It was a tremendous day business-wise for Monmouth Park, as 23,483 people packed the track, and wagered more than $769,000 on-track. More than $5 million was bet overall, making it by far their best day of the year. Unfortunately, by all accounts, the food truck situation was less-than-great, as lines resembled rides at Disney World during peak season. Monmouth says that the situation will be better tomorrow and Monday, so don't let that deter you from going out, if you were planning on doing so.
Race 1 (Saturday Special, Jorge Navarro-Carlos Marquez, 1:38.0)
The public zoned in on Saturday Special, betting him down to 3/5, and he delivered, rating off the pace and making a three-wide move on the turn to win it. The hard-knocking Ponzi Scheme didn't run too badly either, as he hung on well late, before being run down by his superior rival. Navarro also increased his stock by one, as he claimed fifth-place Start Jumping out of this one. His form has been tanking lately; we'll "sea" if Navarro can reverse it.
Race 2 (Iamahandsomeman, Derek Ryan-Daniel Centeno, 1:39.1)
My pick, Diacetto, was totally left in the dust by the pace scenario, as three horses dashed out to the early lead, leaving all the closers behind. Don't discriminate against any of them coming out of this one; they had no chance given the way the race set up.
Anyway, Iamahandsomeman was able to clear to the front and led all the way. Apple Orchard got a great trip rating off the pace and looked ready to go in the stretch, but hung badly in the lane and only got second. Red flag on him going forward.
Race 3 (Starship Wildcat, Jane Cibelli-Trevor McCarthy, 1:02.1)
It was the first grass sprint of the Monmouth season, and it was a good one. Starship Wildcat was involved in a three-way speed duel early on, and had to tussle with fellow dueler Golden Story the whole way around to get the job done. Terrific race from both of the top two; slightly disappointing from Didn't Take It, who rated off that fast pace, only to get third.
Race 4 (Key to a Cure, Pat Marrotta-Angel Serpa, 1:48.1)
Key to a Cure was the key to curing Angel Serpa's losing streak, as he finally earns his first winner of the Monmouth season with this one. He sat off the pace, rallied three-wide on the turn, and drew off to a score. Paddington Express, my selection, had a similar trip, but couldn't catch the winner.
Race 5 (Carouse, Derek Ryan-Daniel Centeno, 1:44.2)
You could've told me that aliens landed in the infield prior to this race, and I would've believed it before I would believe that Carouse won this race. But I saw the replay, and I can verify that he won. Then again, I said it wasn't a great maiden race, and sometimes in these kind of races, wacky things can happen. Here, it did: he got the lead, and that was pretty much it. Two winners on the day for the Derek Ryan-Daniel Centeno combination.
Race 6 (Boss Man, Jason Servis-Joe Bravo, 1:35.2)
Boss Man was a standout on paper, but everyone else knew it, too, and he went off at the extremely low price of 2/5. He ran like he was best, though, as he sat off the pace, weaved his way through traffic on the turn, and got up late to give Jersey Joe Bravo his 5,000th career win. He's a longtime Monmouth fixture, and to see him get his 5,000th is a terrific sight. Congratulations to Joe.
Race 7 (Pacific Image, Derek Ryan-Kendrick Carmouche, 1:05.1)
I take it that dinner was on Derek Ryan last night, as this is his third winner, all of them on the lead. This one, Pacific Image, ran a huge race, dueling two-wide, well ahead of everyone else in the field, and holding off all rivals. The horse he was dueling with, Hengroen, wound up being beaten by 12 lengths. Watch for Pacific Image in his next start--he was tremendous in here.
Race 8 (Lighthouse Sound, Bobby Dibona-Paco Lopez, 1:36.3)
It was a mad scramble late, but Lighthouse Sound sat the best trip, and he shot through late to get up and score. Upgrade the efforts of both Mythical Man and Kitten in May, as both were trapped inside and had to check repeatedly during the running of the race. Kitten in May, notably, got shut out while making a potentially big rally late.
Race 9 (Fake Dreams, Rory Huston-Armando Ayuso, 1:44.2)
Fake Dreams was much, much, much the best in here, getting a stalking trip behind leaders Mint Julius and Ride Ride Ride, only to have nowhere to go both on the turn and in the stretch. After waiting, in the words of Frank Mirahmadi, "an hour and a half", Armando Ayuso finally took him to the outside, where he found a seam and shot through to win. He could've won by way more than three, and will be one to watch next out.
Race 10 (Biedermeier, Todd Pletcher-Paco Lopez, 1:42.0)
A weirdly run race here, as Creaky Cricket used up what was in all likelihood way too much energy trying to go for the early lead. He got it, but was overtaken late by Neoclassic, who had a front-row seat to Creaky Cricket's lead. In turn, Neoclassic got caught late by Biedermeier, proving once and for all that it is hard to discount any horse trained by Pletcher and ridden by Paco at Monmouth. He also paid a nifty $8.20, for those with faith in the duo.
Race 11 (Red Vine, Christophe Clement-Joe Bravo, 1:40.2)
I will go more in-depth about this race in my piece on Tuesday, as I am not very happy about it, but I will say now that Red Vine was very impressive, and I'd love to see him tackle the Salvator Mile in his next start.
Race 12 (Trumpet Kaz, James Popovich-Chelsey Keiser, 1:13.1)
This is a pretty prime example of why saving ground in a race is important, as there is no way Zo Zo was not the best horse here. She dueled two-wide the whole way, and looked as if she would hold off all her rivals at the 1/8 pole, but Trumpet Kaz, who rode the rail the whole way, got up to score at 64/1 odds. The pick 5 returned almost $47,000 to one winning ticket. The late pick 4 had two winning tickets of $24,000 each. Congratulations to those that hit it, as there is no way in hell I could have.
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