the path of Never Content. Both Elvis Trujillo on Never Content and Paco Lopez aboard Bernie the Maestro lodged objections against the winner.

The stewards took down his number for the chain-reaction interference.
In Friday's review, the stewards decided that Bravo did everything within his power to keep the horse on a straight course and did not warrant an additional fine or suspension.

* The annual Backstretch Appreciation Day Picnic, a Monmouth Park tradition for the last 18 years, takes place July 12 starting at noon, rain or shine. The free event open to the entire backstretch community includes food, beverages, games, and raffles. Every child gets a gift bag of toys, games, and snacks. Last year's picnic drew more than 2,000 adults and children.

* Sir Tyler T gave trainer Juan Serey his 992nd career win in the fourth race Friday.
* Trainer Joe Pierce Jr., who turned 83 on Thursday, won the seventh race Friday with Most Wanted Affair.

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June 25, 2010
IT'S TIME AGAIN FOR FAST TIMES IN THE JERSEY SHORE STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth will offer six stakes on the holiday weekend, July 2-5, and one that is expected to provide a lot of fireworks on the Fourth of July is the $200,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. 

The sprint always draws some really fast horses, and the list of past winners includes 1997 sprint champion Smoke Glacken, and Idiot Proof, who set the track record of 1:07.47 in winning the race in 2007. 

This year’s 19^th running of the Jersey Shore is likely to attract another fast crowd that includes Cool Bullet, who won the Rumson Stakes as his prep, and Partyallnightlong, who has already won twice at the meet. 

Trainer Scott Volk is looking forward to running Dennis Narlinger’s Out of Respect in the stakes, especially after the gelding’s most recent showing. 

Out of Respect, by Read the Footnotes, used his considerable speed to outrun a solid allowance group here on June 13, stopping the timer in 1:10 flat. It was his first race after a three-month layoff. 

“He ran a huge race after a huge layoff,” Volk said of the colt’s last start. “But the way he was training, I expected him to win, and he did. And he won easily. 

“Now he’s got to step up a little in the Jersey Shore,” the trainer said. 

Out of Respect, a New York-bred, has run five times in his career, with three wins and two seconds, all at six furlongs. 
 

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June 24, 2010
STELLAR FIELD IN PROSPECT FOR U.N. STAKES ON JULY 3
Monmouth Park.com

A strong field of older horses – including a couple of wild cards – is lining up to go in the $750,000 Betfair/TVG United Nations Stakes (G1), which kicks off the Independence Day weekend festivities on Saturday, July 3. 

The field will be topped by Patricia Generazio’s Presious Passion, who will be going for a third straight victory in the mile and three-eighths turf test. But the 7-year-old gelding will get plenty of competition from the likes of the Christophe Clement-trained Winchester, who beat Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont last out; Telling, who won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga last summer, and Take the Points, who won two Grade 1 events last year and this year was disqualified after finishing first in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. 

Adding spice to the mix is the likely appearance of Europe’s Chinchon, a Irish-bred 5-year-old who has been racing in France, and Jeune-Turc, a Brazilian-bred runner who would be making his first U.S. start after a successful stakes campaign in his native land. 

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June 24, 2010
SIRIUS/XM RADIO TO BROADCAST U.N. CARD AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

The Sirius/XM satellite radio network will broadcast from Monmouth Park the entire day on Saturday, July 3, and will provide live coverage of the $750,000 Betfair/TVG United Nations Stakes (G1). 

The radio broadcast, which is being sponsored by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemens Association, will be aired from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Channel 126, with live coverage of Monmouth’s premier grass event, the 57^th running of the mile and three-eighths U.N. 
 

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June 24, 2010
BETFAIR/TVG TO SPONSOR UNITED NATIONS STAKES AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth Park officials announced Thursday that the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1), to be run on Saturday, July 3, will be sponsored by Betfair/TVG. 

“They have been our seasonal partner for several years,” said Bill Knauf, Monmouth’s assistant vice president of Thoroughbred racing, “and we’re excited that they are going to sponsor our major turf race of the year. We’re delighted they will also be a part of one of our biggest wagering days.” 

The mile and three-eighths grass U.N., which will be run for the 57^th time this year, will be named the Betfair/TVG United Nations. 

The U.N., which has a long championship history, will be part of a special Pick Five that Saturday, presented by Betfair/TVG, that will have a guaranteed minimum pool of $250,000. 

The race will be televised live on July 3 as part of a special TVG show.

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June 23, 2010
AFLEET AGAIN LIKELY TO TRAIN UP TO HASKELL
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
OCEANPORT, N.J. - The $1 million Haskell Invitational looks appealing to trainer Butch Reid, following Afleet Again's second-place finish last weekend in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The Jim Dandy is in the mix. So is the West Virginia Derby. But the way Afleet Again has run and trained at Monmouth has Reid thinking the big gray colt would do best by staying home for the Grade 1 Haskell at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 1.

In the Pegasus, Afleet Again rallied for second behind Afleet Express, the very impressive winner. Afleet Again, the Withers winner in April at Aqueduct, has now hit the board in four straight stakes.

"He came out of the race great," Reid said Wednesday morning after watching Afleet Again gallop at Monmouth. 'He was on his toes and eager to go around there."

At 1 1/16 miles, the Pegasus equaled the farthest distance the colt has gone.
"I think distance is really going to help him," Reid said. "I've been dying to get this horse a mile and an eighth or even a mile and a quarter. He's just barely getting warmed up at a mile and a sixteenth so the Haskell is very much in our plans so far."

The next Haskell prep is the $175,000 Long Branch on July 10. Reid will skip that spot and aim for bigger riches three weeks later.

"The reason we picked the Pegasus is that it gives us six weeks to the Haskell, which I think is perfect," Reid said. "His next start will be that weekend."

Soaring Empire eyes Long Branch
The Long Branch is a possible target for Soaring Empire, third in the Pegasus.
Like Afleet Again, Soaring Empire launched a rally in a paceless race. He ranged into contention with a four-wide surge on the final turn but could not sustain the run.

"There was no pace, and he made a good run," trainer Cam Gambolati said. "I'm satisfied with the race. I think he can run with those horses. He got beat by only three lengths after losing ground on the far turn."

For Gambolati, the Pegasus was another step in the learning curve for Soaring Empire, who has only six starts.
"It's not like I have to make the Haskell," Gambolati said. "The whole key is to continue a progression. If he ran well in the Long Branch, maybe I'd think about it, but the Haskell looks like it will come up a pretty good race with Super Saver and Lookin At Lucky. Hopefully, down the road I can race with them."

Schoolyard Dreams gets a rest
There will be no Long Branch or Haskell for Schoolyard Dreams after he ran last in the Pegasus while battling for the lead through slow early fractions.

The hard-luck loser of the Tampa Bay Derby by only a nose has been turned out on a farm for a couple of weeks of freshening by trainer Derek Ryan.

"We're starting all over," Ryan said.
The Pegasus was an opportunity for Schoolyard Dreams to rebound after running ninth in the Preakness.
"The dream is over," Ryan said. "It's back to reality. He came out of it fine. He's really not a front-runner, but there was no pace in there. He just wasn't good enough."

After the vacation, Schoolyard Dreams will be pointed to a second-level allowance race before targeting a lucrative stakes like the Pennsylvania Derby. Ryan offered a final thought on Pegasus winner Afleet Express.

"He might be the best 3-year-old in the country," Ryan said. "He might be the horse to beat the rest of the way."

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June 20, 2010
24,262 PACK MONMOUTH PARK ON FATHER'S DAY; EVENINGS END WINS DOWD 'CAP, FLAMIN' HOT PLACED 1ST IN FOWLER
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – A crowd of 24,262 jammed Monmouth Park on Father’s Day to see Daniel Ljoka’s Evenings End capture the $100,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap by a length and three-quarters and Ralph M. Evans’s Flamin’ Hot placed first in the $100,000 Anderson Fowler Stakes.

The Sunday attendance was the largest outside of a Haskell or Breeders’ Cup Day since Father’s Day 2005, when 27,393 were on-hand.

Evenings End, who gave jockey Francisco Maysonett his first-career stakes victory, opened a clear lead turning for home and held his rivals safely at bay all the way to the wire. He covered the mile and 70 yards over a fast main track in 1:44 2/5 and returned $32.20, $17.20 and $9.60. Luna Park rallied to complete the $302.80 exacta and paid $12.60 to place and $6.20 to show. It was another half-length back to Clear Faith, who returned $3.40 to show as the favorite in the field of 12 New Jersey-bred colts and geldings.

“We took him to Penn National for his last race looking for a prep for this and it worked out perfectly,” said winning trainer Timothy J. Kelly. “This race was our goal from last year.� Everything worked to absolute perfection, which in this game is very rare. The jock worked him all winter long, which really helped a lot I think. I’m really proud of this horse.”

The Dowd ‘Cap victory marked the sixth in 25 starts for Evenings End, a 5-year-old colt by Evening Kris from the Sun War Dancer mare Dancing Proof. Evening Kris has now earned $261,206 for his connections.

In the Fowler Stakes, Escrow Kid, with Joe Bravo in the irons, split rivals just after turning for home, but drifted out in the lane, which impeded the paths of Bernie the Maestro and Never Content. Escrow Kid crossed the wire first, but was placed sixth for the interference.

Flamin’ Hot, the even-money favorite in the five and a half furlong Fowler, was just a nose behind Escrow Kid, but was elevated to first after the disqualification. Ridden by Alan Garcia, Flamin’ Hot paid $4, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board. The time for the stakes contest was 1:02 1/5 over the firm going.

Cooper Junior, who was moved from third to second, was a length farther back and completed the $67.20 exacta. He paid $19 to place and $8.40 to show. It was another half-length back to Close to the Edge, who was placed third, good for a $9.60 show mutuel.

“He broke kind of slow and wasn’t involved in the early pace, which he usually is,” said winning trainer Rick Violette Jr. “He ran his eyeballs out to make up that much ground in the last eighth of a mile. He’s just a nice, professional horse.”

Flamin’ Hot, a 3-year-old gelding by Flame Thrower from the Scatmandu mare Domestic Dispersal improved his record to 4-3-0 from eight starts. He has now earned $163,893.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, June 25 – first post 12:50 p.m. As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.
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June 20, 2010
STRAIGHT STORY SHOOTS FOR U.N. SPOT
By Mike Farrell, DRF
 
OCEANPORT, N.J. - A first-level turf allowance on Sunday at Monmouth Park could be the springboard to launch Straight Story into the United Nations Stakes on July 3.

Not many older horses can make the leap from an entry-level race to a Grade 1, $750,000 stakes.
If anyone appears capable of handling the transition, it's Straight Story.
The 4-year-old trained by Alan Goldberg has already earned $412,390. That bankroll gives him a dominant class edge on eight rivals going 1 1/8 miles in the $80,000 race.

He has run twice this year, both times at Belmont Park against New York-breds. After missing by a head in his season debut, Straight Story came back to win a second-level allowance by a commanding 8 1/2 lengths as the favorite at 15 cents on the dollar.

The price doesn't figure to be much higher on Sunday.
He appears to have come back stronger this year, posting 102 and 97 Beyer Speed Figures that no rival in this race can touch.

"He seems pretty good," Goldberg said. "He certainly looks better, but it might have been the competition."
A string of heartbreaking losses last year kept Straight Story eligible for this race. His three wins have come in New York-bred races, which are excluded from allowance consideration in the Monmouth condition book. While he has yet to win against open company, it wasn't from lack of effort.

He dropped three head-bobs in graded stakes last year: the Jamaica, the Colonial Turf Cup and the Virginia Derby.
"I figured he's eligible for this race and maybe he'll get lucky and win it," Goldberg said. "Then we'll see if we can win the UN."

Sweet Ducky set for race debut
The time has come for Sweet Ducky to get quacking after burning up the morning work tab at Monmouth.
He debuts Sunday from the rail in a $75,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Sweet Ducky is part of a George and Lori Hall-owned entry along with Nacho Saint. Trainer Kelly Breen said Friday morning that the plan is to run Sweet Ducky with Nacho Saint standing by as a backup insurance policy. Garrett Gomez was named on both horses.

A $135,000 purchase at Keeneland last September, Sweet Ducky turned in bullet workouts in his last three breezes. His final drill last Monday was a sensational three furlongs in 33.80.

"He has talent," Breen said. "He's very deceptive in what he does and how he goes."
While the workouts are eye-catching, so is his name.
The Halls let their kids participate in the sales bidding and naming of the horses. George Jr. was in charge of this colt and came up with Sweet Ducky for one of his first-grade classmates.

"He was a school friend who at the time was his arch-nemesis," Breen said. "So as a tease, he called him Sweet Ducky."
And the name was passed on to a son of Pulpit.
When Sweet Ducky arrived at the Palm Meadows training center over the winter, it was apparent that the colt had talent.
Breen sent an e-mail to the Halls advising it was not too late for a name change.
"I suggested we name another horse Sweet Ducky and get this horse a real dominant male name," Breen said. "But little George said it's going to be Sweet Ducky."

A name that does not fit his personality.
"You go to his stall and he hollers at everyone," Breen said. "He lets everyone know that he's here. He's very boisterous in his stall, boisterous on the track."

State backup plan in place
The New Jersey Racing Commission took action Friday to insure racing continues, even if state government shuts down on July 1 at the expiration of the current budget.

A similar shutdown in 2006 cost Monmouth two cards over the Independence Day weekend.
Legislation passed following that shutdown allows a seven-day extension for racing, providing all existing rules and regulations are followed and enforced by qualified stewards and veterinarians hired by the racetracks.

The issue could also be resolved by an executive order from Gov. Chris Christie declaring racing commission staff "essential personnel" during a government shutdown.

"My understanding is that he is supportive of that action," Lennon Register, senior vice president racing for Monmouth and the Meadowlands, told the commissioners.

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June 19, 2010
AFLEET EXPRESS ROLLS TO VICTORY IN PEGASUS STAKES; AFLEET AGAIN 2ND, SOARING EMPIRE 3RD IN GRADE 3 STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Gainesway Farm and Martin L. Cherry’s Afleet Express sat off the early pace of Schoolyard Dreams and Jackson Bend before moving past the pacesetters just before the quarter-pole and then digging in all the way to the wire to post a length and three-quarters win in the $200,000 Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

Sent off the 2-1 second choice in the field of six 3-year-old colts, Afleet Express stepped the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45 2/5 and returned $6, $4 and $4.20.

“I didn’t want to commit to the lead. I hoped we could get a target,” said winning trainer James Jerkens. “It was his first start around two turns and with the outside break, we were hoping someone else would show some initiative.”

As for moving on to Monmouth’s signature event, the Grade 1, $1 million IZOD Haskell Invitational on Aug. 1, “We have to hugely consider the Haskell,” Jerkens said. “He handled everything well today.”

“When I saw two horses going head-to-head for the lead, I decided to take him back a little and cover up around the first turn,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “He relaxed very well and when I called on him for run he gave it to me.”

Afleet Again and Soaring Empire rallied together down the center of the track, but could not catch the winner. Afleet Again completed the $34.60 exacta and paid $5.20 and $4. It was a length and a quarter farther back to Soaring Empire, who returned $4.40 to show. Nacho Friend was fourth with 4-5 favorite Jackson Bend checking in fifth and Schoolyard Dreams last of the six. Jackson Bend and Schoolyard Dreams were making their first starts since finishing third and ninth, respectively, in the Preakness.

“He did everything so easily until the three-eighths pole and then didn’t have anything left in the lane,” said Jose Lezcano, who was riding Jackson Bend for the first time.

Pegasus winner Afleet Express and runner-up Afleet Again were both sired by Afleet Alex, winner of the 2005 Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Saturday’s victory was the third in five starts for Afleet Express and his first start against stakes company.� He has now earned $185,140 for his connections.

The Pegasus, a mainstay at the Meadowlands for decades, was being run for the second time at Monmouth Park.� It was contested in Oceanport in 2007 when it was part of the Breeders’ Cup undercard.

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June 20, 2010

MONMOUTH EMPLOYEES DEMONSTRATE STICK-TO-ITIVENESS

Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – From the front gate to the backstretch, Monmouth Park is all about history and tradition.

For 140 years, it has played a key role in American Thoroughbred racing, drawing Presidents in the 19^th Century, Governors in the 20^th Century, and equine royalty in the 21^st Century.

But nowhere is the Monmouth tradition stronger than in its fans -- a good number of whom have been regulars since the “new” Monmouth opened in 1946 -- and its employees -- some of whom top the half-century mark in tenure.

Three women in food service epitomize that longevity. Teresa Pacera of Long Branch has been in charge of a food concession stand since she started at Monmouth in 1959. Evelyn Aumack of West End is in her 39^th year of waiting tables at any of the several dining areas at the track, and Sophie Peedell of Oakhurst is considered a “newcomer” because she was a part-timer when she started in 1971.

Pacera, 83, was cited last year by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, which operates Monmouth Park, on 50 years of service to racetrack patrons.

Pacera’s entire family gathered for the occasion, and she proudly displays her photo plaque of the ceremonies.

To get some sense of how long Pacera has been at the job, a look at the headlines of 1959 show it was a different world. Consider that gasoline cost 25 cents a gallon, and you could buy a brand new house for $12,000. Dwight Eisenhower was President, and Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba. Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, and Mattel sold its first Barbie Doll. Boeing put its first jet airliner, the 707, into service, and the brand new television show Bonanza became the first to be broadcast in color.

Evelyn Aumack is the baby of the trio at 73, and she’s been a regular at New Jersey racetracks since 1971. She recalls working at Garden State Park in 1977 when a fire destroyed the track. “It was a Thursday,” she said.

Sophie Peedell is the oldest of the trio – “I’m 85 and proud of it,” she says – but the junior in terms of service. She started as a part-timer in 1971 after working for years at hotels and restaurants in Monmouth County.

All three women worked in food service at all three New Jersey racetracks when there was a regular circuit for the Thoroughbreds. Garden State opened the season in March, running through the first week in June, when Monmouth Park took over until the first week in August. Atlantic City Race Course raced in August and September, and a fall meet at Garden State closed out the racing year in November.

The trio has been working at Monmouth for a collective 130 years. Any plans to retire?

“Not until my legs give out,” Sophie says, speaking for them all.
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June 19, 2010

'SWEETLY' NAMED MAIDEN TAKES TO TRACK FOR THE FIRST TIME

Monmouth Park.com

Sunday’s first race at Monmouth Park will match a group of speedy 2-year-old colts and geldings with masculine-sounding names like Chief Thundercloud, Federal Exchange and Sweet Ducky. Sweet Ducky?

“Well, he’s not so sweet,” said Kelly Breen, who trains the Pulpit colt for George and Lori Hall. “He’s always hollering and making noise. He’s a real guy.”

And real fast, too, if workouts are any indication. Sweet Ducky comes into his debut race off three straight bullet drills, including three furlongs in an eye-popping :33 4/5 on June 14.

“The rider got off that day and said, ‘About :36, right?’ I told him 33 and change and he couldn’t believe it because the colt goes so easily.  

“Garrett (jockey Garrett Gomez) was aboard in the half-mile work on June 8, and he came back talking about how the colt was just goofing around. I told him the colt just goofed around in :47 1/5, and he couldn’t believe it,” Breen said.

So the colt the Halls purchased for $135,000 at Keeneland last year is fast. But what’s up with the Sweet Ducky?

“George lets his children bid on some horses at the sale,” Breen said. “And if we buy one they bid on, they get to name it. So George’s son, George Jr., who’s 6, bid on this one.

“He said he wanted to name it Sweet Ducky because that’s a name he uses to tease one of his classmates in first grade. So that’s the name that went in.

“Early this year,” the trainer said, “we began to see how fast and talented this colt was. I told George that there was still time to rename him, give him a guy’s name that suits his personality. But George Jr. wouldn’t budge. So Sweet Ducky it is.”

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June 19, 2010

MONMOUTH'S POPULAR DAWN PATROL BEGINS NEXT WEEKEND

Monmouth Park.com  

The first Dawn Patrol tour of the 2010 Monmouth Park Elite Summer Meet sponsored by IZOD, which offers racing fans a behind-the-scenes look at Thoroughbred racing, will start next weekend. The tours will be held every Saturday and Sunday morning from June 26-27 to the last weekend in August.

Dawn Patrol is a two-hour tram tour of the Monmouth Park stable area to watch morning training activities, and gives fans a rare chance to see the jockeys’ quarters. The tours, hosted by Laurie Lane, start at 8 a.m. Dawn Patrol is a free program, and guests are treated to coffee, juice and donuts.

Space on the trams is limited, and reservations are required for the Dawn Patrol. They can be made by calling 732-571-5542 or online at www.monmouthpark.com. The program is hosted by the New Jersey chapter of ReRun Inc., a racehorse adoption program.

 

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June 13, 2010

WAY WITH WORDS WINS OPEN MIND 'CAP; STARFISH BAY SETS NEW COURSE MARK IN CANDY ECLAIR

Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Living up to her odds-on billing, George L. Schwartz’s Way With Words cruised to a four-length win in the $100,000 Open Mind Handicap as Starfish Bay lowered the course record for about 5 ½ furlongs on turf, winning the $100,000 Candy Éclair Stakes in 1:00.76 at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Ridden by Eddie Castro, Way With Words sat off the early pace before rolling by her foes at the eighth pole and drawing off to pay $4, $2.60 and $2.60 as the favorite in the field of nine fillies and mares.

 “She’s just a lovely horse to be around,” said winning trainer Mary Eppler.  “She can do just about everything.  She can win on turf or dirt, while going long or short.  She runs hard every time she goes on the track.”

Dakota Doll, who was up on the early pace, held second to complete the $22.80 exacta and paid $5.20 to place and $4 to show.  It was another 4 ¼ lengths back to Moneigh Lisa, who returned $5.40 to show.

The Open Mind, run on the fast main track, marked the 10^th victory in 25 starts for Way With Words, seven of them coming at Monmouth Park.  The daughter of Sefapiano has now earned $466,900 for her connections.

After jumping out to the early lead, Starfish Bay never looked back, opening a three-length lead at the wire in winning the Candy Éclair.  The Todd Pletcher-trainee returned $3.80, $2.60 and $2.40 as the favorite in the field of 12 fillies and mares.

 “Her speed is her weapon,” said winning jockey John Velazquez.  “She was going so fast, but she handled the turn perfectly and responded very well when I asked her.  I think she could have gone faster, but I wanted to save something for next time.”

The time of 1:00.76 for the about 5 ½ furlongs bested the old mark of 1:01.00 set by Terrific Challenge on September 10, 2006.  The turf course was rated firm with the portable rail set at zero feet.

Candy Cane, who could not catch Starfish Bay on the firm turf, completed the $13.40 exacta and paid $3.60 and $2.80.  It was three-quarters of a length back to Quebrada Shiner, who paid $4 to show.

A 4-year-old filly by Elusive Quality from the Not For Love mare Touch Love, Starfish Bay improved her record to 6-1-1 from 12 starts.  She has earned $141,831 for owner Gainesway Stable.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, June 18 – first post 12:50 p.m.  As always the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.

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June 12, 2010

GET SERIOUS ULTRA-TOUGH WINNER OF THE MONMOUTH STAKES; COOL COAL MAN DOMINATES SKIP AWAY STAKES

Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Get Serious headed for the front-end early and never looked back in the lane, winning the $250,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes as Cool Coal Man rallied to the lead turning for home before drawing off to a two-length win in the $100,000 Skip Away Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

In a bit of a surprise, Get Serious and jockey Pablo Fragoso took command just after coming out of the chute and opened up a daylight lead on the expected front-runner Presious Passion, winner of last year’s Monmouth Stakes.  Get Serious, who reported home a length and a quarter on top, covered the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:47 flat and paid $16, $8.60 and $5.80 across the board.

 “If Presious Passion sent, we were going to back off,” said winning trainer John Forbes.  “He (Get Serious) opened up a little bit on the backside and by that time it was probably a little to late to gun Presious Passion.

 “We thought if we were going to take on Presious Passion, now was the time.  He had to go to Dubai and this was his first race back.”

Multi-millionaire and multiple Grade 1 winner Presious Passion was taken out of his element when he did not make his customary early lead.  The 3-1 favorite in the field of nine colts and geldings faded around the far turn and finished seventh, beaten just under 10 lengths.  The Monmouth Stakes was his first start since the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic on March 27.

Roman Tiger, dismissed in the wagering at 24-1, angled off the fence as the field turned for home and tried Get Serious as they neared the final furlong, but proved no match for the winner.

 “When I got to Get Serious at the eighth-pole, he re-broke as soon as he smelled us,” said Joe Bravo, who piloted Roman Tiger.  “That horse (Get Serious) is really something.”

The Get Serious-Roman Tiger exacta paid $332.60.  Roman Tiger returned $20.20 to place and $9.60 to show.  It was another two lengths back to Dynamoor, who rallied to pay $5 to show.

The Monmouth Stakes win was the 11^th in 27 starts for Get Serious, a 6-year-old gelding by City Zip from the Java Gold mare Java Gal.  He has now earned $740,691 for owners Dinan, Moore and Phantom House.

Forbes indicated that Monmouth Park’s Battlefield Stakes on July 10 will likely be the geldings next start.

In the Skip Away Stakes, Cool Coal Man returned $4.60, $3 and $2.10 as the favorite in the field of five colts and geldings after stepping the mile and a sixteenth in 1:43 4/5.  Sir Whimsey rallied to complete the $43.40 exacta and paid $7.80 to place and $3.60 to show.  It was 3 ¾ lengths back to Gone Astray, who paid $2.60 to show.

 “It was a very slow pace and I just wanted to sit right off of it,” said winning jockey Elvis Trujillo.  “When I asked him he came home very well.  He’s a nice horse.”

The Skip Away win marked the 10^th in 26 starts for Cool Coal Man, a 5-year-old horse by Mineshaft from the Rubiano mare Coral Sea.  He has now earned $777,328 for owner Robert V. LaPenta.

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June 6, 2010
COOL BULLET, $3.60, CAPTURES SUNDAY’S RUMSON STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Cool Bullet lived up to his odds-on billing in the $100,000 Rumson Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park, taking the event by two lengths.

Trained by Steve Margolis, Cool Bullet stepped the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:11 2/5 and paid $3.60, $2.20 and $2.10.  Nathan’s H Q, who battled with Kens Cape early, held the place, completing the $8 exacta and paying $3.20 and $2.80.  It was another two lengths back to My Man Marty, who rallied to pay $4.40 to show.

“I just let him bounce away from the gate,” said winning jockey Garrett Gomez.  “No one really wanted to go, but I didn’t want to take too strong of a hold of him.  The other horse (Kens Cape) finally went up and challenged so I was able to slide in and track in third.  When it was time to go, he went on with it very well.”

After stalking the pacesetters, Cool Bullet powered past his rivals just outside the 1/16^th pole before drawing off to victory.  A 3-year-old gelding by Preakness winner Red Bullet from the Saint Ballado mare Lizzy Cool, Cool Bullet boosted his lifetime record to 4-2-0 from nine starts.  He has earned $170,894 for owners Winmore LLC and Robert and Lawana Low.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, June 11 – first post 12:50 p.m.  As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.
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June 6, 2010
MANDURAH SETS WORLD RECORD, 1:31.23 FOR ONE MILE ON TURF
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – A new world record for a one mile turf race was established at Monmouth Park on Sunday when Mandurah went in 1:31.23 over the firm course.  The $50,000 event was the first in the four-part Malouf Auto Group Starter Series, which runs all summer long at Monmouth.  The condition for the race was:  3-year-olds and up which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2009-2010 and have not won a stakes since becoming eligible.

Trained by Grant Forster and ridden by Alex Solis, Mandurah toted 114 pounds in establishing the new mark in Monmouth’s ninth race.  The old record belonged to Mister Light, who ran 1:31.41 on January 3, 2005, at Gulfstream Park as a 6-year-old carrying 118 pounds.

After seeing his 6-year-old gelding by A.P. Indy run the fastest mile in Thoroughbred history, Forster said, “He’s a very talented horse.  We thought he’d like the firm turf at Monmouth, which he did very well.

“We purchased him privately as a 4-year-old and gelded him.  He always trained well in the morning, but didn’t show up in the afternoon.  But over this winter we got him in some races and gained his confidence back.”

A winner of three races at Oaklawn earlier this year Mandurah was making his first start on turf.  His connections plan to continue on in the Malouf Auto Group Starter Series.  Next up is the mile and a sixteenth test on Saturday, June 26. 

The Malouf series boasts a point system of 80 for first, 50 for second, 30 for third, 20 for fourth and 10 for unplaced.  Any horse running in three of the four series races will receive 40 bonus points.  At the end of the series, a $5,000 first prize will be awarded to the trainer of the horse with the most accumulated points.
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June 5, 2010
SILVER TIMBER RALLIES TO CAPTURE WOLF HILL STAKES; LADY ALEXANDER HOLDS ON TO WIN RED CROSS STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – M. Dubb and High Grade Racing Stable’s Silver Timber rallied from well off the pace before drawing clear in the lane to take the $100,000 Wolf Hill Stakes as Lady Alexander held on by a desperate nose to capture the $100,000 Red Cross Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Chad Brown, Silver Timber raced the 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:01 flat and paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20 as the odds-on choice in the field of eight colts and geldings.  It was two lengths back to True to Tradition, who paid $13 and $8.60 and completed the $37.60 exacta.  Blue Sailor, the early pacesetter, was another length back in third, good for a $4.20 show mutuel.

“This old boy is just absolutely awesome,” said winning jockey Joe Bravo, after capturing his fourth race on the program.  “He’s always calm, cool and collected and loves to win.  He’s definitely a talented runner and he shows it time after time.”

The Wolf Hill victory was the 12^th in 33 starts for Silver Timber, a 7-year-old gelding by Prime Timber from the Alwuhush mare River Princess.  He has now banked $595,519.

After setting the early pace in the Red Cross, Lady Alexander was headed by Rated Fiesty in mid-stretch, but battled back to hold on by a nose over the hard charging Christine Daae, the 8-5 favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares.

Ridden by Carlos H. Marquez Jr., Lady Alexander stepped the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:11 2/5 and returned $11.60, $4.40 and $2.80.  Christine Daae completed the $38 exacta and paid $3.60 to place and $2.40 to show.  It was a length and three-quarters back to Rated Fiesty, who returned $2.60 to show.

“We do know she loves Monmouth Park,” said winning trainer Bruce Alexander.  “We really don’t know her best distance.  I told Carlos (jockey Marquez) before the race that she has a fair amount of talent, but her best attribute is her determination.”

A 6-year-old daughter of Exchange Rate from the Housebuster mare Lady Ironwood, Lady Alexander now sports a record of six wins in 14 lifetime starts – four of those wins coming at Monmouth.  Racing in the colors of Rosemarie Kesselring, Lady Alexander has now earned $255,008.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday.  In addition, the racetrack will host the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Festival, with lives bands from noon to 8:00 p.m.

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June 5, 2010
MONMOUTH'S 6TH RACE SATURDAY RUN AS A "NO CONTEST"
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Monmouth Park’s sixth race on Saturday was run as a “no contest” after it was discovered that a tote malfunction would fail to lock wagering once the race commenced.

“The horses for the sixth race were on the track for nearly half an hour,” said Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager at Monmouth Park.  “As always our primary concern is for the jockeys and the horses.  To that end, we moved ahead and ran the race rather than have them on the track any longer.”

Typically, horses warm up on the track for 10 to 15 minutes before any given race.  In addition to the long delay, temperatures were nearing the 90-degree mark at Monmouth on Saturday.

The sixth race was the start of the popular Pick 5 wager at Monmouth Park.  Anyone who wagered on the Pick 5 received all runners in the sixth race and therefore moved ahead in that wager to the second leg, race seven.

“Fortunately the tote problem was corrected and the rest of the card commenced as scheduled,” Kulina said.

The sixth race, run for purse money only, was captured by Stormy Mirage, who took his eight turf course rivals wire-to-wire.
 

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June 2, 2010
Summer Schedule in Effect Starting This Week
Monmouth Park.com

Beginning with this Friday, June 4, Monmouth Park will pick up its regular live schedule of racing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  In addition, the Oceanport Racetrack will have special holiday cards on Monday, July 5 and Monday, Sept. 6, the last day of the Elite Summer Meet.

Following the Labor Day card on Sept. 6, Monmouth will host live racing on Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 21.

As always, the track is open seven days a week for simulcast racing from across the country and around the globe.

For more information contact the racetrack at 732-222-5100 or visit online at www.monmouthpark.com.

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June 2, 2010
Friday's 7th Race at Monmouth Comes Up Interesting Contest
Monmouth Park.com

In year’s past, an allowance contest at Monmouth would draw the interest of horsemen and fans alike.  This year, with nearly $1 million in average daily purses on the line for the Elite Summer Meet, horsemen and fans have an even greater interest, especially when the purse reads $82,000.

With their eye on that prize this Friday, trainers Gregg Sacco and Phil Oliver have two interesting runners set to contest the 7^th race, a mile and 70 yards event.  Sacco will saddle Debonair Darling while Oliver sends out Tarheel Girl.

Making her first start of the year is Debonair Darling, who was last seen taking an entry level allowance over this racing strip on June 27, 2009.

“She was doing great after that race,” said Sacco, who conditions the filly for John J. Brunetti’s Red Oak Stable.  “It was just after that race, following a workout, that we discovered a small chip in her ankle and had it removed.  We sent her to Red Oak in Ocala (Fla.) after that and she rejoined me at Gulfstream this winter.

“She’s been training great, all winter down in Florida and then here.  She’ll have to come back at two turns, which is her game, and she should have enough foundation for this race.”

A two-time winner in six career outings, Debonair Darling will be reunited with jockey C.H. Marquez Jr., who was aboard for her wining effort last June.

“She drew well (post 2),” Sacco said.  “She doesn’t need the lead, but she’ll be close.  She’s got nice tactical speed and she really likes Monmouth Park, so that should help too.”

While Sacco’s entrant may draw the interest of wagering fans looking to play the “fresh horse,” others looking for the breeding angle, should go no further than Tarheel Girl.

On the top side, the 5-year-old mare is by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm and on the bottom you find a nice mare in Contrive, who’s by Storm Cat.  While Contrive never raced, she certainly has produced when it comes to making runners. 

Her first foal was Folklore, winner of the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.  Just after her daughter’s Breeders’ Cup win, Contrive found herself in the sales ring at Keeneland that November, fetching a handsome price of $3 million.

But it was eight months before the $3 million price tag that brings the story back to Monmouth Park and Tarheel Girl.  Born on March 4, 2005, Tarheel Girl was the last foal from Contrive before she found herself on the road to a hefty price tag.  Tarheel Girl’s mom was sold in foal to Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect.  From the four foals dropped by Contrive that have raced, all are winners.

Tarheel Girl, who breaks from post five on Friday, will have Eclipse Award winning rider Paco Lopez in the irons.  The winner of two of her 19 outings will be making her fourth start in 2010 and exits a fourth-place finish over the synthetic Keeneland surface.

A field of nine entered the allowance, optional claiming event, which goes as the 7^th of 11 races on Friday. 

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June 1, 2010
MONMOUTH BUSINESS BOOMING
By Matt Hegarty, DRF

Betting and attendance figures for the first five days of the Monmouth Park meet have far exceeded the expectations of the track's operator and the racing officials who supported the adoption of an experimental 50-day meet guaranteeing $1 million in average purse distribution per day, the racing officials said.

Over the first five days, average handle has been $8,263,283 per card, up 162 percent compared to the total average for a 93-day meet last year and up 122 percent compared to the handle on corresponding dates last year, according to figures supplied by Monmouth and on race charts. Average attendance is up 86 percent, while field size has increased by nearly two horses per race, from 7.5 last year to 9.4 this year.

The early returns justify Monmouth's decision to drop the vast majority of its weekday cards in favor of a Friday-through-Sunday schedule that seeks to capitalize on the higher visibility of racing on weekends, said Dennis Drazin, a former head of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association who pushed for the new schedule and purse outlays.

"I see a lot of excitement at the track," Drazin said. "People who haven't been coming for years are showing up. And people who used to say that Monmouth was unbettable are now saying we're the best product out there."

Drazin said that the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority budgeted for average handle of $4.5 million this year, compared to $3.15 million last year. "Secretly, everyone was hoping for six," Drazin said, "and now everyone is just astounded that we're over eight."

Charts for the races show that horses are shipping into Monmouth from all over the U.S., most notably from tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, along with the occasional horse from Churchill Downs and tracks in California. The horses are lured by the highest purse distribution in the nation, with first-time allowance horses running for $80,000 and maidens running for $75,000.

Activity at the claiming box has been especially high, with 53 horses changing hands over the first five days.
Monmouth has also experienced newfound success with its pick five wager. This year, average handle for the 50-cent minimum bet has been $275,000, a ten-fold increase over average handle last year on the bet. Part of that success can be attributed to a $123,000 carryover after the first card, which attracted $560,000 in new wagers, but the lowest the bet has handled has been $193,000.

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May 31, 2010
Holiday Weekend Handle Nears $25 Million as 38,543 Pour Through Monmouth Gates for 3-Days of Live Racing
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Following Monday’s Memorial Day card, handle for the holiday weekend at Monmouth Park totaled $24,912,191 a 122% increase over last year, when $11,222,330 was wagered.  A crowd of 10,366 were on-hand Monday to see Gypsy’s Warning notch a nose victory over Maram in the Grade 3 $150,000 Eatontown Stakes and Funny Feeling score a convincing 2 ¼ length win in the $100,000 Just Smashing Stakes.

Total attendance for the 3-day weekend was 38,543, a 15.5% increase over 2009, as on-track handle came in at $2,925,073, a 44% increase.

A 5-year-old mare, Gypsy’s Warning was making her first start outside her native South Africa in winning the Eatontown.  She stepped the mile and a sixteenth over firm turf 1:41 3/5 and paid $16.40, $6.60 and $3.60.

 “She was already proven in South Africa, but you still never know what to expect first time in the U.S.,” said winning jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.  “I was very pleased that she went by Maram because she’s a very nice filly.  She’s got a big turn of foot.  I expect big things in the future for her.”

Maram, the winner of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies turf, took command just outside the 1/8^th pole, dug in gamely to the wire, but came up a few inches short in the photo.  Sent off the 7-5 favorite in the field of five fillies and mares, Maram returned $3.20 and $2.10 and completed the $44.40 exacta.  It was another length and three-quarters back to Scolora, who paid $3 to show.

The Eatontown win was the sixth victory in 12 starts for Gypsy’s Warning, a Group 1 winner in South Africa, who races in the colors of Team Valor and Green Lantern Stables.  Trained by H. Graham Motion, Gypsy’s Warning has now banked $223,579.

In the Just Smashing Stakes, 2-5 favorite Midst set early fractions of :22 flat for the quarter and :44 4/5 for the half mile before being passed on the inside by Full of Gut and the outside by Funny Feeling as the field of five 3-year-old fillies turned for home.  The clock stopped at 1:10 2/5 for the six furlongs with Funny Feeling paying $13.20, $7.20 and $11.

“We’ve always been high on this horse, especially after she broke her maiden at first asking,” said winning trainer Michael Maker.  “We tried to stretch her out earlier, but that didn’t work out.  We’ll keep her sprinting from now on.  She seems to like it here so we’ll look for a spot at Monmouth.”

Full of Gut, who pressed the pacesetter early, completed the $83.60 exacta and paid $8.60 to place and $10.40 to show.  Brilliant Sunshine rallied to pay $3.40 to show after finishing another 2 ½ lengths back in third.

Piloted by Alan Garcia, Funny Feeling now sports a record of three wins in six career starts.  The daughter of Distorted Humor from the Grade 1 winning mare Hookedonthefeelin, Funny Feeling has earned $120,036.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, June 4 – first post 12:50 p.m.  As always, the track is open seven days a week for simulcast racing from across the country and around the globe.

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May 30, 2010

Just Jenda remains perfect at Monmouth

By Mike Farrell, DRF

OCEANPORT, N.J. Just Jenda extended her Monmouth Park unbeaten streak to three with a 1 1/2-length win over McVictory Sunday in the $96,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes for fillies and mares.

In the supporting event, Strike It Rich posted a front-running victory in the $97,500 Little Silver Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Just Jenda swept a pair of stakes here last summer, the Serena s Song and the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks. A 4-year-old trained and co-owned by Cindy Jones in partnership with her husband, Larry, Just Jenda benefited from a return to her favorite track and substantial class relief, having chased Zenyatta most recently in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

Jockey Terry Thompson kept Just Jenda in the mix right from the start following a stumble at the start of the mile and 70-yard race. She was fourth for most of the race before moving into contention on the final turn. The decisive move was a shift to the rail for her winning rally inside the pacesetting McVictory.

We were in a great spot today, said Thompson. I just sat back and watched the race set up in front of me. She sat in mid-pack, right behind the pace, and was a little on the bit heading to the three-eighths. Luckily for us, the leader tired a little and came off the rail, and we were able to take the spot.

The 8-5 favorite, Just Jenda paid $5.40 and ran the one mile and 70 yards in 1:42.07.

Ask the Moon was third. Luna Vega, also unbeaten in two prior Monmouth appearances, including last year s Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Stakes, finished seventh.

Strike It Rich ($4.40) got her first stakes win in the Little Silver. She earned it the hard way, outdueling Potosina in a prolonged battle for the lead in the one-mile turf race. Strike It Rich, with Garrett Gomez aboard for trainer Christophe Clement, cut the corner smartly to open up by about two lengths. She had plenty left in the lane, beating In the Rough by one length with Elusive Temper third.

I talked to Christophe this morning and he told me not to be afraid to let her get involved in the race early, Gomez said. When I asked her to quicken turning for home, she did so. She stayed on well. I m really excited about her future.

It was the second straight win for Strike It Rich following a first-level allowance victory at Gulfstream. She improved to 3 for 7.

The time was 1:33.32 for the one mile on the firm turf.

The middle card of the holiday weekend attracted 15,094 on a spectacularly sunny afternoon. The crowd for the comparable Sunday of Memorial Day weekend 2009 was 11,452. Combined handle from all sources was $8,123,882 compared to $3,125,003 last year.

Monmouth is back in action Monday with a 12-race card starting at 12:50 p.m.