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MONMOUTH NOTEBOOK JULY 2, 2010 by Thomas Cassidy Big fields usually make for interesting races and some big prices and that is just what Friday's opener did. In fact, it surely brought about some head scratching when LAIRD ROAD (Outflanker), the lone first-time-starter in the field of 12 runners, won and rewarded his backers with odds of more than 65-1. The main track that afternoon played fair, but all three turf races were won from off the pace, with two of those closers aided by quick opening fractions. Joe Bravo took top jock honors once again with a three-bagger on a day where the public correctly favored four winners. It paid to be close to the pace on Saturday afternoon on both the turf and dirt. The rail on the main oval did not appear to be disadvantageous. In fact, it appeared to have been helpful as several winners raced along that part of the track that afternoon. Two of the three turf events were by front-runners with the remaining contest captured by a stalker. Garrett Gomez stole the show notching three winners, including both stakes events on the card. It was best to be close to the pace on the main track Sunday afternoon and the rail was a good place to be. The three turf contests were divided amongst a wire-to-wire winner, a stalker and a closer who was helped by a fast early pace. Eddie Castro earned the award for top performer on the day notching three winners, including a victory aboard WAY WITH WORDS (Sefapiano) in the Blue Sparkler S. The Mary Eppler trainee earned her second Monmouth stakes victory of the season and is always one to look for when running at the Jersey Shore. HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (6/26) 6TH -- MARIA'S MOON (Maria's Mon) got rolling too late and closed very well to finish third.
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