The dirt was fast and the grass was firm, as more than 5,000 people--including long-time announcer Larry Collmus--filed into Monmouth Park for a Sunday afternoon of racing. The expected rain happily never materialized.
Race 1 (Peter Castleboy, Eddie Broome-Abel Castellano, 1:40.2)
As it turns out, my selection of Peter Castleboy was not an original thought (who could've guessed?) as he went off at an insane 2/5. He was much the best, however, rating four-wide down the backstretch, moving in the two and three-path down the stretch, and holding off the challenges of inside-running Run Slado Run to score.
Race 2 (Golden Bird, Tim Ice-Trevor McCarthy, 1:41.2)
I'm gonna take a stand and say this will be the strangest race run this year at Monmouth. Full Pads was allowed an absurdly large early lead, stretching the margin to twelve lengths at one point. Unsurprisingly, he tired from this effort, and Golden Bird--making his debut in a cheap maiden claiming--rallied from way behind to get up and win it. Fictionalcharacter, sent off at 2/5, tried to come on late, but came up short to score second, and prove that he will probably never win a race for as long as he lives.
Also worthy of note is Ignatius, who checked hard and stumbled going around the first turn, then was pulled up and vanned off. Here's hoping that he's OK.
Race 3 (Calamity Kate, Kelly Breen-Paco Lopez, 1:37.4)
Kelly Breen and Paco Lopez team up for the first of what is "shore" to be many winners at this meet. This one, Calamity Kate, was coming off a six-month layoff, but managed to clear to the lead and won when no one else in the field managed to run a step. I'm not "shore" if this is because the track was playing toward speed (spoiler alert: it wasn't) or if everyone else just didn't run great. I think it's the latter. Buyer beware for next time.
Race 4 (Hoopskirt, Patrick Quick-Wilmer Garcia, 1:12.3)
An auspicious start to this race, as both Notably Awesome and Rocket Dee broke through the gate before the start of the race. Notably Awesome recovered to run second--something to keep in mind for next time out, perhaps--but Rocket Dee never got into the race and finished last. This is also something to remember, as she had a pretty solid excuse for crapping the bed here.
As to the winner, Hoopskirt sat behind Notably Awesome's pace and rallied for the win once she got clear on the inside.
Race 5 (Royal Six Shooter, Chuck Spina-Navin Mangalee, 1:13.0)
Action Tonight ran much better than either her 13/1 odds or her last race at Pimlico would suggest. She was hustled to the early lead, held off most challengers toward the stretch, and only grudingly let pace dream-trip Royal Six Shooter on by. This may be a filly who is improving--we'll see how things go for her in the future.
Confrontational, whose form was cratering before this race, was scratched. The way she was going, that move was definitely for the best, as running her here may have caused her to fall to the ground and break into thousands of tiny little pieces.
Race 6 (My Jersey Boy, Skip Einhorn-Nik Juarez, 1:44.1)
My Jersey Boy may have won, but it's likely that Silent Critic was the best in here. He was on the rail the whole way and about to make a big rally on the inside, but was checked numerous times down the lane, leaving him with no chance at all to make a run. If he gets clear next time, watch out.
Smart race-riding here by Nik Juarez, too, as he kept My Jersey Boy on the rail almost the whole way around, angled out for clear sailing, and it was just a matter of rolling past the front-runners. A $21.80 winner in a race that, had I known Wildcat Runner would be scratched before post time, may have led me to this horse. You can't win 'em all, I guess.
Race 7 (Arnhem, Marcus Vitali-Orlando Bocachica, 1:10.4)
Arnhem was much, much, much the best in here, doing just what it said she'd do on paper--go to the lead, and hold it. She cleared all her rivals, set fast fractions, and didn't tire to draw off and win easily. Her time of 1:10.4 was the fastest of the day at six furlongs by far. Very nice score; we'll see if she'll be in for a higher tag than $6,000 next out.
Race 8 (Boot Scootin Daddy, Ben Perkins-Joe Bravo, 1:33.4)
Somebody knew something about Boot Scootin Daddy, as this first-time starter was bet down to be a heavy even-money favorite. It was good information, too, as he sat a great trip off a hot pace, rallied three-wide in the stretch, and exploded late to give Joe Bravo career win 4,999 in a very impressive time. While I am not sure how well he would do in a tougher situation, I am really looking forward to seeing his next start. We'll see if he's the real deal then--this one was promising.
Race 9 (Musket Mary, Gerald Bennett-Chelsey Keiser, 1:11.3)
Musket Mary had this race served to her on a silver platter--she was rated well off a blazing pace, picked up the pieces with a sharp rail rally, and drew off easily. I doubt she'll get an easier trip again, ever, so watch out next out.
Race 10 (Sawyer, Jane Cibelli-Trevor McCarthy, 1:35.3)
First of all, I would like to point out that that the final time of this n/w1x allowance was almost two seconds slower than Boot Scootin Daddy ran in his maiden win. My Lord!
As to this race, Sawyer sat a good trip behind the three speeds, and rallied when he got clear to get up and score. Tela made a decent move after being in the two-path almost the whole way to run second.
Race 11 (Al's Best, John Tammaro-Vladimir Diaz, 1:12.4)
Yourthekingjimmy went off favored and could not have asked for a better trip, sitting directly behind the eventual fading speed of Clowney. He couldn't hold off the flying charge of Al's Best, however, who closed from nowhere to pull off an upset score. He missed second, too, as Naughty Delite made up some mild ground to get the place spot.
That wraps up the second weekend of Monmouth Park racing. I'll see you guys Friday, for some analysis of what is "shore" to be an exciting Memorial Day weekend of racing.
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