Monmouth Park Notebook

MONMOUTH NOTEBOOK

JUNE 4, 2010

by Thomas Cassidy

Five days of the Million Dollar Meet have passed, with winners exiting races

from locales far and wide -- Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland,

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and even South Africa. Notable in its poor

performance is one state that has sent many starters but remains empty-handed.

That state is California. It may be fiscally prudent at this time to give

California imports one race over the Monmouth Park oval.

Saturday's card consisted of 12 races with nine run on the main track and a

trio on the green. There were four winning favorites on the day, including HE'S

SO CHIC (Jump Start), who won a six-furlong $50k claiming event in the fastest

time out of six races held at that distance. Joe Bravo stole the show Saturday

afternoon, notching three winners for three different outfits, including an

impressive first-time starter named WHOOPI KITTEN (Fusaichi Pegasus). Once

again, the rail was not a good place to be on Saturday, but that gradually

changed throughout the weekend. In the three races contested on the grass, two

winners came from off the pace and one came from just in behind the early speed.

Sunday's slate had a style similar to Saturday's with nine dirt races and

three turf events. There were only three winning favorites on the card,

including one via DQ. Sunday was a good day for John Velazquez's backers as he

tallied three wins, including one on a Jersey-bred first-time starter for

conditioner Sharon Huston, who also had a runner dead-heat Saturday at more than

40-1. Keep an eye on Velazquez as he has been riding for different local barns

which have shown off live runners. All three turf races were won by runners who

stayed along the inside paths and were either on the lead or less than four

lengths off it.

The Eatontown (G3), the first graded stakes of the Elite Summer Meet, was

held on Memorial Day. The race contained a small but contentious field, and the

winner was the Graham Motion-trained GYPSY'S WARNING (SAf) (Mogok), a South

African runner making her first start in the states. She was the longest shot in

the field of five at odds of 7-1 and gave Jose Valdivia Jr. his first win at the

meet. Valdivia would go on to win the next race as well. The other two turf

races on the card were won by a wire-to-wire winner and a closer.

While Monday held the first graded stakes, the talk of the afternoon became a

possible Pick-5 carryover after 104-1 bomb THE COGNAC KID (Hennessy) blew up the

tote board to begin the wager, but on a day when only one favorite won (race

two), the 50-cent wager was hit and winners were rewarded with a hefty

$35,349.45.

Angles to Watch

BARN PERCENTAGES off the claim may be wise to pay attention to as the

meet progresses as the claim box has seen many slips thus far. Twenty-four

horses were claimed this weekend including some by barns that do very well with

new acquisitions.

HORSES TO WATCH

Saturday (5/29)

8TH -- POWER PLEDGE (Broken Vow) raced on the rail while sitting off the

pace, lacked room turning for home and ran on gamely once she got through. Could

be better with a clean trip in her second start of 2010.

12TH -- DANAK (Ire) (Pivotal) saved ground while rating off the pace and got

caught in behind a wall of horses. Ran on willingly for fourth on the rail and

was never able to get rolling.

Monday (5/31)

9TH -- GREAT ATTACK (Greatness) took part in an early speed duel and finished

a solid second to a pace-stalking winner.