|
|
MONMOUTH NOTEBOOK MAY 28, 2010 by Thomas Cassidy The first weekend of the 50-day Elite Summer Meet, in which Monmouth Park offers the largest purses in American racing -- an average of $1 million per day -- is in the books. The first two cards are covered here with Horses to Watch and other takeaways from opening weekend. First and foremost, the anxiously-awaited experiment has exceeded even optimistic expectations. Handle for the two days was $16.4 million, more than double last year's opening weekend. There were 24 races run and the average field size was 9.62 starters. There was only one odds-on favorite the whole weekend, which speaks to the evenly-matched competition in every race. The average win payoff for the weekend was $15.43. The opening-day card, contested on Saturday, consisted of 13 races -- 11 on the main track and a pair on the lawn. In both turf races, it appeared that the horses near or on the lead were the most successful. The first turf race of the season was won by TWO NOTCH ROAD (Partner's Hero), who saved ground along the rail and sat just in behind the early speed. Once clear, Two Notch Road ran off to a decisive victory, proving a stakes win over the same course last year at odds of 107-1 was no fluke. The second turf event, the co-featured Elkwood S., was won in wire-to-wire fashion by GET STORMY (Stormy Atlantic), the surprising third choice in the race despite figuring as the dominant pace. On the main track, there were six sprint races and five races at a mile or over. The rail appeared to be "quicksand" as many horses who ran on the inside part of the track tired quickly. Runners who were on the rail on opening day are deserving of an extra look in their subsequent starts. There were four winning favorites on the premier card, including the lone odds-on choice of both days. On Sunday, there were 11 races run, once again with a pair on the green. Six of the nine dirt races were sprinting events and the remaining three were routes. The turf course appeared to play fairly as the first event was won by a stalker and the second event was won by a runner who rated in sixth in a field of seven. On the main track, there was only one winner who came from far off the pace, DP THE FACILITATOR (Consolidator), who was ridden by Joe Bravo, which leads me to my next point -- angles to watch. Angles to Watch JOE BRAVO, aka "Jersey Joe" and certainly for a reason, could be offering some big prices this year as he did in Sunday's finale with Dp the Facilitator ($77.80). Bravo holds the record, with 13, for the most Monmouth Park riding titles, an accomplishment that may prove best to keep in mind when he's offering prices on the board. At 39, Bravo is coming off an excellent Florida meet and shows no signs of letting up. DROPDOWNS should not be shied away from this season because many runners will be taking big drops to get their hooves on the big purses offered at the Garden State Race Place. JERSEY MAINSTAYS should be watched as many of the barns that have stabled at Monmouth throughout the past know how to have runners ready to fire at the meet. This was evident opening weekend with local outfits like Cam Gambolati, Russell Cash, Billy Croll, Glenn Thompson and Pat McBurney all winning races. JOCKEY/TRAINER COMBINATIONS may be an angle that could turn some desired profits now that there are quite a few new faces calling the Shore their home for the summer, and these jockeys will be riding for different outfits for the first time. A perfect example is the mount John Velazquez picked up on Two Notch Road ($18.80) for Jersey horseman Glenn Thompson in the meet's first turf contest. HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (5/22) 4TH -- PARTYALLNIGHTLONG (Put It Back) broke his maiden impressively in his second career start and 2010 debut. He drew off powerfully while in hand and could move through the Jersey-bred ranks very quickly for a barn that has had great success with Garden State runners. HUNG JURY (Closing Argument) had the tough rail post for his career debut, which can pose a problem for a firster, but ran on gamely to the wire to finish second behind the aforementioned runner. Experience can only help. Sunday (5/23) 5TH -- WILL'S AFLEET (Afleet Alex) won his second career start by 8 1/2 lengths and did so in the second-fastest time for six furlongs over the whole weekend (Saturday's Decathlon S. was the fastest) despite showing a bit of greenness. He was well meant as the public's choice in a contentious field of 12 and may well appear in stakes races sooner rather than later.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
