A star-crossed running of the Miss Woodford was the scheduled headliner on this Sunday card at Monmouth. Here's what else happened:
Race 1 (Gorgeous Sunrise, Charles Carlesimo-Abel Castellano, 1:11.0)
More proof that, despite this blog's name, there's no such thing as a "shore" thing. Musket Mary, who looked like an absolute cinch, and was bet like it, couldn't run down Gorgeous Sunrise late. That one stalked the pace two-wide, then moved around the turn and wound up getting the jump on Musket Mary. Placement is key, jockeys.
Race 2 (Hunter Grey, Roberto Calvo-Inoel Beato, 1:05.0)
Nineteenth time's the charm for Hunter Grey. He rated off the leaders, then moved three-wide and rolled past complacent leader Bank Fraud. Hunter Grey may have been 0-18 going into this race, but I think Bank Fraud will be 0-180 before he wins a race.
Race 3 (Super Garces, Luis Carvajal-Wilmer Garcia, 1:12.2)
Once very likely winner Yourthekingjimmy scratched, the public zoned in on Full Pads. He was bet down to a really low 4/5, and coughed up a big lead late. Super Garces sat the great trip off that fast, clear leader.
Race 4 (Elmra, Mark Hennig-Paco Lopez, 1:04.3)
The public guessed that Elmra, the queen of inconsistency, would be on today, and bet her to 6/5. As it turned out, they were right. She managed to clear to the early lead from post 11, and then shook the rest of the field off to win it in a laugher. Now, even if I knew that she would rebound like that, there's no way that I could have taken 6/5 on her to win. So either way, I would've lost. Isn't that terrible?
Race 5 (I Ain't Waitin', Mike Trombetta-Paco Lopez, 1:36.3)
I picked two 4/1 shots on top today, and I bet exactly none of them to win. I'm such a genius.
I Ain't Waitin, as winners are bound to do, sat the trip, rating off the leaders and angling wide around the turn. However, he really had to grind past leaders Brad and the Gang and Talent Show to get the victory. The latter horse was particularly tenacious.
Race 6 (Saturday Special, Jorge Navarro-Carlos Marquez, 1:41.2)
If there was a Monmouth Park championship race--and as I will eventually get to, there should be--Saturday Special would have to be in it. He won his third race of the Monmouth season, rating off leader Gypsy Baron, then strolling on by to win. He's a pretty cool horse.
Race 7 (Cut to Order, Jamie Ness-Daniel Centeno, 1:33.2)
Lasso managed to get to the lead--unlike in his disappointing last effort--but Cut to Order and Cement Clement collared him coming into the stretch. Cement Clement pulled off a colossal hang job, but Cut to Order hung in there and prevailed by a half-length. Not every day that a Ness-Centeno horse pays $12.60.
Race 8 (Been Here Before, Kiaran McLaughlin-Abel Castellano, 1:37.3)
Tidal Surge, who won her debut at Delaware very easily last out, could not have run any worse here. She had absolutely nothing going around the turn, and lost by sixteen lengths. Hopefully, she's not injured.
Meanwhile, Been Here Before angled out around the turn, and grinded past leader Tiger Moth to score.
Race 9 (Cali Thirty Seven, Joe Orseno-Andre Worrie, 1:34.0)
Neither Orseno nor Worrie have been having especially great seasons, but they teamed up here with Cali Thirty Seven, who held off the challenge of Forest Funds the entire way around. Indeed, Forest Funds was no further than a neck from Cali Thirty Seven at any point during the race, yet never passed her.
Race 10 (Fusaichi Red, George Weaver-Orlando Bocachica, 1:10.1)
What was shaping up as a fun stakes race was marred at the quarter pole, when Calypso Run clipped heels and unseated Trevor McCarthy. The filly was fine, but McCarthy was sent to Monmouth Medical Center, complaining of a severe headache. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for McCarthy, who is currently fourth in the jockey standings.
Meanwhile, Fusaichi Red took advantage of an absurdly fast pace (which included a :43.4 half mile), and zoomed down the stretch to win it going away. However, I'm convinced this has less to do with Fusaichi Red's ability, and everything to do with that pace. We'll see where she goes from here.
Race 11 (Class and Cash, Eddie Plesa-Paco Lopez, 1:02.2)
Once Tax Deduction scratched, you might as well have picked a horse at random. Some people picked 3/5 shot Class and Cash, and he rewarded them nicely. That's a riding triple for Paco Lopez. He's in first place in the standings, with 27 more winners than the second-place jockey. That's unbelievable.
That wraps up the racing week here at Monmouth. Only one week to go until Haskell week...
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