Sent off the 5-2 second choice in the field of 11 New Jersey-bred colts and geldings, The Hunk covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 1/5 and returned $7.20, $3.40 and $3. Hop Skip and Away completed the $46.20 exacta and paid $7 and $4.20. It was another length back to post-time favorite Bombast, who paid $2.60 to show.
“Off the layoff you always think maybe you need another work,” said winning trainer Ben Perkins Jr. “He has a lot of speed and as he’s gotten older he’s learned to relax a little bit, so that’s helped him. We eventually want to try him sprinting on the turf down the road.”
Saturday’s stakes score was the sixth win in 12 starts for The Hunk, who was making his 2012 debut in the Reilly. The 5-year-old horse by Speightstown from the Pentelicus mare Penniless Heiress, has now banked $224,791 for his connections.
Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:45 p.m.