Saturday, August 30, 2008

DUFFY’S TAVERN SETS RECORD IN MONMOUTH VICTORY

OCEANPORT, N.J. * Joel A. Kligman’s Duffy’s Tavern ran down the speeding pacesetters in the stretch and drew off to a record-setting victory in the $45,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Friday.

The winner, trained by Jim Ryerson and ridden by Pedro Cotto Jr., sped the five furlongs over a firm turf course in :55.18 to erase the mark of :55.37 set just Thursday by Knockinelder. It is a record for the distance with the portable rail set 36 feet out from the hedge.


Duffy’s Tavern paid $8, $4.40 and $3.60 across the board as third choice in the field of eight after finishing nearly six lengths in front of Langley. The second finisher completed the $89.20 exacta and paid $10.80 to place and $8.40 to show. Titanium Menace, a 37-1 chance, finished a half-length back in third and paid $8.60 to show.

Bedford Arch, the even-money favorite, and Derek’s Star battled for the early lead through torrid fractions of :21 for the quarter and :43 3/5 for the half-mile. Duffy’s Tavern grabbed the lead when they were spent and quickly drew off.

The winner, a 3-year-old son of Arch won for the first time in four starts at Monmouth this year.

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