It was a beautiful day for racing, on the last Friday of June. Here's what happened:
Race 1 (Un Po Di Vino, Kelly Breen-Paco Lopez, :59.2)
The Pletcher entry, Privy Council, was unsurprisingly bet down to 4/5 favortism. She disappointed, running fourth despite getting a good trip off the leader. That leader was Un Po Di Vino, who was rushed to the lead just after breaking from the gate, and won it easily. She paid $5.60, a generous price for a Breen-Paco 2-year-old.
Race 2 (Lighthouse Sound, Bobby Dibona-Paco Lopez, 1:40.1)
Mythical Man ran an admirably good race at 17/1 odds. He dueled with Examen for the lead, who wound up finishing last. Mythical Man, however, held on almost the whole way, losing only to Lighthouse Sound and Best Actor, both of whom sat rail-skimming trips. Just goes to show you the impact saving ground can have on a race. Paco Lopez sweeps the double here.
Race 3 (Musket Mary, Claudio Gonzalez-Nik Juarez, 1:10.4)
Elmra dashed out to a really fast early lead, and once she faded, Musket Mary drew away. It was a tailor-made trip. $4.60 on her was, frankly, a gift, as she won by ten dominant lengths.
Race 4 (Rockette Jet, Manny Berrios-Inoel Beato, 1:06.0)
Last time out, Rockette Jet went to the lead, didn't get much pace pressure, and faded to finish seventh. This time, Inoel Beato tried a change of tactics, keeping her off the pace. It paid off, as she rallied three-wide and drew away to score, paying $48.60. Meanwhile, Twisted Kick, who had a brutally wide trip in her last race, set a clear early pace. She faded to finish third. Can't explain it.
Race 5 (Amizzen Grace, Arnaud Delacour-Daniel Centeno, 1:43.4)
There was more than a hour between the fourth and fifth races. I wasn't following the races early in the day, so I'm not "shore" what happened. If anyone out there knows, tell me.
Anyway, Amizzen Grace sat a great trip off leading Variety of Colors. She faded, and then Amizzen Grace had to hold off the challenge of Ansible to hold on. Ansible, by the way, checked fairly hard going around the far turn. You gotta figure that she had more than a neck's worth of trouble, meaning that she was the best in here. Keep that in mind for next time.
Race 6 (Parody, Jamie Ness-Trevor McCarthy, 1:39.2)
Bea Wildcat, contrary to what I thought would happen, got a very clear lead down the backstretch. However, he wound up having nothing left by the far turn, and Parody strolled on by to win by five easy lengths. The last half of this race was run in a painfully slow :52.3.
Race 7 (Bluesville, Kathy O'Connell-Daniel Centeno, 1:35.4)
Daniel Centeno continues to be sharp with his grass mounts. Here, he made a three-wide move with his mount on the backstretch, then had her battle for the lead in the two-path throughout the stretch. She narrowly edged Forest Funds, who battled for the early lead two-wide, and sent her other rival into oblivion, along with Indian Chaser, who made a big four-wide move around the turn. Good races from all three finishers.
Race 8 (Chatt Hills, Jorge Navarro-Trevor McCarthy, 1:11.4)
Once Guchi Gold scratched, the outcome of this one was a foregone conclusion. Chatt Hills dueled on the inside with Proud to be Wild, brushed her off, and won it easily.
Race 9 (Dedicated to Bob, Jorge Navarro-Carlos Olivero, :55.3)
The standard winning trip for Dedicated to Bob: he sat off the leader, then rolled by, then held off the challenges of closers Golden Story and Benny is a Jet. The other leader, Snowday, also held on pretty well, finishing third despite setting a :20.4 opening quarter mile.
Race 10 (Sunshine Sandy, David Lopez-Angel Serpa, 1:12.1)
Sunshine Sandy was bet down from a 10/1 morning line down to 7/2. Somebody must have known something, because she took the early lead, brushing off three rivals to do so, and won easily by six lengths at first asking.
That wraps up Friday's card. Saturday features the Eatontown Handicap, plus the return of Frank Mirahmadi. Don't miss it!
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