Monday, August 27, 2012

CLOSING RANGE SPARKLES IN TWIN LIGHTS STAKES

Oceanport, N.J. – St. George Farm Racing’s Closing Range dug in through the lane and prevailed in a stretch duel with Zucchini Flower to capture the $60,000 Twin Lights Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park by a nose.

Trained by Phil Oliver, Closing Range set the pace with Zucchini Flower close behind as she covered the mile and one eighth over firm turf in 1:49.84. The winner returned $11.40, $5.40 and $2.60 and topped the $55.40 exacta. Zucchini Flower paid $5.40 and $2.20 and finished one-half length in front of Dancing Solo, the 1-2 favorite in the field of six 3-year-old fillies, who paid $2.10 to show.


“She was really game,” said DeCarlo. “I was sitting on the go whole time. We wanted to let her run out of there because on paper she looked like the fastest horse. She settled into a nice stride and was pretty much cruising. In the stretch, Zucchini Flower might have stuck her head in front, but my filly never quit and fought right back.”

The homebred daughter of After Market out of the Caerleon mare Subeen became a first time stakes winner as she improved her record to 3-1-0 from 4 starts, good for earnings of $82,161.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Thursday, Aug. 30 – gates open at 2:30 p.m., first post 4 p.m. for twilight racing. In addition, Monmouth will race Friday through Monday over the Labor Day holiday weekend, with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. and first post at 12:45 p.m.

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