OCEANPORT, N.J. * Paradise Tonight stalked the pace until midstretch, and then turned on the speed to win Wednesday’s $41,000 allowance feature for fillies and mares by four lengths at Monmouth Park.
The winner, trained by Joe Pierce Jr. and ridden by Eddie Castro, stepped the one mile and 70 yards in 1:42 4/5 over the fast main track and paid $6, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board as second choice in the field of six.
Splendid Solution, who set the pace until overtaken by the winner, completed the $14 exacta and paid $3 to place and $2.40 to show as the 7-5 favorite. Honorable Truth, finished third, four lengths farther back, and paid $2.80 to show.
It was the first victory in open company for Paradise Tonight, a 3-year-old New Jersey-bred daughter of Slew Gin Fizz owned by Wark, Anfuso & Pierce, who has now won four of her five starts at Monmouth this year.