A beautiful day at Monmouth Park led a massive crowd of 26,268 to come out, which is the largest non-Haskell crowd at Monmouth since God knows when. Handle was $5,050,104 today, eclipsing the mark of Memorial Day Sunday last year by more than $400,000. It's great to see business booming at the Shore's Greatest Stretch, and hopefully tomorrow does just as well.
Race 1 (Right on Course, Jamie Ness-Daniel Centeno, 1:04.1)
If you told me that the winner was trained by Jamie Ness and ridden by Daniel Centeno, I would've assumed this race was at Tampa Bay Downs. But it was in fact run at Monmouth, and Right on Course ran a big one, holding off all challenges to get a gate-to-wire score.
Race 2 (Perfect Trippi, Carlos Martin-Abel Castellano, 1:06.2)
Man, I know the horse was trained by Jacobson, and ridden by Paco, and there's a lot of dumb money in the pools on days like this, but I don't think I will ever understand how Hold Everything went off at 3/5. I knew he'd be favored, but betting a horse like that down to 3/5 is absolutely ludicrous. He didn't run that bad of a race, though, as he was dueling for the lead on the inside and held on for a decent third. Of course, Perfect Trippi got a great trip sitting off that duel, and rallied on in the stretch to win and pay a generous $11.
Race 3 (Gombey Dancer, Bobby Dibona-Paco Lopez, 1:10.4)
Tough sailing for favored Wildcatpleasures, who couldn't clear Gombey Dancer for the lead, as the latter pressed him all the way from the inside. When Wildcatpleasures finally wilted, Gombey Dancer shot through on the inside, and it was all over from there. Great job by Paco to apply pressure to the leader, without getting him into a duel. That's why he's the best.
Race 4 (Rockin Alli, Tim Shaw-Angel Serpa, 1:42.3)
In this episode of "Ludicrously Low-Priced Favorites", the entry of Gemonade and Dia de Encanta went off at 1/2. And this was in a race where I thought Just Like Kaki would be favored. She wound up going off at 3/1, and held the lead going into the stretch after sitting a great trip. However, she was overtaken by 30/1 Rockin Alli, who rallied wide into the stretch and got up to win her grass debut. The entry came in second and sixth, respectively, and a lot of money went up in metaphorical flames.
Race 5 (Chatt Hills, Jorge Navarro-Trevor McCarthy, 1:11.4)
Chatt Hills at even money was another bad proposition, but at least this one paid off. She was much the best here, too, getting involved in the teeth of a four-way speed duel, only to wind up drawing away and holding on. Red mark for Coral Beach, who sat a beautiful trip off that great duel, but couldn't get by the winner late. She was at least four lengths clear of everyone else involved in the duel, though.
Race 6 (Casual Smile, Chad Brown-Kendrick Carmouche, 1:34.4)
It's tough to discount Chad Brown with a maiden on the grass, and if you had done that here, you would have been poorer for it. She rated well of free-wheeling front runners Fine Instincts and Perfect Extension, and then blew past them late to get up. The race was unfortunately marred when Exceedingly was pulled up going around the first turn. Have not heard any word on her, but hopefully she'll be OK.
Race 7 (Total Joint, Jason Servis-Trevor McCarthy, 1:10.2)
The trip that Total Joint got in this race is the type that horses dream about. He sat off of duelers Hereosaurus Rex and Kovarro, snuck up an opening on the rail on the turn, and drew off to an easy score. You couldn't have drawn it up any better.
Noteworthy in defeat was second-place finisher True Simon, who checked at the start, rallied back up, and made a big three-wide move on the turn to get a clear second. This was only his second lifetime start, so one figures that he will continue to improve. Worth a play next time out, in my opinion.
Race 8 (The Real McCoy, Tim Richardson-Daniel Centeno, 1:35.4)
The Real McCoy ran a similar race to last time, coming from way, way, behind, but this time she managed to get up and score. I wish I could say I had the $7.60 mutuel, but I went out this afternoon and forgot to bet. However, a friend of mine went to Monmouth today, and I gave out this horse to him. Hopefully, he collected on The Real McCoy.
Race 9 (To the Flag, Kathleen O'Connell-Trevor McCarthy, 1:11.4)
Trevor McCarthy gets his third winner of the day by riding almost the exact same race he did in the seventh. Here, To The Flag was off a sneeze slow, rated on the rail off a three-fold speed duel, shot through on the inside, and got up for an easy win. Like I said, it was a carbon copy of the seventh race.
Race 10 (All Over Me, Mike Maker-Paco Lopez, 1:49.3)
I wrote before this race that All Over Me might need a race. As it turns out, he didn't. Despite being wide almost the whole way, he scampered clear of the rest of the field in the stretch, battled with Palace Gate down the stretch, and got up to win. He'll only get better in his next start.
And not that he would have won, anyway, but it's worth noting that Mysterious Summer was rating in behind horses and was poised to make a rally, but got caught in behind the fading Longhairedhippy, and lost tons of ground on the turn. If he doesn't get trapped behind the fading leader, who knows how well he does?
Race 11 (Stiffed, John Mazza-Gabriel Saez, 1:41.1)
Gabriel Saez finally snaps his losing streak with this 34/1 longshot winner. In the case of Stiffed, she was way behind early on, while Got Lucky sat a great trip off dueling leaders and looked loaded at the top of the stretch. Unfortunately for her backers, she got leg weary in the last 1/8, and Jersey-bred Stiffed came rolling up four-wide to get the upset score.
Race 12 (Keep the Canoli, Greg Sacco-Paco Lopez, 1:11.0)
I overthought the horse who had the big edge in the figures, and as it turns out, I shouldn't have. Then again, he only paid $4.20, so I didn't miss out on much.
He, too, sat a good trip, off the pace from the rail. He angled wide in the stretch, rallied past PJ's Magical Wink and Gypsy Baron, and gave Paco Lopez his third winner of the day.
That's how it went down today at Monmouth. See you soon with my analysis of the Memorial Day program.
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