Oceanport, N.J. – Daniel M. Ryan’s Madrilena set the pace and then courageously held on through the stretch to win the $44,000 allowance optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Friday afternoon by a nose.

Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Madrilena covered five furlongs over a firm turf course in :55 1/5 and returned $13, $5 and $4.40. The fast-closing Revenge had to settle for second, completing the $68.20 exacta and paying $4 to place and $3.20 to show. It was another length and a quarter back to Wardelle, who paid $9.40 to show.

“She only runs one way,” said winning jockey Kendrick Carmouche. “They told me to break her sharp and put her on the lead. She fought gamely the whole way. When I turned for home and asked her, she gave me everything. With me putting her forward in the race, she put me in the winner’s circle.”

Friday’s win was the fourth in 10 career starts and the second in two outings this season for Madrilena, a 5-year-old daughter of Stormy Atlantic the Broad Brush mare Brush Over.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday, June 30 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:45 p.m.