September 25, 2005
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE STAYS EVEN, BUT MUTUEL HANDLE FALLS DURING 90-DAY 2005 THOROUGHBRED SEASON AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth closed out its 2005 season Sunday with declines in wagering, while attendance remained the same as last year.

Average daily on-track handle for the 90-day meet was $645,523, a decrease of 8.5 percent from last year. Total handle on Monmouth's races averaged $3,019,576, off 14.4 percent from the previous year.

Daily attendance at Monmouth averaged 9,093 this year, almost exactly the same as last season.

Unusually hot weather and problems with the turf course, which substantially reduced fields in many races, plagued the summer portion of the meeting, and there was no grass racing at all after Labor Day. The turf course is being replaced for next year's meeting in anticipation of Monmouth hosting the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in October of 2007.

"Unfortunately, declining numbers have been the national trend in racing this year," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. "Our handle averages are down, but less than some of our neighbors here in the East. A lot of factors went into the decline, including the very hot summer and the loss of many of our turf races, and eventually the turf course entirely.

"On the plus side, we had a terrific Haskell Day with more than 43,000 on hand - our fifth highest crowd ever - and our entire stakes schedule drew top horses from all over the country.

"Our racing product was strong and will only get better as we move toward the Breeders' Cup and beyond.
"We're encouraged that our attendance held even with last year," Dowd noted. "It gives us something to build on for next year, and we're confident that as we head for the Breeders' Cup in 2007 we're on the right course to growing our business."

As always, Haskell Day on Aug. 7 was the highlight of the season at Monmouth.

The day's crowd of 43,769 was the fifth highest in track history and produced on-track betting of $3,699,825. The day's total handle of $12,129,836 was the third highest in Monmouth history.

Roman Ruler won the Haskell Invitational, giving trainer Bob Baffert his third victory in the $1 million Grade 1 event.

Joe Bravo captured his 11th riding crown at Monmouth, winning 108 races despite missing six weeks of the meet.

Training honors went to Kelly Breen, who saddled 38 winners for his first Monmouth title.There was a three-way tie for leading owner, with Ed Broome, Michael Gill and Peter Kazamias finishing with 13 wins. 

________________________________

September 23, 2005
POMPAY, BREEN SADDLE 'BORROWED' HORSES IN NATC FUTURITY
Monmouth Park.com

A couple of Monmouth-based trainers will saddle "borrowed" horses in Saturday's colt division of the $200,000 NATC Futurity, ninth event on the 10-race card.

That race, and its $200,000 filly counterpart which goes as the eighth, is restricted to 2-year-olds who sold at an auction under the aegis of the National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors.

Terri Pompay will send out a colt named L'Es Marq, who races in the distinctive colors of Wanda Colisseni's My Purple Haze Stable. The son of Marquetry, who was a $32,000 purchase at the Timonium sale in May, has been racing in New York for trainer John Tebbutt. L'Es Marq finished sixth in his racing debut at Saratoga in early August, and then broke his maiden last out on Aug. 28 at Finger Lakes.

Most of the My Purple Haze horses are stabled at Belmont and Monmouth, trained by Todd Pletcher and Pompay. However, the owner decided she wanted to see her silks in action closer to home.

"Wanda bought several horses this year to race at Finger Lakes," Pompay said. "She's from Rochester, and she wanted to be able to watch some of her horses run without traveling too far. This colt was eligible for the Futurity, so she had him sent down here.

"He just got here yesterday," Pompay said, "so I don't know much about him. But I talked to John (Tebbutt) and he said the colt was ready to run a good race."
Trainer Kelly Breen also saddles another trainer's horse, and in his case it's a substitute for one he wishes was running.

Breen will send out Rock Creek Pass in the name of California-based trainer Doug O'Neill, but wishes he was putting a saddle on Praying for Cash. That colt by Songandaprayer, owned by Bobby Hurley's Devil Eleven Stable and Ricky Gallo, made a spectacular debut at Monmouth on June 3, and then came down with shin problems that have kept him on the sidelines all summer.

"I could have run him off three works," Breen said, "but that wouldn't have been right. I was always pointing him for this race, but what can you do. At least this way, we'll have a fresh horse later this season when a lot of the others are gone."

Rock Creek Pass, a $26,000 purchase at the Ocala sale in April, made his only start at Arlington Park on Aug. 31, closing a large gap to be second, beaten just a half-length for trainer Michael Reavis.  He was purchased privately by Ty Leatherman after that race and shipped directly to Breen at Monmouth.

"I breezed him once (five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 on Sept. 17) and he looked great," Breen said. "He started slow, and then picked it up to finish strong. He drew away from his workmate the last furlong.

"I really liked his first race," the trainer said. "The jockey let him settle back and relax, and eat some dirt for the first part of the race. You don't see that very often. Usually everybody wants to go-go-go.

"It looks like there will be a lot of speed in Saturday's race," Breen said, "and if this colt can run back to that first race and relax early, he'll be running in the stretch."

Rock Creek Pass, a son of Gilded Time, will be ridden by Jon Court, who makes one of his rare appearances at Monmouth Park after riding on the Southern California circuit most of the year.

_____________________________

September 23, 2005
PERKINS MAKES NEW PLANS FOR SMOKESCREEN, WILDCAT HEIR
Monmouth Park.com

If timing is everything, as stand-up comedians claim, Ben Perkins Jr. will never make it at The Comedy Store.

The trainer has been off the mark a good part of the summer, as Smokescreen skipped the Haskell here and shipped to Mountaineer to run in the West Virginia Derby, which he missed as an also-eligible, and Wildcat Heir shipped to Chicago to miss the Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint because of a foot problem.

"What can you do?" a philosophical Perkins said. "Sometimes it just goes like that."

Smokescreen is locked on the Super Derby on Oct. 1 at Louisiana Downs for his next start. So far, so good.

"It's too far north for hurricanes," Perkins said, reassuring himself.

Wildcat Heir, however, remains in limbo.

The 5-year-old son of Forest Wildcat, who earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure of the year for a sprinter (117) when he won the Teddy Drone Stakes here on Aug. 7 in his first start in nine months, is in danger of missing the Breeders' Cup.

He is still bothered by the foot abscess that forced Perkins to scratch him from the Chicago race. Wildcat Heir has not breezed since Aug. 20, and it's looking like he won't make the Oct. 29 Breeders' Cup Sprint. If he misses that, Perkins hopes to have the horse ready for the Grade 1 DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel on Nov. 19, a race he won last year.

"That would be his last start," Perkins said. "He'll be going to stud right after that race."

_____________________________

September 18, 2005
LEZCANO HAVING SUCCESS IN FIRST SUMMER AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

At the top of the jockey standings preside veteran riders and familiar names here - Bravo, Elliott, DeCarlo, and Gryder. But behind those stands 20-year-old Jose Lezcano, who has 55 wins in his first Monmouth riding stint and only second year in the United States.

Lezcano began riding at the age of 16 in his native Panama, enrolling at the Laffit Pincay Jr. School. He rode for two years there and won 54 races.

Then, with the help of Raul Barrango, advisor at the Pincay School, Lezcano began riding in the U.S. at age 18 as a five-pound apprentice in March 2004 at Gulfstream Park. He won on his very first mount, aboard 30-1 longshot Cloudy Gray.

In the 17 months since, Lezcano has already had his ups and downs, achieving early success in the tough New York jockey colony, then facing some rough spots before hooking up with trainer Kirk Ziadie at Tampa Bay Downs last winter, a pairing that has been great for both.

At Monmouth, Lezcano has won at a 20-percent clip and his mounts have earned over $1.4 million. He trails Gryder by four wins for fourth-place in the standings. As Ziadie's first-call rider in the first meet here for both, Lezcano has won eight races for the trainer, including the Klassy Briefcase Stakes on Whenthedoveflies.

He has also been the regular rider for Ziadie's R Lady Joy, one of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country who won the $500,000 Delaware Oaks (G2) July 16.

Lezcano speaks very little English, but while he's learning the language, that has not prevented him from showcasing his talent. Lezcano is surprisingly patient for a young jockey.

"He's not a hustling type of rider," Ziadie said. "He's patient and he sits. He's very committed to me. He's never rode a bad race for me."

Jason Beides, Lezcano's agent, met the rider at Tampa last December, and with his close friend Ziadie, they decided to bring on Lezcano as the barn's private rider. Lezcano had won 18 races at Belmont and Saratoga, but over the winter, Lezcano was having limited success following the months he lost his bug during the Belmont fall meet.

"We're like a family now," Ziadie said. "Jose made some wrong decisions, went to New York, and he then came back down to Calder. Jason is a very good friend of mine. I needed a private rider, and at the time, Jason was without a rider. Jose happened to be riding his bicycle around the backside, not getting much business. All three of us got together, and from then on things happened to fall into place."

Lezcano went on to win 62 races at Tampa and finished fourth in the jockey standings. After his outstanding Monmouth meet, Lezcano is set to tackle the Meadowlands.

"At 20 years old, his best days are ahead of him," Beides said.

______________________________

September 18, 2005
BRAVO TIES RECORD, WINS SIX ON SUNDAY'S MONMOUTH CARD INCLUDING BLUE SPARKLER STAKES WITH COMACINA
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Jockey Joe Bravo did it again at Monmouth Park on Sunday, winning six races on the 10-race card, tying the mark for most wins in a single day set by Walter Blum on June 9, 1961 and equaled by Chris Antley on July 30, 1984, Julie Krone on Aug. 19, 1987 and Joe Bravo on Aug. 31, 1994, May 18, 2002 and now Sept. 18, 2005.

"I just feel blessed," said Bravo, a 10-time leading rider at Monmouth, who is en route to an unprecedented 11th title this season.  "It just makes you feel really good to have all the trainers and owners that are behind me and let me get on their horses.  This is just awesome."

Among Bravo's "six-bagger" was Flying Zee Stable's Comacina, who poked her head in front at the top of the stretch and dug in gamely to the wire to win the $60,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes by a half-length.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Comacina covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 3/5 and returned $5.80, $3.60 and $3.  Traci Girl, who was favored over the winner by just $1,300, completed a $15.20 exacta and paid $3.40 and $2.80.  Every Trick rounded out the trifecta in the field of six fillies and mares, returning $3.60 to show.

"She showed me a lot of heart out there today," Bravo said  "Every time I asked her for more she just kept giving it to me.  They have a nice horse on their hands."

Sunday's win was the third in nine starts for Comacina, a 3-year-old filly by Dixie Union from the Salt Lake mare Lake Palace.  She has now earned $115,629 for her connections.

Bravo's six wins got started in race three atop Soldiers Charge ($6).  The 34-year-old native of Monmouth County then captured the fourth with Cat's A Rockin ($6.60), the fifth aboard Morning Sky ($18.60), the sixth with Trick's Pic ($6.40), the stakes race and the last atop Excellent Job ($8.40).

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Thursday, Sept. 22, for the last week of live racing of the 2005 season.  First post is 1:15 p.m.

______________________________

September 17, 2005
PERKINS IMPRESSED WITH DELAWARE TOWNSHIP JUVENILE
Monmouth Park.com

Delaware Township was a very special horse for trainer Ben Perkins Jr., who campaigned him to a stellar career at the beginning of the decade. On Friday, he saddled one of Delaware Township's sons - Town Council - to an impressive 2-year-old maiden victory.

Town Council, part of his sire's first crop to race, covered six furlongs in a quick 1:10 1/5 over a fast track in Friday's third race. He took the lead under Joe Bravo shortly after the start and came home a three-length winner under a confident hand ride. He finished third in his first start on Aug. 6.

Perkins said he was very happy with Town Council's performance and said the colt strongly resembled his father, who retired to stud in 2001.

"He looks a lot like (Delaware Township)," Perkins said about Town Council. "He has that same white blaze and strong legs."

Ebby Novak's New Farm bred and owns Town Council, and owned Delaware Township and holds several breeding shares in that stallion. Delaware Township stands at Padua Stables in Ocala, Fla., for $6,500.

Perkins said he was impressed when he first saw Town Council last year. "He was a very handsome yearling. He has a really beautiful mother."

Town Council is a half-brother to Wild Wildcat, a fast 4-year-old colt in Perkins' barn who won his first three starts. Both are out of the mare Pent Up Kiss, who was a multiple stakes winner on turf and dirt for Ben Perkins Sr. here in 1996 and 1997.

On the racetrack, Delaware Township tied the track record for six furlongs (1:07 4/5) in the 2000 Longfellow Stakes at Monmouth, a time set by Gilded Time. He finished his career with 11 wins in 21 starts and $996,950 in earnings. He won the 2001 De Francis Dash (G1) in his final start, adding to a career that included wins in the Forego (G1) and Forest Hills Handicap (G2) twice.

As a stallion, Delaware Township is already proving successful. Other than Town Council, he has sired four winners from 18 starters, including one stakes winner, Lizzy's Township, who captured the Mountaineer Park Juvenile Fillies.

_____________________________

September 16, 2005
GATORS N BEARS NEARS END OF STELLAR CAREER
Monmouth Park.com

Gators N Bears burst onto the Monmouth scene in 2003 as an ultra-quick 3-year-old sprinter, winning the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup (G3) and two other races. He's been absent from Monmouth since running in the Friendly Lover Handicap in the inaugural New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival that summer, but Gators N Bears makes his return here in that same race on Saturday.

In the two years since, New Jersey-bred Gators N Bears has gone on to become one of the best sprinters in the mid-Atlantic region, running in graded stakes from Saratoga to Churchill to Pimlico and Laurel. 

On Saturday, he will try to atone for his only blemish in four starts over this surface - a third-place finish in the Friendly Lover.

Monmouth fans will have their last chance to watch the accomplished speedster, as he will only make three more starts and be retired to stud at the end of the year.

"We love him," said Leo Nechamkin II, Gators N Bear's trainer and owner, who is based in Maryland. "He's taken us everywhere you could want to go in racing. But we have always tried to keep him in races where his credentials would be in order."

Gators N Bears has been the epitome of consistency since running away from the field in his debut a little over three years ago, in a juvenile New Jersey-bred maiden race at the Meadowlands. The next year at Monmouth he won the Rumson Stakes and Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup.
In one of the best careers of a New Jersey-bred in the last decade, Gators N Bears has 10 wins in 30 starts, and only finished out of the money six times. He has earned $803,393 for Nechamkin. 

He hasn't suffered any major injuries and has been in training for essentially three and a half years.
"In the summer sometimes his feet get soft," Nechamkin said. "We freshen him and then he comes back and is ready to go."

As consistent as he's been, Gators N Bears has had trouble reaching the winner's circle in Grade 1 and Grade 2 company. He hasn't won a race since the James B. Moseley Handicap at Suffolk Downs June 19 last year, a span of eight races over 15 months. 

But the Friendly Lover should be an easier spot for Gators N Bears to erase that losing streak. Nechamkin said Gators N Bears was supposed to run in the Teddy Drone Stakes on Haskell Day, but he developed a foot bruise that a month off healed. He has recorded a string of steady workouts since encountering a very wide trip to finish fourth in the Aristides Handicap (G3) at Churchill Downs June 25, a race where the track record for six furlongs was broken.

After the Friendly Lover, Nechamkin said Gators N Bears will run twice more before retiring - in the Phoenix Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Oct. 8 and the DeFrancis Dash (G1) Nov. 19 over his home track of Laurel.

Nechamkin said Gators N Bears has been syndicated to Stonewall Farm, where he will comprise the first group of stallions there. Audrey Haisfield plans to start a new stallion operation in 2006 at the farm in Midway, Kentucky. Gators N Bears will join such stallions as Medaglia d'Oro, Marquetry, and Doneraile Court, who Haisfield owns and plans to move from Hill 'n' Dale Farm. 

________________________________________

September 15, 2005
BRAVO REBOUNDS FROM INJURY WITH HOT STREAK
Monmouth Park.com

Since returning from a broken collarbone 11 days ago, Joe Bravo has picked up where he left off before the injury.

"It didn't feel like I was gone for seven weeks," Bravo said. "It has been nice coming back with a bang."
Bravo, who was injured in a spill July 21, has reeled off 10 wins in only 21 starts since returning with one mount on Sept. 4.  Last Sunday, Bravo won four races, including the Without Feathers Stakes on Shebelongstoyou.

He had amassed a sizeable lead in the jockey standings with 76 wins, and he returned 45 days later three wins in front of Stewart Elliott. 

With 86 wins and an eight-win lead over Elliott with two weeks remaining at the meet, Bravo is on path for his eleventh Monmouth riding title. Chris DeCarlo is in third with 66 wins and Aaron Gryder fourth with 57 wins.
Bravo said his first mount back - on Big City Danse in the Thomas J. Malley Stakes - was very meaningful.

"It was completely priceless," Bravo said. "In the post parade (track announcer) Larry Collmus welcomed me back.  The crowd's response was so positive and so great.  It gave me chills.  All the hard work it took for me to get back, it was all worth it to get back for those fans."

Bravo said he is looking forward to reuniting with 3-year-old standout Joey P. in Saturday's Friendly Lover Handicap.  Bravo rode Joey P. to three wins earlier in the meet, including the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup.  Because of his injury, Bravo missed riding Joey P. in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, where he finished seventh.

"He's still a young horse," Bravo said. "He has the body of an older horse, but the mind of a young horse.  He hasn't physically built into his form yet.  He has a really bright future."

In the trainer standings, Kelly Breen has continued his breakout season with 33 wins.  Breen is on pace to win his first Monmouth training title, as he holds a nine-win lead over Joe Orseno.  Todd Pletcher currently sits in third in the standings with 23 wins.

_____________________________________

September 1, 2005

A GOOD MIX OF POTENTIAL, EXPERIENCE FOR PLETCHER

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - One filly has untapped potential; the other has the edge in experience. Together, Unobstructed View and Fantast give trainer Todd Pletcher a solid duo for the $100,000 Sorority Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

A six-furlong race, the Sorority is the top 2-year-old filly stakes of the season and highlights the holiday weekend on the Jersey Shore.

Unobstructed View has trained all summer at Monmouth. She has made only one start, on Aug. 4, when she won her maiden at Saratoga.

Fantast makes her fourth start Saturday. She won first time out at Monmouth in early June and followed with two stakes efforts, finishing fourth in Astoria at Belmont Park and third in the Colleen.

"They are both training well," said assistant trainer Anthony Sciametta. "We have always liked Unobstructed View, even when she was getting ready for the maiden win."

Other likely Sorority runners, according to stakes coordinator Mike Melendez, include Dazzling Dot, Keeneland Kat, Plutonic, Wild Gams, and Winning Toast.

Bravo okay to ride in Pa. Derby

Joe Bravo got clearance from his doctors to return Monday to ride Network for owner-trainer Eddie Broome in the Grade 2, $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park on Labor Day.

Bravo suffered a broken collarbone in a spill at Monmouth last month. According to agent Danny Mellul, Bravo will resume at full schedule at Monmouth starting Sept. 8.

Bravo is still the leading rider at the meet as he bids for an 11th Monmouth title.

Elliott begins serving suspension

Jockey Stewart Elliott, second to Bravo in the standings, started a three-day suspension Wednesday for stretch interference aboard Peligroso in the ninth race Aug. 26. Peligroso finished third and was placed fourth.

Additional suspensions will sideline Elliott for the start of The Meadowlands meet, which begins Sept. 30. Elliott withdrew an appeal of a three-day suspension incurred last year at The Meadowlands. He will serve those days from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2. The Monmouth stewards, who heard the appeal, deemed it frivolous and added three additional days, which Elliott will serve Oct. 4-6.

Julian Pimentel received a three-day suspension for careless riding aboard Adjust in the sixth race Aug. 21. Adjust was disqualified from the win and placed second. The suspension runs Sept. 3-5.

New president of horsemen's group

Dennis Drazin was elected president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horseman's Association, in results announced Tuesday.

Drazin, an owner and breeder who had served as the organization's legislative counsel, defeated trainer Bob Durso, 342 votes to 112, in the mail ballots returned by the membership. Drazin will serve a three-year term.

The election also filled the 10 seats on the board of directors, split evenly between trainers and owners.

In the trainer category, John Forbes and Bill Anderson were reelected. They will be joined by Tim Hills, Jason Servis, and Jim Ryerson.

The owners who were elected are Joseph Birbaum, Sam Fieramosca, Richard Malouf, A. Fred Maffeo, and Jacob Schoor. There were no holdovers in that category.

Drazin files appeal on Iselin

Drazin, the owner of Zoffinger, appealed the outcome of Sunday's Grade 3, $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Handicap to the New Jersey Racing Commission.

West Virginia finished first, beating Zoffinger by one length, but drifted into Zoffinger's path in the stretch. Eddie King Jr., Zoffinger's rider, claimed foul, but after a review, the stewards let the order of finish stand.

"We lost momentum and were coming on again at the end," Drazin said.

The commission will refer the dispute to an administrative law judge to conduct a hearing and issue a decision. The judge's decision goes to the full commission, which can accept, reject, or modify the ruling.

After the Tone looks rejuvenated

A break of almost two months did After the Tone a world of good.

Trained by Mark Hennig, she ran poorly in her first start of the meet in mid-June. She returned Aug. 10 and put up a much better fight, missing by a head and posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 86, the best last-race number in Friday's $44,000 optional claiming feature for fillies and mares.

________________________________________

August 31, 2005
BRAVO TO RESUME RIDING IN PENNSYLVANIA DERBY ON MONDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Joe Bravo, who has been out of action with a broken collarbone since July 21, is expected to return to riding on Monday, aboard Network in the Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. He will resume riding at Monmouth on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Bravo's agent, Danny Mellul, said the jockey has medical clearance to resume riding on Monday, Sept. 5, aboard Network, trained by Eddie Broome. Bravo was aboard when that 3-year-old Pulpit gelding won the Spend a Buck Stakes here on July 9. Javier Castellano was the rider when Network took the Aug. 7 Lamplighter Stakes here for his fourth straight victory.

Despite having missed more than five weeks of racing, Bravo was still Monmouth's leading rider as of Wednesday with 76 winners from 254 mounts. Stewart Elliott was second with 73 wins from 401 rides.

_______________________________________

August 28, 2005
MONMOUTH ADDS GOLDFINCH TO STAKES SCHEDULE SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Racing secretary Mike Dempsey announced today that another stakes race will be added to the Monmouth schedule.

The $55,000 Goldfinch Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and an eighth on the turf will be run on Saturday, Sept. 3. Free nominations for the Goldfinch will close on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

_______________________________________

August 24, 2005
ALAN GARCIA READY TO RETURN SATURDAY; BRAVO STILL OUT
Monmouth Park.com

Jockey Alan Garcia, who suffered a broken collarbone last month, will resume riding here on Saturday, according to his agent, Bruce Golub.

Garcia fractured his clavicle when he was unseated during the running of the fourth race on Sunday, July 24. Garcia had won 15 races from 137 mounts before the injury.

Joe Bravo, who broke his collarbone in a spill on July 21, was told by his doctors Tuesday that he will have to wait an additional 10-14 days before he can resume riding. Despite having missed more than a month, Bravo is still Monmouth's leading rider with 76 winners from 254 mounts.

______________________________________

August 14, 2005
LIVERMORE VALLEY AT MID ATLANTIC EQUINE MEDICAL
Monmouth Park.com

Livermore Valley, impressive winner of the Colleen Stakes last Saturday and arguably the best 2-year-old filly on the grounds, is recovering at Mid Atlantic Equine Medical after undergoing surgery to treat colic, according to trainer Jim Ryerson.

After training hours on Friday, Ryerson detected the symptoms of colic, which refers to severe abdominal pain and is often lethal.  Livermore Valley had a twisted intestine, and she underwent surgery at Mid Atlantic that day to fix the obstruction.  Mid Atlantic Equine Medical is located in Ringoes, New Jersey, in Hunterdon County.

"The surgery went good," Ryerson said. "She's still there but hopefully she'll she back here this week if all goes well."

Livermore Valley, a homebred daughter of Mt. Livermore owned by Conover Stable, drew away powerfully to win by 4 1/2 lengths in the Colleen. That win followed a maiden victory and a place finish in her debut start.  Although she was on course for the Sorority Stakes here Sept. 3, the surgery will sideline her indefinitely.

"I don't really know the timeframe for her recovery," Ryerson said.

 

________________________________________

August 9, 2005

STRONG WEEKEND FOR N.J.                                                                                                   

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

Haskell Day capped the biggest racing weekend of the year for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the owner and operator of Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands Racetrack.

Total attendance was 75,034 for the Saturday-Sunday period as the two tracks presented their premier 3-year-old events.

The Meadowlands concluded its Standardbred season Saturday with the $1.5 million Hambletonian. Monmouth ran the $1 million Haskell on Sunday.

Ontrack wagering reached $7,097,834 for the two days.

The total handle, including bets made on Monmouth and The Meadowlands at all simulcast and offtrack outlets, hit $21,144,855.

The Meadowlands drew 31,245 for the Hambletonian, the track's biggest turnout since 1990. The total Hambletonian Day handle of $9,015,019 set a North American harness-racing record, surpassing the $8.8 million wagered on the 2002 Hambletonian Day card.

The Haskell pulled 43,789 fans, the fifth-highest turnout in track history. The 2003 Haskell, with Funny Cide the main attraction, set the record at 53,638.

The 2005 running marked the sixth straight year that Haskell attendance topped 40,000. The combined handle of $12,129,836 was Monmouth's third highest.                                                                                       

 ___________________________________

August 8, 2005

CLASSIC GOAL FOR ROMAN RULER                                                                                    

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form
 

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Roman Ruler was on his way to Saratoga on Monday morning, the day after his victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Bob Baffert, still basking in the glow of his third Haskell victory in the last five years, said Roman Ruler "came out of the race just fine."

Saratoga is home to the next $1 million 3-year-old stakes, the Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 27, but Baffert said he was not sure what Roman Ruler's next race would be.

"Maybe the Travers, maybe something else," he said. "I haven't made up my mind yet. The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup Classic, and we'll map out a plan to get there."

The Classic will be run Oct. 29 at Belmont Park.

With the Haskell victory, Roman Ruler proved he was Grade 1 material and that he could win at 1 1/8 miles.

An enormously talented 2-year-old who won two Grade 2 races in his first four starts, Roman Ruler missed the Triple Crown this year with persistent foot problems. He launched a comeback with a win in the Grade 2 Dwyer at Belmont Park and moved up another level in the Haskell.

"We'll wait 10 days or so and see how he comes out of this," Baffert said. "We're going to enjoy him. There's no urgency now. Now that he's got the Grade 1 under his belt, we can think about going for the Classic."

Inside trip hurt Park Avenue Ball

Park Avenue Ball didn't get an ideal trip in the Haskell. He broke from post 2 and wound up boxed along the fence for a good portion of the race before finishing third.

"Hindsight is 20-20, but with an outside post, I might have had an easier kind of trip," said jockey Chris DeCarlo. "It wasn't that the trip was terrible. He just didn't like being inside. I didn't want to check him and swing him out."

DeCarlo eventually angled outside and Park Avenue Ball ran evenly through the lane.

Trainer Jim Ryerson said he was encouraged that Park Avenue Ball proved he belonged at that level.

"He can run with those two horses," Ryerson said, referring to Roman Ruler and Sun King. "Maybe on a given day, he could finish better than that, but it wasn't to be. He ran good."

As for Park Avenue Ball's next start, Ryerson said he does not envision the Travers.

"That would not be on the top of my list," Ryerson said. "I don't think that's in the plans."

More likely options include the Grade 2, $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day at Philadelphia Park and the Grade 3, $250,000 Pegasus Stakes at The Meadowlands Racetrack on Sept. 30.

It's back to sprinting for Joey P.

Joey P. will head back to sprints after taking his best shot in the Haskell.

Joey P. was a pace factor in the Haskell until the top of the stretch. He rated close to the fractions set by Sun King and launched a bid on the final turn, but couldn't get by the leader and was no factor in the lane. He faded to last in the seven-horse field.

"He was trying, but he just couldn't go that far and he couldn't beat that kind of horse," trainer Frank Costa said.

"He put up a good fight for seven-eighths, but those other horses were tough."

Cutting back in distance could put Joey P. back in winning form. Racing only at Monmouth, Joey P. won his first five races, all sprints, including the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes. His only other two-turn effort resulted in a third in a one-mile allowance race against older horses, which served as his Haskell prep.

Joey P. has had five hard races since June 12 and will now get some rest, according to Costa. Joey P.'s next start has not been decided.

Final Assault rounding into form

Final Assault could finally be ready to pick up where she left off last season in Wednesday's $44,000 allowance feature.

Final Assault finished last season with three solid efforts at Monmouth, recording two wins and a loss by only a neck.

She struggled to regain that form in her first two starts this year, but looked to be headed in the right direction last time out with a third-place finish behind Diavla on a sloppy sealed track. Diavla came back to get second in the $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes on the Haskell undercard.                                                                                             

__________________________________

August 8, 2005
HASKELL WINNER ROMAN RULER SHIPS OUT TO SARATOGA - BAFFERT TO MAP PLAN TO BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC
Monmouth Park.com

Just 12 hours after posting a length and a half win in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Roman Ruler was on a van headed for Saratoga as trainer Bob Baffert weighs his options with his now Grade 1 winning colt.

"He came out of the race just fine," said Baffert, who scored his third Haskell win with Roman Ruler.  "He left this morning for Saratoga.  I'm not sure what his next race will be - maybe the Travers, maybe something else.  I haven't made up my mind yet.

"The ultimate goal is the Breeders' Cup Classic and we'll map out a plan to get there."

Roman Ruler and jockey Jerry Bailey sat fourth down the backstretch before moving around the far turn and powering past pace setter Sun King in the final eighth to post a length and a quarter win in the mile and an eighth Haskell.

Prior to his Haskell score, Roman Ruler won the Dwyer (G2) on July 4, his second start of 2005.  As a 2-year-old he won the Norfolk (G2) and the Best Pal (G2). 
Earning $600,000 for his Haskell win, Roman Ruler began racing's newest millionaire with lifetime earnings of $1,020,800 for owner Fog City Stable.  The son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus from the Silver Deputy mare Silvery Swan now has a lifetime record of 8 5-1-0.

Also exiting the Haskell in fine shape was the New Jersey-bred Park Avenue Ball, who finished third in Sunday's race.

"He ran good," said trainer Jim Ryerson from his Monmouth Park barn on Monday morning.  "We're real happy with him.  The inside post didn't help, but he ran real well."

Ryerson indicated that the Pennsylvania Derby (G2) on Sept. 5 may be the next start for Park Avenue Ball.

___________________________________

August 8, 2005
HAMBO – HASKELL DOUBLE PAYS $55.40
CONSOLATION DOUBLE WITH GOLDEN MAN GOOD FOR $14.60
Monmouth Park.com

The unique daily double combining Saturday’s Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo ($16.40) and Sunday’s Haskell winner Roman Ruler ($4.20) was good for a $55.40 payoff.  The winning numbers in the two-day wager were six (Vivid Photo) and four (Roman Ruler).  With the scratch of Golden Man from the Haskell the consolation double, combining the numbers six and six, paid $14.60

___________________________________

August 7, 2005
ROMAN RULER GIVES BAFFERT 3RD HASKELL INVITATIONAL WIN
SUN KING 2ND, PARK AVENUE BALL 3RD IN MONMOUTH PARK CLASSIC
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Bob Baffert joined the ranks of Haskell Invitational elite Sunday as Fog City Stable's Roman Ruler gave the trainer his third victory in the $1 million centerpiece of Monmouth Park's season.

Roman Ruler, sent off the 11-10 favorite in the mile and an eighth Haskell, thrilled the crowd of 43,769 as he ran down a game Sun King to win going away by a length and a quarter. Park Avenue Ball, the local hero, was third, two lengths behind Sun King and one length in front of a late-closing Chekhov.

Palladio, the Canadian invader, was fifth, followed by Papi Chullo and Joey P. in the field of seven 3-year-olds.

Roman Ruler, who tuned up for the Haskell by winning the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont last month with Jerry Bailey aboard for the first time, ran like he was back to the brilliant form that brought him two graded stakes victories as a 2-year-old, before foot problems compromised his effectiveness late last year and into this season.

The son of Fusaichi Pegasus raced the nine furlongs in 1:49 1/5 with Bailey up, and paid $4.20, $3 and $2.40 across the board. Sun King returned $4 to place and $3 to show and completed the $16 exacta. Park Avenue Ball paid $2.60 to show.

The race was simplicity itself. Sun King outgunned Joey P. for the lead and held stoutly into the stretch. Roman Ruler tracked the leaders down the backstretch, and then asserted himself in the stretch as he reeled in Sun King in midstretch and drew off with some urging from Bailey.

The colt gave Baffert his third Haskell win, tying him with Hall of Famers Sonny Hine and Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll. The trainer won in 2001 with Point Given, who went on to be named Horse of the Year, and in 2002 with War Emblem, the 3-year-old champion.

"This was my most gratifying Haskell," Baffert said. "Roman Ruler had to prove he was that kind of horse - could he step up to win a Grade 1? It was his coming out party, to show that he could do it. All I told Jerry was that the horse was better today than he was last time. I told him he was ready today. That's all you tell a jockey like Jerry."

For his part, Bailey said he had a very pleasant trip.

"Bob led me to believe he'd be a little keener today," the jockey said. "He broke well and I was able to tuck in around the first turn. He took to the track well. I could have waited and been a little farther back, but he was going so well, there was no reason for that. He tugged me up to the leader, and it was pretty simple from there."

Javier Castellano, who rode Sun King for trainer Nick Zito, said, "I had a perfect trip. He made the lead easily and relaxed on the backside. When I asked him to go, he responded, but Jerry had a lot of horse left."

Jim Ryerson said he thought Park Avenue Ball ran well despite being shut in on the rail.

"He ran his race, but he was stuck down inside most of the way," the trainer said. "I think he tensed up a little bit. He ran well, though."

This was the fourth graded stakes victory and first Grade 1 score for Roman Ruler, who was taken out of training in March so Baffert could care for the colt's foot problems. Roman Ruler made a triumphant return to the races in the Dwyer on July 4, and put an exclamation point on his comeback in the Haskell.

"I was hoping he would step up today," Baffert said. "When they turned for home, I said to myself, now we'll find out what kind of horse he is. He showed it. He has a great kick, a great burst of speed.

"Today was a big test to see if he could go a mile and an eighth the right way. I think he's gotten back to the place he was last year before his feet started giving him trouble.

"We'll wait 10 days or so to see how he comes out of this," the trainer said. "He'll go up to Saratoga. But we're going to enjoy him, and not do anything stupid with him. There's no urgency now. The owners let me take my time. Now he's got the Grade 1 under his belt, and we can think about going for the Breeders' Cup Classic."

Sunday's crowd of 43,769 was the fifth highest in Monmouth history and produced on-track betting of $3,699,825. The day's total handle of $12,129,836 was the third highest in track history.    

______________________________________

August 7, 2005
HASKELL QUOTES
Monmouth Park.com

WINNING TRAINER (BOB BAFFERT) - "This was my most gratifying Haskell. Roman Ruler had to prove he was that kind of horse - could he step up to win a Grade 1? It was his coming out party, to show that he could do it. All I told Jerry (Bailey) was that the horse was better today than he was last time. I told him he was ready today. That's all you tell a jockey like Jerry.

"I was hoping he would step up today. When they turned for home, I said to myself, now we'll find out what kind of a horse he is.  He showed it. He has that great kick, a great burst of speed.

"This horse has natural talent, from the day he was broken, and a great pedigree to go back it up. He had foot problems, and it took us the whole winter to get them straightened out, but now he looks right.

"Today was a big test to see if he could go a mile and an eighth the right way. I think he's gotten back to the place he was last year before his feet started giving him trouble.

"We'll wait 10 days or so to see how he comes out of this. We're going to enjoy him, and not do anything stupid with him. There's no urgency now. The owners let me take my time. Now he's got the Grade 1 under his belt, and we can think about going for the Breeders' Cup Classic."
 
WINNING JOCKEY (JERRY BAILEY) - "I think he'll go on from this.  He seems to me to be very versatile.  He's a better horse now then he was in the Dwyer.  He waited a little bit when he got to the lead, the same as he did in the Dwyer.  I waited until the 3/16ths pole before I asked him and I was very confident that I'd reel in Sun King.

"Bob (trainer Baffert) led me to believe he'd be a little keener today.  He broke well and I was able to tuck in around the first turn.  He took to the track and the dirt well.  I could have waited and been a little farther back, but he was going well, so there was no reason for that.  I really believe he'll continue to move forward off this race."

Bailey rode First Samurai to win the third race at Saratoga before flying down to Monmouth, "It took quite some time.  We were supposed to fly into Monmouth County (Executive Airport in Wall), but there was a problem over there, so we wound up flying to Teterboro.  From there I got a helicopter that got me here."
 
TIM POOLE (ASST. TRAINER TO NICK ZITO, TRAINER OF SUN KING): "He ran game.  He just couldn't beat that other horse (Roman Ruler).  I actually thought that Joey P. would be on the lead coming out of all those sprint races, but we ended up inheriting the lead.  I was happy with his race."
 
JAVIER CASTELLANO (JOCKEY OF SUN KING): "I had a perfect trip.  It was like a dream.  He made the lead easily and relaxed nicely on the backside.  When I asked him to go he responded, but Jerry (Bailey) had a lot of horse left."
 
CHRIS DECARLO (JOCKEY OF PARK AVENUE BALL): "He just didn't like the inside, but I had to play the cards that I was dealt.  When I got him out on the turn, he put in a good run, but those are two really nice horses that beat us."
 
JIM RYERSON (TRAINER OF PARK AVENUE BALL): "He ran his race, but he was stuck down inside most of the way.  I think he tensed up a little bit.  He ran well, though."
 
AARON GRYDER (JOCKEY OF JOEY P.) - "They wanted me to sit him off the pace.  I think he was much more settled than his last race.  He got a little bit into it but just came back to me.  This is probably a little too far for him now.  As he gets more races, he'll get more confident and contend in good races."
 
RICHARD DOS RAMOS (PALLADIO) - "He ran a little spotty today.  He got a little bit into it turning for home, but just flattened out on me.  He got a little sick after the Ohio Derby, and so he couldn't really prepare too much for this race.  But we said let's give it a go.  He is still really green."
 
DAVID LOPEZ (PAPI CHULLO) - "I was waiting for a faster pace, but that never happened.  That didn't help me too much.  He really tried hard.  He probably couldn't handle those horses, but he really tried."
 
GARY STEVENS (CHEKHOV) - "He's improving every time.  He made a great middle move, but just ran out of real estate.  He keeps coming on and coming on, and one day when we get a mile and a quarter we'll hit a big one."

______________________________________

August 7, 2005
LOVE MATCH, $56.60, UPSETS TAYLOR MADE MATCHMAKER STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Love Match led all the way to upset the $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3), and Ay Caramba rallied to win the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3) in the two major events on the Haskell Day under card at Monmouth Park.

Love Match, who went off at 27-1, took the lead from the start and never let go, sailing to a one-length victory over Cat Alert, a 9-1 chance. Emerald Earrings, 6-1, was a half-length farther back in third, a head in front of Spotlight, the even-money favorite in the field of 10 fillies and mares.

The winner, trained by John Kimmel and ridden by Javier Castellano for his second stakes win on the card, paid $56.60, $19.60 and $9.80 across the board. Cat Alert returned $9.20 and $7 and completed the $522.80 exacta. Emerald Earrings returned $8.60 to show.

Love Match, who was coming off an allowance victory on the Monmouth grass, raced the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:50 1/5 and earned a $90,000 winner's share for owner Anne Poulson, plus a season to stallion Northern Afleet. It was the first stakes victory for the 5-year-old mare by Partner's Hero.

"She was a longshot," Castellano said, "but I knew she had run good over this course before. She broke on top and I didn't want to take her back after that. She did it all pretty easily and finished up nicely."

Patrick Bozano's Ay Caramba, trained by Bobby Frankel, made a big run through the stretch to beat Hotstufanthensome by three-quarters of a length in the Oceanport, run at a mile and a sixteenth on firm turf.

The winner, ridden by Gary Stevens, stopped the timer in 1:42 2/5 and paid $10.20, $4.80 and $3.60 across the board for his third straight score. Hotstufanthensome, who had won two in a row at Monmouth, paid $5.20 and $3.80 as the second choice and completed the $58.20 exacta. Stormy Roman was up for third to pay $6.20 to show.

Ay Caramba had won his last two starts at Churchill Downs before shipping to Monmouth last month.

"I got great instructions from Pat Day, who was on him the last two times," Stevens said. "He told me to sit off the pace and be very patient with him. At the sixteenth pole I let him go and he really responded."

In the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes, New Farm's Wildcat Heir made a triumphant return to the races as he zipped six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 to win by nearly six lengths as the 2-1 favorite.

Forest Park was up to take the place by a head over Judiths Wild Rush in the field of eight older horses.

Wildcat Heir, trained by Ben Perkins Jr. and ridden by Stewart Elliott, paid $6, $3.80 and $2.60 across the board, and topped a $30.60 exacta.

Today's race was Wildcat Heir's first start since he won the Grade 1 DeFrancis Memorial at Pimlico last Nov. 20. The 5-year-old son of Forest Wildcat has now won four of six starts at Monmouth in his career.

Gilbert Campbell's Friel's for Real provided an upset in the $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes as she was up in the final strides to score a half-length victory to give jockey Stewart Elliott his second stakes score of the day.

Ned Allard trains the winner, who went off at 9-1, and raced the mile and a sixteenth in 1:45. Friel's for Real paid $20, $10.20 and $5.60 across the board. The exacta came back a healthy $752.20 when Diavla, a 55-1 chance, took the place by a neck over La Reason.

It was the third victory of the year in nine starts for Friel's for Real, a 5-year-old Sword Dance mare.

In the $100,000 Lamplighter Stakes, run as the second race on the card, Network rallied along the rail to earn a half-length victory over favored Touched By Madness for his fourth straight score.

Network, owned and trained by Eddie Broome and ridden by Javier Castellano, raced the one-mile over firm turf in 1:35 4/5 and paid $9, $3.20 and $2.10 across the board as the third choice in the field of six 3-year-olds.

Touched By Madness, the 4-5 favorite, finished a half-length behind Network and three-quarters of a length before Spring House to complete the $21.60 exacta.

Broome claimed the son of Pulpit in January for $62,500. Network was gelded in March and since then has won five of six starts, including his last four in a row, all at Monmouth. In his most recent start, he won the Spend a Buck Stakes on the main track.

Shadwell Stable's Areek drove to the lead when the speed horses faltered to score a head victory in the $100,000 Regret Stakes.

The winner, trained by Mark Hennig and ridden by Jose Velez Jr., stopped the timer in 1:10 for six furlongs over a fast track and paid $17.80, $6.60 and $5.60. My Trusty Cat, the 2-1 favorite, was second to complete the $70.20 exacta. Silver Bird finished third in the field of eight fillies and mares.

It was the second straight Monmouth stakes victory for Areek, a 4-year-old daughter of Deputy Minister, who won the Red Cross Stakes last out.

Tee-N-Jay Farm's Trueamericanspirit was up in the final strides to score a repeat victory in the $60,000 Lincroft Handicap by a nose over Hurricane Shockey. Quiet Desperation was just three-quarters of a length farther back in the field of eight New Jersey-breds. The winner, trained by Tim Hills and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, was timed in 1:42 2/5 for the mile and 70 yards over the fast main track. Trueamericanspirit paid $9.20, $4.80 and $4.40 across the board and topped a $70.20 exacta.

It was the first win of the season in four starts for Trueamericanspirit, a 5-year-old son of Is It True who won last year's running of the Lincroft by nearly three lengths.  

 _____________________________