The Lincroft Handicap

$50,000

A Handicap For Three Year Olds And Upward

Registered New Jersey Breds

One Mile - Monmouth Turf Course

Saturday, June 28, 2003   Race  10

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Beknown To Me led the field through the opening half-mile in a moderate 47.87, a half-length in front of Upturn running second, while Lyle Lovesit ran another head back chasing the leaders in third.  Through the far turn Beknown To Me continued to lead but Upturn had pulled up alongside the leader as the two continued their duel on the front end entering the stretch while American Freedom was making a four wide move putting himself in striking distance entering the stretch.  In deep stretch, American Freedom took the lead just inside the furlong pole then drew clear to win The $50,000 Lincroft Handicap. Catechol, after circling the field through the final turn, finished well gaining for second as Beknown To Me dueled with a slight lead to the eighth pole but was outfinished through the final sixteenth settling for third. American Frredom is a five-year-old gray/roan horse owned by Freedom Acres, Inc., trained by Jamie Woodington and was ridden by Jose Velez, Jr.

Jose Velez, Jr. guides American Freedom to victory in The Lincroft Handicap.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  24.28, 47.87, 1:11.78, 1:36.45

Scratched Horses: Marine, River Power, Jersey Giant, Sea of Tranquility

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The Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap

Grade II  (The 58th Running)

$300,000

A Handicap For Fillies And Mares, Three-Years-Old And Upward

One and One-Eighth Miles - Main Track

Saturday, June 28, 2003      Race 11

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Enjoy was scratched the day before the race with chips in her ankle leaving four to go postward in the Grade II event.  Alchemilla cleared the field after the opening sixteenth and led the field through the opening three-quarters, rating on the early pace, getting the distance in 1:13.05 as Call An Audible stalked the leader closely in second.  Summer Colony after settling in the back early on was urged by jockey Stevens down the backside, after recognizing the slow pace, and moved into striking distance in the final turn. Bumping lightly with a rival at the head of the stretch, Summer Colony, then finished steadily, edging away late to win the Grade II Molly Picher in a final time of 1:51.83. She’s Got The Beat, after dropping back some on the final turn finished well for the place spot three lengths behind the winner as Call An Audible, who lodged a bid on the final turn and raced head and head for command while between foes, bumped lightly with a Summer Colony at the top of the lane then weakened through the late stages finishing third.  Summer Colony is a five-year-old dark bay or brown mare owned by Edward P. Evans, trained by Mark A. Hennig and was ridden by Gary Stevens.

Summer Colony wins The Molly Picher Handicap with Gary Stevens in the irons.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.90, 48.51, 1:13.05, 1:38.62, 1:51.83

Scratched Horses: Enjoy

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The Politely Stakes

$50,000

For Fillies And Mares, Three-Years-Old And Upward

One Mile - Monmouth Turf Course

Sunday, June 29, 2003      Race 9

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Start That Song set the early pace leading the field through early fractions of 23.45, 46.58, 1:10.40.  At the quarter pole Coney Kitty overtook Saranac Lake for second as the field made its way into the stretch.  In deep stretch, Southern Fiction, after being eased out some turning for home, responded to left handed pressure and drove clear late to win The Politely Stakes by two lengths at the wire covering the one mile distance in final time of 1:35.25. Cocktailsandreams, who was never far back while saving ground, advanced some on the final turn, raced between rivals in midstretch and finished gamely for second, three-quarters of a length over Caught Out who raced between foes on the final turn, was outside into the lane and closed well for the show spot.  Southern Fiction is a five-year-old chestnut mare owned by G. Watts Humphrey, Jr., trained by Vicki Oliver and was ridden by Joe Bravo.

Southern Fiction, ridden by Joe Bravo, wins The Politely Stakes.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.45, 46.58, 1:10.40, 1:35.25

Scratched Horses: Party Queen, Clearly a Queen, Midnight Delight

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The Skip Away Stakes

$60,000

For Three-Year-Olds And Upward

One Mile - Main Track

Friday, July 4, 2003      Race 8

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Classic Endeavor led the field through the opening half-mile before giving way to a five wide Sea of Tranquility in the turn.  Leaving the turn Jersey Giant took the lead after angling five wide making his bid through the turn then dueled determinedly with Sea of Tranquility in the stretch to prevail under an aggressive hand ride running the mile in a final time of 1:37.39.  Sea of Tranquility ran a hard fought second as Beware Avalanche finished evenly for show.  Jersey Giant is a four-year-old bark bay/brown colt owned by Joel A. Kligman, trained by James T. Ryerson and was ridden by Julian Pimentel.

Julian Pimentel rides Jersey Giant to a hard fought victory in The Skip Away Stakes.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  23.75, 47.23, 1:12.14, 1:37.39

Scratched Horses: Night Caller, Just Le Facts

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The Betsy Ross Stakes

$50,000

For Fillies And Mares, Three-Years-Old And Upward

Five Furlongs - Monmouth Turf Course

Friday, July 4, 2003      Race 9

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Tangier Sound set a pressured pace from along the inside, getting the opening calls in 21.08 and 43.66.  Amber’s Way pressured the leader early on before giving way to Oh Say Vicki as the field made its way through deep stretch.  Nearing the wire Tangier Sound drifted in weakening  as Oh Say Vicki took the lead and drew off to a two and one-quarter length victory running the five furlongs in a final time of 55.59 to win The Betsy Ross Stakes.  Tangier Sound held on for second as Fashion Idol and Fuse It dead heated another nose back for third.  Oh Say Vicki is a six-year-old bay mare owned by Charles J. Reed, trained by Jerrald M. Ferris and was ridden by Joe Bravo.

Joe Bravo guides Oh Say Vicki to victory in The $50,000 Betsy Ross Stakes.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  21.08, 43.66, 55.59

Scratched Horses: Maypole Dance

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The Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup

Grade III

$100,000

For Three-Year-Olds

Six Furlongs - Main Track

Friday, July 4, 2003      Race 10

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Gators N Bears took the lead from Only The Best at the half-mile pole and never looked back running the half-mile split in 44.35 and finishing in a final time of 1:09.80 to win The Grade III Jersey Shore Breeders’ Cup Stakes.  Mt. Carson rallied from the top of the stretch and finished well for second while Don Six held on for the show spot.  Gators N Bears is a three-year-old bay colt owned and trained by Leo S. Nechamkin II and was ridden by Chuck C. Lopez.

Gators N Bears wins The Grade III Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup with Chuck C. Lopez in the irons.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  21.80, 44.35, 56.81, 1:09.80

Scratched Horses: Midnight Charlie

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The Lamplighter Stakes

$50,000

For Three-Year-Olds 

One and One Sixteenth Miles - Turf Course

Saturday, July 5, 2003      Race 8

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

Jay Black led the field at the three-quarter marker, with a half-length lead, running the distance in 1:10.10 as Millennium Storm sat just off the pace in second. Purely Classic also rated off the pace in third as the field moved through the far turn.  Entering the stretch Purely Classic took the lead a head in front of Stroll, who had moved five wide through the turn while Millennium Storm was still in with a chance in third.  Stroll dueled with Purely Classic through the upper stretch, gradually edging away the final sixteenth to win The Lamplighter Stakes in a final time of 1:40.09, two and three-quarter lengths in front of Purely Classic, who held on for second as Ali’s Pride closed evenly for the show spot.  Stroll is a three-year-old dark bay/brown colt owned by Claiborne Farm, trained by William I. Mott and was ridden by Jerry Bailey.

Stroll, with Jerry Bailey aboard, wins The $50,000 Lamplighter Stakes.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  22.89, 46.26, 1:10.10, 1:34.43, 1:40.09

Scratched Horses: Newfoundland

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The United Nations Handicap

Grade I

$750,000

A Handicap For Three Year Olds And Upward

One and Three-Eighth Miles - Turf Course

Saturday, July 5, 2003      Race 10

Track: Fast                Turf: Firm

Finish Wire:

After a good start the field let Balto Star cut through moderate fractions of 24.57, 48.79, 1:37.66 as The Tin Man rated a length off the leader for the first mile.  In the stretch, Balto Star after being able to rate on the lead for the entire race had enough left in the tank to hold off The Tin Man by a half-length at the wire stopping the tele-timer in a final time, and new track record, of 2:12.78, eclipsing the previous record set last year by With Anticipation.  The Tin Man held well for the place spot nosing out Lunar Sovereign, who closed well for show.  Balto Star is a five-year-old dark bay/brown gelding owned by Anstu Stables, Inc., trained by Todd Pletcher and was ridden by Jose Velez, Jr.

Jose Velez, Jr., guides longshot Balto Star to victory in The Grade I United Nations Handicap.

© 2003 PHOTOS BY ORR.com/MELISSA MOJICA

Final Results:

  24.57, 48.79, 1:14.15, 1:37.66, N/A, 2:12.78

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