Monday, August 20 2012

CORINTHIAN’S JEWEL CAPTURES RESTORATION STAKES

Oceanport, N.J. – RA Hill Stable and Shirley K Stable’s Corinthian’s Jewel kicked clear through the lane to post a 1 ¼ length victory in the $60,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Ridden by Paco Lopez, Corinthian’s Jewel covered the 1 1/8 miles distance over firm turf in 1:48 1/5 and returned $8.60, $4.20 and $2.80 as the 3-1 co-second choice in the field of six 3-year-olds. Unbroken completed the $43.40 exacta and paid $7.40 to place and $3.40 to show. It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to even-money favorite Star Channel, who paid $2.10 to show.

TRAINER JASON SERVIS ENJOYING BANNER 2012

There are no Breeders’ Cup contenders or Triple Crown campaigners in his barn, but Jason Servis is well on his way to having the best year of his training career.

“I have everything from maiden New Jersey-breds to turf horses, but am a little light on stakes horses right now,” said Servis, who bases his operation at Monmouth Park while moving divisions among Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park, and Palm Meadows Training Center as the racing calendar turns.

Sunday, August 19 2012

SAN PABLO RUNS AWAY WITH ISELIN STAKES

Oceanport, N.J. – Burning Sands Stable LLC’s San Pablo powered past Small Town Talk and Toby’s Corner in mid-stretch before drawing off to a 3 ½ length victory in the Grade 3 $150,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday before a crowd of 11,958.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, San Pablo sat off the pace early before coming under a ride around the far turn and reeling in his foes near the 1/8th pole. San Pablo covered the mile and an eighth over a fast main track in 1:49.59 and paid $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the favorite in the field of six colts and geldings. Toby’s Corner completed the $8.60 exacta and paid $2.80 and $2.40. It was another head back to pacesetter Small Town Talk, who returned $3.60 to show.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Saturday, August 18, 2012

McLAUGHLIN HAVING A BANG-UP MEET

Although his name doesn’t appear in the top 10 in the trainers’ standings, Kiaran McLaughlin’s Monmouth Park division is quietly having a sensational meet.

McLaughlin, currently the 17th leading trainer in North America, has sent out just 30 horses here to date. But 10 of them have posed for winner’s circle photos while two more placed and another took third. That’s a lofty win percentage of 33 1/3 at Monmouth, which is even better than his 24% success rate nationally.

Saturday, August 18 2012

JJ’s LUCKY TRAINER GAME WINNER OF FRIDAY FEATURE

Oceanport, N.J. – Fresh Start Stable’s JJ’s Lucky Train prevailed in a long stretch duel to take the $46,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Friday afternoon.

Trained by Jane Cibelli, JJ’s Lucky Train covered the six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09 1/5 and paid $5.60, $3.40 and $2.40. It was a length back to Safe Trip who completed the $34.80 exacta and paid $6.80 and $3.60. It was another half-length back to Well Spelled, who paid $2.40 to show.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, August 17, 2012

FIRE ALARM IS READY FOR THE RESTORATION STAKES

While perusing the past performances for Sunday’s $60,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park, owner/trainer Dennis Manning was of the opinion that the Bret Calhoun-trained Fire Alarm would prove tough competition for the six other 3-year-olds in the field.

The connections of Fire Alarm, who was a solid second to the graded-stakes-winning Howe Great in the Jersey Derby here last time out, supported Manning’s assessment of the 1 1/8-mile test over the turf course.

Paco Lopez Scores 1,000th Career Win

OCEANPORT, N.J.- Jockey Paco Lopez reached an important milestone at Monmouth Park on Friday when he won the 1,000th race of his career.

Lopez booted home Whitey’s Gold ($3.20) in the first race for trainer Bobby DiBona and accepted congratulations in a winner’s circle celebration afterward.

Monday, August 13 2012

FUNFAIR EASY WINNER OF COLLEEN STAKES

Oceanport, N.J. – Catherine M. Wills’s Funfair battled early with I Am Discreet before putting away that rival and all the rest to capture the $60,000 Colleen Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Cheered on by a crowd of 13,751, Funfair, conditioned by Christophe Clement, covered the five furlongs over firm turf in :56.68 and paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.10 as the odds-on choice in the field of eight 2-year-old fillies. I Am Discreet held the place, completing the $9.80 exacta and paying $3.40 and $3.20. It was another head back to hard-charging Doubled, who paid $6.20 to show.

Saturday, August 11 2012

RUSH NOW WINNER OF FRIDAY FEATURE

Oceanport, N.J. –Daniel Ryan and David Cottle’s Rush Now took over at the top of the lane and cruised home to capture the $46,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Thursday afternoon.

Trained by Anthony Dutrow and ridden by Joe Bravo, Rush Now covered the 1 1/6 miles over a sloppy track after the race was taken off the turf in 1:44 3/5 and paid $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite in the field reduced to three. It was another 4 ½ lengths back to Hermosillo, who completed the $11.20 exacta. Keep Me Informed was another neck behind. There was no place or show wagering.

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, August 10, 2012

WINE PRINCESS IN THE MONMOUTH OAKS

On the day after her sire joins her dam in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Wine Princess will try to enhance her family’s reputation by notching her first stakes race as well as her first graded event.

The chestnut 3-year-old filly is a daughter of Azeri, who was enshrined in 2010, and is by Ghostzapper, a member of the 2012 class installed on Friday morning in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Friday, August 10 2012

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Thursday, August 9, 2012

JEMIMA’S PEARL HOPES TO SHINE IN THE MONMOUTH OAKS

She’ll be making her first start since the Grade 1 $1 million Kentucky Oaks as well as her initial effort for a new barn, and trainer Bret Calhoun expects that he’s found a gem of a spot for Jemima’s Pearl in Saturday’s Grade 3 $100,000 Monmouth Oaks.

The Kentucky-bred 3-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor was saddled by Bob Baffert in her three 2012 starts, which include a third place finish in the Grade 2 Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park last April. She was one of two fillies owned by Gillian Campbell, R Group Management and Greenwood Lodge Farm who ran in the Kentucky Oaks and Calhoun trained the other, the fourth place finisher Summer Applause.

Wednesday, August 08 2012

Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Wednesday, August 8, 2012

VOODOO CHARM TRIES TURF IN THURSDAY FEATURE

Trainer Gregg Sacco will send Voodoo Charm to the post in Thursday’s feature, a $44,000 allowance/optional claimer set for five furlongs over the turf. And while the colt will go no matter the weather conditions, the trainer is certainly hoping some rains shift the race over to the main track.

“He’ll go either way, but I wouldn’t mind if it got rained off the turf,” said Sacco, who conditions Voodoo Charm for Pot O’Gold Stable. “The turf is an experiment. Like everything with horses, it’s trial and error. I think he’ll do well on it, but I know he can run well on the dirt.”