September 26, 2006                         

MONMOUTH NUMBERS DOWN          

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Monmouth Park meet that concluded Sunday was a season of unusual occurrences that produced a down year for racing on the Jersey Shore.

All major averages fell from 2005.

Ontrack handle on live Monmouth races dropped 10 percent to $580,824, as daily attendance slipped 7.5 percent to 8,400.

Total handle from all sources on Monmouth races dropped 1.6 percent to $2,354,237.

As a seasonal meet, Monmouth is heavily dependent on three major holidays: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Each was damaged this year by separate factors.

The first seven weeks of the meet, including Memorial Day, were hurt by the absence of turf racing. Installation of the new grass course, a major renovation to accommodate the Breeders' Cup in 2007, fell behind schedule in the fall of 2005, and turf racing at Monmouth did not debut this year until late June.

Monmouth tried to offset the turf absence by shifting three dates - one of which was rained out, to the Meadowlands racetrack for all-grass cards.

"We knew we'd have issues last winter when the turf course didn't get finished," said Bob Kulina, Monmouth's vice president and general manager.

"Going the first seven weeks with out grass racing obviously affected the product. It forced the race office to utilize a lot of dirt horses. You felt that the rest of the meet."

A budget impasse between the legislature and the governor triggered an unprecedented shut down of New Jersey state government and cost Monmouth two cards during the July 4th week. Finally, Tropical Depression Ernesto washed out the Saturday program on Labor Day weekend.

One other day was lost to extreme heat, for a total of five cancellations - a very high total for a summer meet.

"It was a very strange year," Kulina said. "Things kept popping up."

The three B's - Bravo, Breen, and Broome - won the major titles.

"Jersey Joe" Bravo extended his own record with a 12th riding title, riding 125 winners. Kelly Breen, with 40 victories, was top trainer for a second straight year, and Eddie Broome topped the owners' list a third time with his 17 winners.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had a strong meet, winning 11 stakes, including both Grade 1's: the United Nations with English Channel and the Haskell Invitational with Bluegrass Cat. 

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September 24, 2006
RECORD PURSES, NEW TURF COURSE, HASKELL DAY THE POSITIVES
AS MONMOUTH MEET ENDS WITH DECLINES IN HANDLE, ATTENDANCE
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth Park closed out its 2006 racing season Sunday with declines in handle and attendance, offset by bright spots such as the highest purses in track history; an increase of more than $1 million in total betting on New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Day; the opening of a new turf course, and the seventh consecutive year with attendance of more than 40,000 on Haskell Invitational Day.

Monmouth lost the most number of racing days ever, with the scheduled 91-day meet whittled down to 87 programs (even with make-up dates). A total of five programs were canceled - one due to extreme heat; one to rain for the June 12 turf program at the Meadowlands; one to rain and wind, and two to the unprecedented state government budget shutdown.

Total daily handle declined 1.6 percent with a daily average of $2,354,237. On-track daily handle on Monmouth races was down 10 percent, a daily average of $580,824. Wagering in the building on both live and simulcast racing declined 6.5 percent to a daily average of $1,205,411.

Average daily attendance slipped 7.5 percent from 2005, averaging 8,400 per day.

The on-track declines were due in great part to the expansion of telephone and account wagering in the state. Handle figures that were once incorporated into Monmouth totals are now considered transmission wagering.

Total wagering from all sources averaged $3,549,451, a decline of 2.5 percent from last year.

Turf racing, always an important factor in total handle, was not conducted for the first six weeks of the 2006 meeting. The new turf course did not open until June 18.

During the meeting, Monmouth offered its highest purse structure in history. Overnight purses averaged $325,053 per day (an increase of 5.6 percent over the 2005 figure), and total purses - including stakes races - of $364,678 a day, an gain of 2.5 percent over last year.

"With on-line and account wagering moving out of its infancy, a decrease in on-track handle was anticipated and expected," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

"We were pleased to see our total handle off a very slight number as wagering in New Jersey transforms and will continue to transform with the advent of OTBs next year.

"We believe that in the long run, the combination of on-line and account wagering, coupled with OTBs and on-track handle will lead to overall increases in total handle that will provide benefits across the board to everyone involved.

"With five days gone due to weather and other circumstances beyond our control, it makes an impact," Dowd said. "It affects our fans, it affects morale, and it's a severe detriment to building momentum at a meet that was less than 90 days long."

Dowd cited the new grass course - the venue for one of the strongest runnings ever of the United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth soon after it opened in late June - as a major positive of the year.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the new turf course," he said. "All those involved in bringing it to fruition deserve a lot of credit, and their hard work will continue to pay dividends to the Sports Authority for years to come. Not only was it a great success, but its safety - and the safety of the main track - is something that management and horsemen can be very proud of."

Dowd said that despite the shortfall in numbers, several aspects of the meeting have created a positive outlook for next year - Monmouth's Breeders' Cup season - and beyond.

"While the numbers may not reflect and air of optimism," he said, "it certainly exists at Monmouth Park. Record purses are always something to smile about, and it continues a five-year trend of offering increased purses annually.

"The Breeders' Cup and its impact are already being felt and as we close this year's season and look forward to 2007, Breeders' Cup Day and beyond, there is a bright future for racing at Monmouth."

Once again, Haskell Day on Aug. 6 was the highlight of the season at Monmouth. The day's crowd of 42,318 was the fifth largest in track history, and the seventh straight year the event has attracted more than 40,000 fans. Bluegrass Cat won the $1 million Haskell, giving trainer Todd Pletcher his first victory in the race.

The fourth annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Day was the most successful ever, with a total of $3,971,782 wagered on the day. That was an increase of more than $1 million over the 2005 total of $2,961,900.

Joe Bravo captured his 12th riding crown - and fourth in a row --at Monmouth and trainer Kelly Breen repeated as leading conditioner. Ed Broome was the top owner at the meeting, and Mario Madrid was the leading apprentice. 

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September 23, 2006
MONMOUTH'S KILLER B's - BROOME, BREEN, BRAVO - WIN TITLES AGAIN
Monmouth Park.com

For owner Ed Broome, trainer Kelly Breen, and jockey Joe Bravo, the 2006 Monmouth Park season was a repeat of 2005. All three repeated as the leaders, with Bravo taking his record 12th riding title, Broome his third owner title and Breen his second training crown. Four horses tied with four wins for leading runner at the meet.

Through Friday's racing, Broome had 17 winners to lead all the owners, with Patricia Generazio second with 14 and Stronach Stables third with 13. Richard Malouf, whose horses are trained by Broome, had the highest winning percentage of any owner with 10 wins, five second and five thirds from 25 starters, a winning percentage of 40 percent, and an in-the-money record of 80 percent.

Broome shared last year's title with 13 wins, as he tied with Peter Kazamias and Michael Gill.

Breen, who won his first training title last year when he saddled 38 winners, had already topped that mark through Friday, with 40 winners from 160 starters, a 25 percent win average. The New Jersey native (born in Perth Amboy) went out on his own in 2000 after working as an assistant to Ben Perkins Sr.

Bruce Levine, who was second last year with 26 wins, had 30 to be runner-up again. Eddie Broome was third with 28.

Bravo has had a lock on Monmouth's riding title for most of two decades right now, and was the runaway leader through Friday with 124 wins. Jose Lezcano was second with 95, and Chuck Lopez third with 85.

Bravo, a native of Long Branch, N.J., has now won four straight riding crowns. Injuries in 2001 and 2002 kept him on the ground, but he had taken the titles in 1999 and 2000. Bravo won six straight riding titles from 1991 through 1996.

Four horses finished the meet with four victories, including Who's the Cowboy, trained by Kevin Sleeter,who won four stakes and had only one loss in five starts. Tiger D.R. won four of six starts at the stand for trainer Jim Ryerson.

A pair of 3-year-olds were perfect at the meeting. Missile Motor won all four of his starts for trainer Bill Croll, and the filly Solar Powered swept her four starts here for trainer Jose Samaniego. 

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September 23, 2006
LIVERMORE VALLEY RETURNS TO ACTION IN MONGO QUEEN
Monmouth Park.com

Trainer Jim Ryerson has had two shining lights on the track this year in Park Avenue Ball and Livermore Valley.

The former, a 4-year-old New Jersey-bred colt, capped his Monmouth season with a victory in the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes in August, and is headed for the Grade 2 Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes at the Meadowlands on Oct. 13.

Livermore Valley, a 3-year-old filly, won the Dearly Precious Stakes here in June and then tried Grade 1 company in the Prioress at Belmont (finishing third) and the Test at Saratoga (finishing fifth). After a short rest, she's back in action here Sunday in the $65,000 Mongo Queen Stakes in what could be a warm-up for graded stakes down the road. The Mongo Queen, set as the 10th of 11 races on Monmouth's closing day card, will be the final stakes race of the 2006 season.

"She had two tough races in New York," Ryerson said, "and we gave her six weeks off. She's been breezing well here, and this was a good spot to bring her back."

Livermore Valley, a Maryland-bred daughter of Mt. Livermore - Secret Prospect, by Allen's Prospect, has three wins and a second in her four starts at Monmouth. Her only loss came in her first start last year when she missed by less than a length. She broke her maiden by three next out, and won the Colleen Stakes in her final 2-year-old start here. Her only 2006 outing here was the Dearly Precious on June 17, which she won by nearly three lengths.

"If she gives us a good effort Sunday, we'll point for a stakes next month at either Keeneland or Laurel," Ryerson said.

The two races the trainer is looking at are both slated for Saturday, Oct. 21 - Keeneland's Grade 2 Lexus Raven Run at seven furlongs, and Laurel's Grade 3 Safely Kept Breeders' Cup Stakes at six furlongs.   

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September 21, 2006                         

SYMPOSIUM FOCUSES ON PURSES 

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The need for unity and concern for the future were the major themes at the first New Jersey Horse Industry Symposium, held Wednesday at Monmouth Park.

The symposium was the initial event for the New Jersey Horse Industry Alliance, a newly formed coalition that represents all aspects of the state's equine interests. The symposium started with Monmouth barn tours at 8 a.m. and concluded with comments from General Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts.

The panel on the legislative process attracted keen interest from the estimated 250 attendees. There were a dozen legislators in the room, and eight addressed the crowd. Some, like assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, said they were strongly in favor of video lottery terminals at the Meadowlands Racetrack. All pledged support for the racing industry and the need for long-range funding to support purses.

The current four-year supplement agreement with the Atlantic City casinos has pushed purses to record levels. Monmouth Park paid overnight purses of $330,000 a day during the core portion of the meet, from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That figure goes to $335,000 in 2007, the final year of the deal.

Tracks in New Jersey face increased pressure for 2008 and beyond to have purses that are competitive with video lottery terminal- and slots-assisted tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Roberts carries considerable weight in the debate over racing's future in New Jersey. He told the attendees not to bank exclusively on video lottery terminals in the face of strongly expressed opposition from the Atlantic City casinos.

"Just as we have a lot of people working in the horse racing industry, we have a lot people working in the casino gaming industry, as well as billions and billions of dollars of economic investment," Roberts said. "We have to be mindful of that, as well."

Roberts was unequivocal in supporting the racing industry.

"One thing I think there is universal commitment to is the following: making sure that the money is there so that purses are adequate in the state of New Jersey," Roberts said.

Roberts suggested video lottery terminals were only one possible solution. He held out the possibility of a new purse supplement from the casinos or the creation of "some other vehicle to raise money in Atlantic City and dedicate it to horse racing."

Roberts said the concern about racing's future extends all the way up the executive ladder to Gov. Jon Corzine.

"He knows we have to find a way to ensure our racing is competitive," Roberts said. "He's willing to help."

A major goal of the New Jersey Horse Industry Alliance is to speak to the governor and legislators with a unified voice. The founding members were the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, and the Rutgers University Equine Science Center.

"We've learned that we can't do anything unless we speak with one voice," said Dennis Drazin, president of the alliance. "We need to be on the same page when we go for legislation. It may not be perfect for everything your group is trying to achieve, but it should be the perfect blend for the industry."         

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September 20, 2006
SIX STAKES, FAN APPRECIATION DAY HIGHLIGHT CLOSING WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Six stakes races and Fan Appreciation Day on closing day highlight the final five programs of Monmouth Park's summer meeting.

The 2006 stand, scheduled for 91 days but reduced by two (one to the state budget shutdown and one to excessive heat), comes to a close on Sunday, Sept. 24. The program has been designated Fan Appreciation Day, with free grandstand admission and half-price clubhouse admission.

Sunday afternoon also features Family Fun Day activities, including pony rides, face painters and clowns, and live music "On the Green."

Topping the card on Sunday will be two closing day stakes races, the $60,000 Mongo Queen for 3-year-old fillies on the main track, and the $55,000 Restoration for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Closing week stakes action started Wednesday with the $65,000 Majestic Prince, and continues on Saturday with three events, including the $60,000 Omnibus Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf.

Topping the card on Saturday will be two events for 2-year-olds, each with a purse of $200,000. The races are the fifth running of the NATC Futurity, with one division for colts and geldings and one division for fillies.

The six-furlong races are restricted to 2-year-olds who were sales catalogued during 2006 and whose connections kept up the series of eligibility payments.

The National Association of Two-Year-Old Consignors (NATC) sponsors the event. The fields are limited to 14 starters, with preference given to highest earnings this season. The purse is paid down to 10th place in each division, with 60 percent to the winner, 18 percent to second, 9 percent to third, 5 percent to fourth, and 1 percent for sixth through 10th.

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September 20, 2006
MEADOWLANDS MEETING OPENS FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPT. 29
Monmouth Park.com

The Meadowlands will finish out the 2006 New Jersey Thoroughbred season with a 33-day meeting that opens Friday, Sept. 29, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 11.

The meet includes three makeup days -Oct. 31, and Nov. 5 and 7 - that were lost at the Monmouth meeting.

The Big M races five programs a week, with daytime racing and a 1:10 p.m. first post on Tuesdays, and night racing, and a 7:30 p.m. first post Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Highlighting the opening night card is the $150,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.

Richest prize at the autumn stand is the $500,000 Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes (G2) on Friday, Oct. 13, which is expected to showcase top New Jersey-bred Park Avenue Ball.

The other graded stakes on tap through the meet are the $250,000 Pegasus for 3-year-olds on Friday, Oct. 6, and the $150,000 Violet (G3) for fillies and mares on Saturday, Oct. 14.

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September 20, 2006
WHO'S THE COWBOY LIKELY FOR BELMONT'S VOSBURGH STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

Gerry Sleeters' Who's the Cowboy, who showed off his current fantastic form by making last Saturday's Friendly Lover Handicap his fourth straight Monmouth score, is likely to take his show on the road for the $400,000 Vosburgh (G1) at Belmont on Oct. 7.

"We won't make a final decision until the middle of next week," trainer Kevin Sleeter said, "but right now it looks like a go. We just want to see how he's doing as it gets closer to the race."

The 4-year-old homebred by Intensity - Image's Image, by Better Arbitor, has won four straight stakes at the Monmouth meeting. He saved his best for his most recent effort, when he met state-breds in the Friendly Lover. With regular rider Eddie King Jr. in the irons, Who's the Cowboy raced six furlongs in 1:08 2/5 -- his fastest time ever in 11 career victories.

"He came out of it just great," Kevin Sleeter said. "He's been back to the track two days now, and he's just a handful. We have to pony him off the track because he wants to charge down that little slope at the gap. The exercise rider weighs about 185 pounds, and even he has a tough time controlling the Cowboy."

Who's the Cowboy has made just one lifetime start outside New Jersey. Last November, he got off poorly in the Grade 1 DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel and finished seventh. That race, scheduled for Nov. 25 this year, is again a major goal for the gelding.

Who's the Cowboy carried topweight of 127 pounds in the Friendly Lover, but Gerry Sleeter said the horse will tote only 124 in the Vosburgh, which is run under allowance conditions and this year will be run at six furlong

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September 16, 2006
FIRST N.J. HORSE INDUSTRY SYMPOSIUM SET AT MONMOUTH SEPT. 20
Monmouth Park.com

The first New Jersey Horse Industry Symposium will be held at Monmouth Park on Wednesday, Sept. 20, bringing together representatives of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey, Rutgers University's Equine Science Center, the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, and the pleasure horse community.

The invitation-only event will feature presentations from Joseph Roberts, Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly; the state Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and a representative from Breeders' Cup International. Other speakers include the chair of the Senate Wagering, Tourism, and Historic Preservation Committee, and the chair of the General Assembly Tourism and Wagering Committee.
 
The goal of the event is to expose attendees to the breadth, scope, diversity and importance of the equine industry to New Jersey.

Those wishing to secure an invitation or get more information on the event are asked to contact NJTHA/TBANJ lobbyist Barbara DeMarco at 609-306-7555.

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September 15, 2006
4 STAKES, BLANKET GIVEAWAY AT N.J. FESTIVAL SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

The fourth annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival, presented by Malouf Auto Group, will celebrate state-bred Thoroughbreds at Monmouth Park Saturday, with four stakes races topping the card. A total of 97 New Jersey-breds were entered for the 10-race program.

All paid admissions will receive a free Fall blanket while supplies last, and Family Fun Day activities will be part of the celebration.

The $100,000 Eleven North Handicap at six furlongs drew nine fillies and mares, and the $100,000 Jersey Girl Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth has a field of six.

The $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap at six furlongs has a field of 10, and nine will contest the $125,000 Jersey Breeders Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth.

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September 14, 2006
CHUCK LOPEZ SIDELINED THREE WEEKS WITH BROKEN FINGER
Monmouth Park.com

Jockey Chuck C. Lopez, who was unseated when his mount fell in the fourth race here Sunday, suffered a fractured finger on his left hand and will be sidelined about three weeks.

Lopez's mount, Sea Preacher, broke down going into the final turn of Sunday's fourth race, unseating the rider. The 6-year-old horse was euthanized after fracturing a leg.

Lopez, who currently ranks third on the list of leading Monmouth riders with 85 wins, will return to riding at the Meadowlands in October.

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September 13, 2006
4TH ANNUAL NEW JERSEY THOROUGHBRED FESTIVAL SET SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

The fourth annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival, presented by Malouf Auto Group, will celebrate state-bred Thoroughbreds at Monmouth Park Saturday, with four stakes races topping a 10-race card.

All paid admissions will receive a free Fall blanket while supplies last, and Family Fun Day activities will be part of the celebration.

The best New Jersey-breds will compete in the four stakes events. For fillies and mares, Monmouth offers the $100,000 Eleven North Handicap at six furlongs and the $100,000 Jersey Girl Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth. For males, the races on tap are the $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap at six furlongs, and the $100,000 Jersey Breeders Handicap at a mile and a sixteenth.

Also on tap are two maiden races for 2-year-olds, three allowance races, and a claiming race.

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival started in 2003 to showcase horses born in New Jersey.

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September 13, 2006
TARRANT BUYS AN 'ALL-MONMOUTH' COLT AT KEENELAND SALES
Monmouth Park.com

Owner-trainer Amy Tarrant, whose horses are stabled at Monmouth, has been busy at the current Keeneland yearling sales, buying a colt and a filly during the select sessions Monday and Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Tarrant bought a well-bred filly by Kingmambo - Chaposa Springs, by Baldski, for $250,000. But it was her Monday purchase that had her talking enthusiastically about the future.

She made the winning bid of $310,000 for a dark bay colt by Tale of the Cat - Marq of Beauty, by Marquetry, and next year her Hardacre Farm colors will be carried at Monmouth by an "all-Monmouth" colt.

"He's a racy little thing," she said. "Very athletic-looking. I'm really excited about him."
 
The colt's sire, Tale of the Cat, broke his maiden at Monmouth, won two allowance races here, and finished fourth in the 1997 Haskell Invitational. The dam, Marq of Beauty, won the 2001 Captive Miss Stakes at Monmouth, and was second in the Grade 3 Reeve Schley Jr. Stakes here that year.

Tarrant's sales purchases will be sent to her farm in Ocala, where they will be broken in November and spend the winter.

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September 10, 2006
INDIA CAPTURES WITHOUT FEATHERS STAKES; TERRIFIC CHALLENGE WINS THIRD STAKES IN A ROW
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Joe Bravo, on pace for his 12th riding title, celebrated his 35th birthday in style Sunday at Monmouth Park, taking home the Without Feathers Stakes and My Frenchman Stakes aboard India and Terrific Challenge.

In the Without Feathers, Bravo guided India to a convincing win in her first race past seven furlongs. India, a 3-year-old filly trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Lyon Stables, earned her first stakes win and third career win. She covered the mile and seventy yards distance in a quick 1:40 flat over a fast main track.

India broke first out of the gate, but Bravo was content to allow Jose Lezcano and Witch Woman to set the early fractions, as he guided India to her outside down the backstretch. India moved easily past Witch Woman moving into the final turn, and she coasted home a 5 1/2-length winner over Peak Maria's Way, who rallied for second. Witch Woman finished 4 3/4 lengths behind Peak Maria's Way in third.

India, a daughter of Hennessy out of the Miswaki mare Misty Hour, paid $6.60, $3.80, and $2.60 across the board as the second choice in the five-horse field. She topped a $24 exacta with Peak Maria's Way.

"This was her first time stretching out but she handled it very easily," Bravo said. "I was happy to sit off the pace. She relaxed really well and did it within herself today."

India has been highly regarded throughout her career, as she was sent off the favorite in the Grade 1 Matron as a juvenile. Earlier this year she was the beaten favorite in the Grade 2 Beaumont at Keeneland. Following the Without Feathers victory, she increased her earnings to $152,859.

In the $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes at about five and a half furlongs on the turf, Terrific Challenge captured his third consecutive stakes of the meet, an outstanding accomplishment for the 4-year-old trained and owned by Stan Hough.

Terrific Challenge stopped the timer in a rapid 1:01 over a firm course, and paid $3.40, $2.40, and $2.10 as the 3-5 favorite. Terrific Challenge, with Joe Bravo aboard, collared pacesetter Yankee Wildcat at the sixteenth pole and exploded past him to win by three lengths. Yankee Wildcat held for second and completed a $19 exacta, with Silver Moose a length behind for show in the five-horse field.

Terrific Challenge stamped his claim as the premier turf sprinter this meet, following wins in the John McSorley and Sneakbox Stakes. The son of Royal Academy, out of the Crafty Prospector mare Clever Empress, increased his earnings to $305,463 with his seventh win in 17 starts.

"To go five and a half furlongs in 1:01 is just amazing," said Bravo, who has been aboard in Terrific Challenge's three Monmouth stakes wins. "He does it with ease too. He was a little closer than he usually is, but he was so sharp today. He's such a nice horse; it makes my job a lot easier."

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September 8, 2006
BRUCE LEVINE NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Bruce Levine, who saddled five winners from nine starters over the Labor Day holiday period, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Levine will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

The five winners during the week of Aug. 30-Sept. 4 brought Levine's totals to 27-17-9 from 76 starters, a winning percentage of .355.
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September 8, 2006
CHAZMULE RALLIES TO WIN AMATEUR TURF EVENT AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - C D and G Stable's Chazmule came rolling through the stretch to score by more than two lengths in the Amateur Riders Club of America race at Monmouth Park on Friday.

The winner, trained by Steve Klesaris, was ridden by George Wood, an accomplished point-to-point and hunt meeting jockey. Chazmule carried 138 pounds to victory in 1:44 4/5 for the mile and a sixteenth over the "good" turf course. As co-second choice in the field of nine, Chazmule paid $8.40, $4.20 and $3.40 across the board.

My Attitude, part of a Tim Hills-trained entry that started as co-second choice with the winner, had a good late run that carried him into second place, two and a quarter lengths in front of Riverboat Gambler, who had come into the stretch with a clear lead.

My Atitude, ridden by Sydney Trottman, a Monmouth Park exercise rider, completed the $38.40 exacta. Gregory Cohn, a former ARCA champion rider, was aboard Riverboat Gambler.

Princess Langfuhr, the 9-5 favorite with trainer Sharon Huston aboard, did not handle the course well and finished out of the money.

Chazmule, a 3-year-old colt by Storm Creek, broke his maiden in his fifth try. This was his first start at Monmouth.

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September 7, 2006
amateur RIDERS RETURN FRIDAY FOR THEIR DAY IN THE SUN
Monmouth Park.com

The Amateur Riders Club of America, a group founded by Daily Racing Form artist Pierre Bellocq (PEB) more than 25 years ago, returns to Monmouth Friday for its annual event. A field of 10 amateur jockeys - including trainers, assistant trainers and exercise riders - will contest the third race, a maiden claiming event at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.

Former steeplechase jockey Don Yovanovich, who now serves as executive director of ARCA, said the field of riders for Monmouth's 2006 event is as representative as ever. Both men and women will ride in Friday's race.

The field includes trainers Sharon Huston, who rides morning line favorite Princess Langfuhr, and Doug Nunn, who rides M J Hamer, a horse he trains.

Also riding Friday are former professional jockeys Tim Brumfield and Jody Ray Gordon, and George Wood, who has racked up 25 wins in point-to-point events and hunt races.

Amy Hebert has six amateur victories, including a score in Russia, and Gregory Cohn is a former ARCA champion.

Other riders are Gus Duarte, an assistant to trainer John Forbes at Monmouth; Lacey Gaudet, an assistant to Maryland trainer Ed Gaudet; and Sydney Trottman, a Monmouth Park exercise rider who is new to ARCA competition.

ARCA is a member of FEGENTRI, the international federation of amateur riders that supervises amateur events in 20 countries.

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September 6, 2006
INDY WIND MAKES TURF DEBUT IN SATURDAY'S GRADE 3 RED BANK
Monmouth Park.com

The bad weather that postponed last Saturday's $150,000 Red Bank Stakes (G3) may have turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Hardacre Farm's Indy Wind. The 4-year-old was on medication for a sinus infection last week, but the delay gave him a chance to fully recuperate, and he'll be ready for action when the race is run at a mile on the turf this Saturday.

"He had a lot of mucous and was coughing," trainer Amy Tarrant said. "We thought it was his lungs, but it turned out to be a sinus infection. He was on medication and had no chance to run last week. But he's off the medication now, and his wonderful breeze on Monday showed me he's healthy and fit."

For the record, Indy Wind drilled a hole in the wind Monday morning when he was timed in :46 4/5 - best of 42 works at the distance - for a handy half-mile.

"He came out of it just great," Tarrant said, "and now it's time for him to step up."

A son of A.P. Indy - Zagora, by Kingmambo, Indy Wind is solidly bred for the grass. He'll have to be, because Saturday will be the first time he's ever seen the green.

"He's never run on grass, or even worked on it," Tarrant said, "but he's bred to like it. And the mile distance is perfect for him."

This will be just the sixth lifetime start for Indy Wind, who burst on the Monmouth scene last year when he won twice by open lengths. Minor injuries cut short his 3-year-old season, and this year he's made just three starts here. He was third in his comeback on May 20, and then scored a handy win on June 17. Last out, he made his stakes debut in the Skip Away, and finished a solid second to multiple graded stakes winner Park Avenue Ball.

"It might seem a graded stakes is shooting high," Tarrant said, "but he's got to get going. He's always had a lot of potential and now it's time for him to show everyone what he's got.

"I'm treating him like he was still a 3-year-old," the trainer said. "He's so lightly raced that in terms of experience he isn't an older horse."

The Red Bank, final graded event of Monmouth's 2006 season, won't be an easy assignment for a first-time grasser. Indy Wind will meet two accomplished turf runners in Miesque's Approval and Hotstufanthensome, both of whom have graded wins to their credit.

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September 6, 2006
'COWBOY' READY FOR ANOTHER SHOWDOWN; JOEY P. OUT FOR YEAR
Monmouth Park.com

Who's the Cowboy, a good sprinter last season at 3, has turned into the best sprinter at Monmouth this year. He took over the crown from Joey P. in his last two starts, and will go on from here. Joey P., meanwhile, faces throat surgery and will be out the rest of the season.

"Cowboy," a 4-year-old gelding by Intensity, made last Sunday's Icecapade his third straight stakes score of the meet, and there's a chance he'll go for four in a row in the $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap, one of the highlights on New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival Day on Sept. 16.

Who's the Cowboy, owned by Gerry Sleeter and trained by son Kevin Sleeter, will have to carry highweight in the six-furlong Friendly Lover. The question is how much.

"He came out of the race great," Gerry Sleeter said, "and he'll run back in two weeks unless they put too much weight on him. I don't want to run him if he has to carry the grandstand."

Who's the Cowboy, out of the Better Arbitor mare Image's Image, and thus a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Eleven North, has turned in two huge efforts recently. On Aug. 6, he ran down Kazoo to win the Teddy Drone Stakes in 1:08 4/5, and last weekend, he mounted a five-wide rally to run down the favored Weigelia, stopping the clock in 1:09 flat.

As a 2- and 3-year-old, Who's the Cowboy was all speed, all the time. Now he's settled into the role of closing sprinter, and he's very good at it.

"He's bigger and stronger now," trainer Kevin Sleeter said. "He'll rate behind horses and make a big run. We used to have the rider send him all the time. But once last year, he got left at the break, and then came running at the end. That's when we knew that as his best style."

The ultimate goal for the "Cowboy" this year is the Grade 1 DeFrancis Memorial Dash at Laurel in November. Last year, Who's the Cowboy got buried on the rail in a field of 14 and finished seventh.

"I know he's good enough to win that race," the trainer said. "We just have to get him there."

John Petrini's Joey P., who had never been beaten in a Monmouth sprint before running fourth in the Teddy Drone, looked listless in running last of seven in the Icecapade.

"You can't run when you can't get air," trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said. "He has a breathing problem that was getting worse. He'll have surgery to fix it, and he won't be back before the end of the year."    

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September 5, 2006     

JERSEY BOY BREEN A STAR ON THE RISE     

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The seemingly sudden success of Kelly John Breen is actually the product of 20 years of hard work and dedication.

Breen, only 37, is about to wrap up a second straight trainer title at Monmouth Park, and his 2-year-olds were prominent in Saratoga's juvenile stakes.

Some have called him an "overnight sensation," but "rising star" is a much better description.

"He's put in the time," said Joe Bravo, 11 times the leading jockey at Monmouth Park and Breen's primary rider. "People say he's come on overnight because he's had a lot of success the last two years, but he's always been around here."

It's too early to tell if Breen will become a major player on the national stage, but his career trajectory for the last two years could carry him far.

"The sky is the limit," Bravo said. "He's got some great people behind him. Those kinds of opportunity don't come around too often, and he has the know-how to get the horses there."

Not bad for a kid from New Jersey who, through pluck and determination, forced his way into the sport.

Breen fell in love with racing before reaching his teens and honed his craft from the ground up while still in high school.

At a point when most teenagers are clueless about their futures, Breen knew what he wanted to do.

Jackie Breen, Kelly's father, is a horseplayer dating back to the days of the defunct Jamaica Racetrack not far from the current Aqueduct site.

When the family moved to Old Bridge, N.J., Monmouth became the track of choice.

"I'd come home from working construction in New York and there'd be a note on the table from my wife saying 'Me and Kelly are at Monmouth,' " Jackie Breen said.

The youngster was quickly hooked.

"We were missing him one afternoon at the track and we couldn't find him," Jackie Breen said. "There he was, over by the jockeys' room talking to the riders. He must have been 13."

Breen first aspired to be a jockey. Jackie took him to a local farm where he learned to gallop horses. That led to a connection to trainer Walter Reese and the late rider Chris Antley, Breen's idol.

"I tried to learn by following Antley around," Breen said. "I was the little pest kid. Antley rode first call for Walter, but he didn't come by to work a horse but once a weekend. That freed me to work a lot of horses. That gave me a ton of experience."

A growth spurt at 16 put inches and pounds on Breen's frame and ended his dream of becoming a rider - but not his desire to win.

Breen took whatever jobs he could get, including pony rider on the escorts that accompany the horses to the starting gate. During the school year, Breen got up at 4 a.m. and drove to Philadelphia Park or Garden State Park to gallop horses for Reese before hustling back to high school.

"When a kid gets up at 4 o'clock in the morning and he's happy and whistling, you don't stop him from what he wants to do," Jackie Breen said.

Breen eventually found a job closer to home as exercise rider for John Forbes, five-time leading trainer at Monmouth.

"A lot of exercise riders, 'Big' John Tammaro used to say, are the only ones on the racetrack that think they've done a full day's work at 10 o'clock in the morning," Forbes said. "Kelly was an exercise rider who didn't stop there. His interest and his willingness to work went through the day. He became part of the whole operation. That was never anything we had to tell him to do."

There was a brief detour after high school graduation. Jackie got Kelly into the steamfitter's union, and they worked together on major construction jobs.

The overtime was flowing and paychecks were plump. As they drove home over the Verrazano Bridge one evening, Jackie offered some fatherly advice.

" 'Kelly,' I said, 'I've got something to tell you. It isn't always like this. We're not always going to make this much money.'"

Breen had news of his own.

"He said, 'I got something to tell you, pop. This is my last day. I'm going to back to the racetrack.' "

He has been there ever since.

Breen rejoined the Forbes crew before making the jump to what became his finishing school: assistant trainer to Ben Perkins Sr. with the powerful New Farm Stable.

"Ben stressed to me that we have quality and I'll teach you how to deal with that," Breen said. "He didn't have to say a lot. I followed him around the sales. I saw what he liked to buy. It was a big education."

When Perkins retired in 1999, the New Farm horses went to his son Ben Jr. Breen had job offers, but interpreted the changing of the guard as a sign to strike out on his own.

"I started with two horses, hustling and bustling," Breen said. "We had some really nice horses when Ben retired. I used to gallop Delaware Township every day. I walked away from that to start out with a couple of claimers. It was tough. My wife was four months pregnant. I had bills to pay. All of this was going on, and not a lot of people were looking for a new trainer at the time."

Longtime friend Ricky Gallo helped out with a couple of horses. Claim by claim, Breen built up his stable. He took major leaps forward the last two years.

He won 11 races and $351,532 in purse money at Monmouth in 2004. He zoomed to the trainer title last year with 38 wins and $914,540 in earnings.

This year, Breen has already equaled last season's win total, and his horses have banked more than $1.3 million at the meet.

The most dramatic development has been Breen's success in developing young horses. Praying for Cash was second for him in this year's $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth and won the Grade 3 Long Branch Stakes.

Breen also had a pair of seconds in 2-year-old stakes at Saratoga: Desire to Excel - now sidelined by an injury for the rest of the year - in the Grade 3 Schuylerville, and True Addiction in the Grade 2 Adirondack.

As Breen started winning, owners took notice.

Dennis Narlinger and Lori and George Hall are now supplying him with a steady stream of 2-year-olds, and Breen is delivering results.

To continue rising, Breen recognizes the need to run more horses outside New Jersey. From Monmouth, Breen feels he is well positioned to compete in New York stakes when the right horses come along.

"There are three places that are the top in racing: Kentucky, New York, and California," Breen said. "In order to keep owners and breeders happy, you have to win races at one of those circuits. Right now, we're stabling at Monmouth Park and we're ducking the heavy heads and still winning races. We run in New York and do well. We're backing up our talk right now. We have some nice horses.

"I think we're proving that we can be a strong stable in New Jersey. You have to find the right horse to go to New York. You pick and choose your fights."

Success with the babies marks a transition in the barn as Breen starts pulling away from his onetime bread-and-butter.

"I'm looking to move forward and get away from the cheaper claimers," Breen said. "I think I've established myself. I'm no longer Ben Perkins Sr.'s assistant. I'm now Kelly Breen, and I've made my own name for myself."           

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September 4, 2006
BRAVO WINS SIX MONDAY, EQUALS MARK FOR MOST WINS IN A DAY
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Jockey Joe Bravo won six races on Monday's card at Monmouth Park, equaling his own mark and matching that set by Julie Krone, Chris Antley and Walter Blum.

Bravo's six-bagger started in race one with Sunnywin ($6.80), continued in the fourth aboard Smartgabrielle ($7.20), the fifth atop Bold Mon ($7.20), the tenth on Xchanger ($11.60), the 12th aboard Reata's Rocket ($5) and concluded with the 13th and last race on Jackie Lad ($6).

The first rider in track history to ride six winners on a single card was Walter Blum on June 9, 1961.  The mark went unequaled for more than 20 years until Chris Antley did it on July 30, 1984 and Julie Krone on Aug. 19, 1987.  Bravo's six on Monday was the fourth time for the 34-year-old native of Monmouth County.  He had previously won six races on Aug. 31, 1994, May 18, 2002 and Sept. 18, 2005. 

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September 3, 2006
JOHN FORBES RECEIVES 2006 BUDDY RAINES AWARD
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - John Forbes, a trainer at Monmouth Park for more than three decades, has been named the 2006 recipient of the Virgil (Buddy) Raines Distinguished Achievement Award.

Mr. Forbes will be honored in winner's circle ceremonies on Monday, Sept. 4.

The Raines Award, instituted at Monmouth in 1996, honors men and women who have demonstrated a continuing commitment to the sport of Thoroughbred racing as an owner or trainer, and whose conduct has been exemplary for professionalism, integrity and service to the sport.

Mr. Forbes is the 11th recipient of the Raines Award, following J. Willard Thompson (1996); Danny Perlsweig (1997); Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll (1998); Joe Pierce Jr. (1999), Peter Shannon (2000), Dennis Drazin (2001), Sam Fieramosca (2002), Charles and Marianne Hesse (2003), Janet Laszlo (2004) and Richard Malouf (2005).

"John Forbes is what this award is all about," said Robert Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park.  "John's loyalty and unending advocacy for the horsemen and racing in the state of New Jersey is nearly unequaled.  His personal commitment to Monmouth Park and its successes is something that not only am I grateful for, but so to are his colleagues and the entire Monmouth Park family."

Forbes hails from a racing family - both his parent were trainers.  At the age of 24 Forbes went to work for John Tammaro Sr. in Maryland.  Three years later he captured his first race with Town House, a 5-year-old maiden, at Lincoln Downs.

In the mid-1970s Forbes moved to New Jersey and was a quick success in the Garden State.  He captured training titles at Monmouth in 1979, 1981 and 1989 - 1991.  His five Monmouth titles tie him for the most held by a trainer.

In addition to his successes at Monmouth, Forbes is the all-time winningest trainer in Meadowlands history and won a record seven titles there:  1978, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1990 and 1993.

His biggest success came in 1995 when he was instrumental in forming a limited partnership that raised nearly $2 million to purchase yearlings and carry them through 1998.  Among those purchased was graded stakes winner and Haskell starter Tale of the Cat, who later sold for $11.7 million.

Born in Baltimore, Md., Forbes lives in Holmdel with his wife, Vicki.  They have three children.

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September 3, 2006
NEW JERSEY-BRED OUR FANTENE WINS SORORITY STAKES
BLUE SPARKLER GOES TO MY LUCKY FREE
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Gunsmith Stables' Our Fantene gained command around the far turn and held off an inside bid by odds-on favorite Eternal Grace to win the $100,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday by a head.

Ridden by Eddie Castro, Our Fantene covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 2/5 and returned $25.60, $6 and $3.20.  Eternal Grace paid $2.60 and $2.40 and completed a $66.80 exacta.  Lia's Luck was another 4 3/4 lengths back in third, good for a $3.40 show mutuel.  Bovell Road was fourth with Blue Carnation the last of the five 2-year-old fillies in the 54th running of the Sorority.

"We've always been very high on her and she did everything right today," said winning trainer Cal Lynch.  "We won the 2001 Futurity at the Meadowlands with this filly's dam (Our Cozzette).  I'm not sure where we'll go with her just yet.  We'll see how she comes out of this one first and then decide."

A daughter of 1997 Haskell winner Touch Gold, Our Fantene is from the Cozzene mare Our Cozzette and was bred in New Jersey.  Her Sorority win marked her second trip to the winner's circle in as many tries and she has now banked $87,000 for her connections.

In the $100,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes My Lucky Free took command easily turning for home before drawing off to a three length score after stepping the six furlongs in 1:09 flat.

Trained by Cam Gambolati and ridden by Joe Bravo, My Lucky Free returned $3, $2.10 and $2.10 and topped a $9.40 exacta.  Summer Sting rallied for second and paid $2.60 and $2.40.  Gipsy Limits was another 3 1/4 lengths back in third and paid $3.80.

A 3-year-old filly by Mazel Trick from the Crafty Prospector mare Fair Margarita, My Lucky Free improved her record to 5-1-0 from nine starts and increased her earnings to $218,883 for owners Runnin Cardinal and C.E. Glasscock.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Monday, Sept. 4, for a special Labor Day 13-race card - first post 12:50 p.m.

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September 3, 2006
EIGHT PLAYERS BATTLE TO FINAL DAY IN SURVIVAL AT THE SHORE
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park's popular Survival at the Shore game concludes on Monday, Sept. 4, but the winner is anything but a foregone conclusion, as eight competitors remain going into the final day's card.

Leading the way is Seth Altshuler, a 28-year-old resident of Matawan, N.J., who has amassed a bankroll of $1,206.30 through Saturday, Sept. 2.

The Survival at the Shore competition began Memorial Day weekend and requires it players to select a horse in three pre-determined races and that runner must finish first, second or third. 

The competition began with 2,559 players from around the world.  The winner is to receive a $1,000 cash prize and a berth in the 2007 NTRA/DRF National Handicapping Championship at Bally's Las Vegas.

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September 2, 2006
RIVERFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

The Riverfest music festival, scheduled to be held at Monmouth Park on Sept. 7-10, has been canceled, organizers announced. No alternate date has been scheduled.

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September 2, 2006

RAIN, WIND BRING STOP TO RACES

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

Harsh weather brought in part by Tropical Storm Ernesto caused the cancellation of racing at Monmouth Park, Fort Erie, and Philadelphia Park on Saturday.

The horses were in the Monmouth paddock for the first race when the decision was made to cancel the first two races and wait for possible clearing later on. That plan fell through as rain and high wind continued to lash the track.

Monmouth's two Saturday stakes, the Grade 3, $150,000 Red Bank on the turf and the $100,000 City Zip for 3-year-old sprinters, were rescheduled for Sept. 9. To partially offset the cancellation, Monmouth planned to run 13 races on Labor Day, three more than usual. Post time Monday will remain 12:50 p.m.

Poor track conditions caused by extensive rain prompted Philadelphia Park to call off its scheduled card.

Fort Erie canceled the last two races on its eight-race Saturday card because of heavy rainfall and very sloppy track conditions.

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September 2, 2006
HIGH WINDS FORCE CANCELLATION AT MONMOUTH SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park Racetrack has cancelled its live Thoroughbred racing card for Saturday, Sept. 2 due to high winds and heavy rains that are the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

"We were hopeful that we'd be able to race the live card today," said Robert Kulina, vice president of racing and general manager at Monmouth Park.  "The preliminary forecasts were for the whole thing to blow over around 11:00 this morning.  Unfortunately the weather - and more specifically the wind - didn't subside early enough to facilitate live racing and for the safety of the horses and riders it was best to call it off."

Live racing will resume at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Sept. 3 - first post 12:50 p.m.  The 2006 season runs through Sunday, Sept. 24.

All patrons at Monmouth on Saturday received rain check passes for a future live racing date.

Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands will remain open day and night for simulcasting on Saturday.

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September 2, 2006
RED BANK, CITY ZIP MAY BE RESCHEDULED NEXT WEEKEND
Monmouth Park.com

The two stakes races scheduled to be run on Saturday, Sept. 2, when Monmouth's live racing card was canceled due to weather, will be carded either Saturday, Sept. 9, or Sunday, Sept. 10.

The two stakes were the $150,000 Red Bank (G3), final graded turf stakes of the season, and the $100,000 City Zip for 3-year-olds.

Monmouth has scheduled a 13-race program for Monday, Labor Day, with the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (G3) and the $100,000 Icecapade Stakes topping the card. All the overnight races that were to be run on Saturday will be used as extras during the week, if not rescheduled for Monday.

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August 31, 2006
JUAN SEREY NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Juan Serey, who saddled three winners on the card last Friday, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Serey will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Serey increased his win total for the meeting to 12 on Friday, Aug. 25, when he saddled Criminal Mind ($4.80) to win the third race; Haiaccept ($18.60) to win the fourth, and Dandy Belle ($12.20) to win the sixth. 

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August 26, 2006
PURSES HIKED TO $100,000 FOR THREE LABOR DAY WEEKEND STAKES
Monmouth Park.com

The purses for three overnight stakes races to be run over the Labor Day weekend have been increased to $100,000, Monmouth racing secretary Mike Dempsey announced Saturday morning.

The City Zip Stakes, for 3-year-olds at six furlongs on Saturday, Sept. 2, was originally worth $60,000; the Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs on Sunday, Sept. 3, was originally worth $60,000, and the Icecapade Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs on Monday, Sept. 4, was originally worth $75,000.

The other stakes to be run over the holiday weekend are the $100,000 Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sunday, Sept. 3, and the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds on Monday, Sept. 4.

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August 16, 2006
PARK AVENUE BALL: THE PLAN LED TO SATURDAY'S ISELIN
Monmouth Park.com

So far, the plan is working, and Char-Mari Stable's Park Avenue Ball will go off as one of the top starters in Saturday's $250,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3).

The 4-year-old son of Citidancer, bred by owners Charles and Marianne Hesse, will not only be among the betting favorites. He'll also be a sentimental favorite as a New Jersey-bred, and a Monmouth specialist.

Trainer Jim Ryerson came into this season with the idea of running Park Avenue Ball every four or five weeks, with the Iselin the main goal for the summer.

"Everything has gone according to plan so far," Ryerson said. "The Iselin was the goal from the beginning, if all the other things fell into place. They have, and we're here."

Park Avenue Ball, who broke his maiden and then won the Tyro Stakes here in his first two career starts, had a busy, hard-knocking campaign from his third race in August of 2004 until the final race of his 3-year-old season on Oct. 7, 2005. He ran in nine straight graded events, winning the Futurity (G2) at Belmont, and the Long Branch (G3) here, and was second in the Grade 2 Hutcheson and Grade 3 Withers and third in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational.

After that long streak, Ryerson let the colt down for the winter, and he did not come back to the track until April 29 this year at Calder Race Course, where he tuned up by running third in a sprint stakes. That set him up for the Frisk Me Now Stakes here on May 27, where he beat Network by a half-length.

The first major goal for the summer was the Grade 3 Salvator Mile on June 24, and Park Avenue Ball might have won it, except for the fact that Grade 1 winner Flower Alley used the Salvator as his comeback race. Park Avenue Ball finished a game second, a head in front of Network.

Most recently, on July 23, Park Avenue Ball ran his Monmouth record to 5-2-1 in 8 starts with a five-length score over Indy Wind in the Skip Away Stakes.

And, now that it's a month later, here he is back in action.

"So far everything's good with him," the ever-cautious Ryerson said. "He's gotten to the Iselin, and he's doing well."

And after the Iselin?

"I don't know yet," the trainer said. "My plan only went this far."

Park Avenue Ball has earned $766,600 so far in his career with a record of 6-5-2 in 16 starts. In the Iselin, he'll be racing for the winner's share of $150,000, plus the 30 percent award for a New Jersey-bred in an open race.

Park Avenue Ball will likely face six rivals in the mile and an eighth Iselin, including the Ed Broome-trained Network, who's finished behind him twice. The other locally based runners expected to go are Sinners N Saints, from the Richard Dutrow stable; Tap Day, trained by Mark Hennig, and Zoffinger, from John Forbes' barn.

Expected shippers are the Todd Pletcher-trained Master Command, who is based at Saratoga, and Survivalist, also stabled at the Spa with Shug McGaughey's string.

Trainer Amy Tarrant said Indy Wind, who had been considered a possible starter, suffered a small setback and will not go in the Iselin.

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August 16, 2006
EMERALD EARRINGS RETIRED, HEADS FOR KEENELAND SALE
Monmouth Park.com

Daniel A. Herrmann's Emerald Earrings, who won two stakes at Monmouth earlier this summer, has been retired, trainer Bruce Alexander said Wednesday.

"Her next start will be in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale," the trainer said.

Alexander, who trained the 5-year-old mare by Helmsman - Legwork, By Alleged, throughout her career, said Emerald Earrings suffered from a respiratory problem in her last start, when she finished sixth in the Lady's Secret Stakes on Aug. 6.

"I was hoping to race her twice more this fall," Alexander said, "but she displaced in that last race, and I figured it was time to stop on her."

Emerald Earrings, a Kentucky-bred, had a 10-5-2 record in 23 career starts. Her 10 wins included the Ontario Colleen Handicap on the turf at Woodbine; the Honey Bee Stakes on dirt at the Meadowlands, the Florida Breeders' Distaff on the main track at the Ocala Training Center, and her two main track scores here this summer in the West Long Branch and Monmouth Beach Stakes.

She was also graded stakes-placed, finishing third in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap and the Grade 3 Matchmaker on turf here last year.

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August 14, 2006                         

ZOFFINGER BACK FOR HIS THIRD ISELIN RUN

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Zoffinger will make a third straight appearance in the Grade 3, $250,000 Philip Iselin Breeders' Cup Stakes, Monmouth Park's top event for older main-track runners at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday.

The 6-year-old Zoffinger has hit the board in both his Iselin appearances.

The 2004 Iselin saw eventual Horse of the Year Ghostzapper romp to a 10 3/4-length win on a sloppy track. Zoffinger, in an all-out drive in the lane, nosed out Private Lap for third, 32 lengths behind Ghostzapper in the four-horse field

In last year's renewal, Zoffinger rallied from eighth to get second in a controversial stretch run. West Virginia, first under the wire, drifted into Zoffinger's path. The stewards ruled there was no basis for a disqualification. Zoffinger's owner, Dennis Drazin, appealed to the New Jersey Racing Commission, which voted last month to uphold the stewards' decision. Drazin said he will file a legal challenge.

"If West Virginia doesn't come out into his path, he would be defending his victory in the Iselin," said trainer John Forbes.

For Zoffinger, this has not been a productive season. He has run six times with only two seconds. Zoffinger has lost 18 straight and his recent form has not been sharp.

"We're going to give him another chance at it," said Forbes. "He's just shy of being a really good horse. In both years, we trained him with the Iselin as the goal. It seems to be his distance. It's a nice prize."

Zoffinger, a deep closer, most recently ran poorly here in a turf allowance race.

"We'd love to see him like the grass a little bit, because there are more opportunities for his style, but he just doesn't like it." Forbes said. "He has come off the turf and run some good dirt races in the past. We're trying to get a good race out of him. Whether we can do it again this year remains to be seen."

Other likely Iselin horses, according to Monmouth's stakes coordinator, Mike Melendez, include Master Command, Park Avenue Ball, Sinners N Saints, and Tap Day. Possible entrants include Indy Wind and Survivalist.

Castro sore but due back

Jockey Eddie Castro should be back in action Wednesday following a scary spill on Saturday.

Castro took off his Sunday mounts.

"He's just sore, that's it," said agent Mike Gonzalez. "All the scans came back fine."

Castro was dumped from Stormin Gracie during the eighth race and was taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, N.J., for back X-rays.

The incident began when Megan Popz, with Eddie King aboard, fell midway on the final turn. Castro could not avoid the fallen horse. Stormin Gracie was uninjured in the incident, finishing the race without the jockey. Megan Popz was tended to on the track and vanned off. King was shaken up.

Trifecta a new low

The first race Sunday produced a Monmouth record-low trifecta payoff of $9.20 for the $2 bet.

Waltz Brightly, the 1-5 favorite, topped the ticket with Moonlight Aria (7-1) second and Holly Hedge (4-1) third.

The old Monmouth record was $15.80 set in the 2002 Haskell Invitational when War Emblem won at 3-10 followed by Magic Weisner and Like a Hero.

Loving Thoughts heads feature

Loving Thoughts looms a strong favorite Wednesday in the $43,000 second-level allowance on the turf for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Loving Thoughts just missed last time out, losing by a neck in a trouble-filled trip in which she was boxed on the final turn.

Chris DeCarlo, who normally rides first call for trainer Todd Pletcher, will be back aboard Loving Thoughts for trainer Vickie Oliver.

Pletcher will be represented in the race by More for Me, who will be making her season debut. She was 2 for 7 last year, including a win in the St Georges Stakes at Delaware Park. Chuckie Lopez will ride.                        

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August 12, 2006
MARY HARTMANN NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Mary Hartmann, who saddled Presious Passion to upset the $100,000 Jersey Derby on Haskell Day, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.
The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Hartmann will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Hartmann had her fifth winner of the meet with Presious Passion, a 3-year-old son of Royal Anthem owned by Patricia Generazio, who gained his first stakes victory in the Jersey Derby on turf, paying $22.80 to win.

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August 12, 2006
FRANKEL'S MONMOUTH BARN STARTS COMING TO LIFE
Monmouth Park.com

Trainer Bobby Frankel, who has major divisions at Del Mar, Saratoga and Belmont Park, sent a small string to Monmouth last month in the care of assistant Chad Brown.

The horses, who had been based at Churchill Downs, are just now getting into racing form, especially an attractive group of fillies.

Frankel scored his first win of the Monmouth season in last Sunday's Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes with Three Valleys, a ship-in from Saratoga. But the trainer racked up his first score with a locally-based horse on Friday, when Marimba Rhythm won an off-the-turf allowance race.

"She didn't beat too much, but she won very nicely," said Brown, who trained at Monmouth for the first time last year. "She's so well-bred that we'll be looking to get some black type for her. She goes to the breeding shed at the end of the season."

Well-bred might be an understatement. The 4-year-old filly by Golden Missile is out of the Easy Goer mare Relaxing Rhythm, who won Monmouth's Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Handicap in 1998 when she was trained by Pat Byrne.

Brown will saddle another promising miss in Sunday's mile and 70-yard third race in Stronach Stables' Witch Woman, a 3-year-old daughter of Awesome Again who has won twice in four lifetime starts.

The filly was nominated to Sunday's $200,000 Monmouth Oak (G3), but Frankel decided to take an easier path for her fifth career start.

"For one thing, she wasn't Breeders' Cup eligible," Brown said, "and she'd be racing for only half the purse. But Bobby is always conservative, and he really didn't want to rush her along too much. This will be her first start around two turns, and an allowance place is the right spot for her to try it.

"If she shows she can handle stretching out," Brown said, "we'll point her for the filly stakes ($60,000 Without Feathers) here on September 10."

Frankel will have another filly running here Sunday in Dream Lady who has been training at Belmont and returns after a two-month freshening. The 4-year-old by Old Trieste goes in the eighth race at one mile on turf, She was second in the Wishing Well Stakes at Hollywood Park in May, and comes off a poor showing in the Grade 2 Beverly Hills Handicap, where she showed speed and tired to finish last.

"This is a good spot for her to come back," Brown said. "Bobby wants to build up her confidence again."

Brown, who has eight head stabled here, said that it is likely he'll get more runners when Saratoga closes.

"We plan to be very active here in September," he said. "Some of the horses that might have gone to Belmont will be coming here."

One Frankel horse who won't be seen at the current meeting is Ay Caramba, who won last year's running of the Oceanport Stakes. The Brazilian-bred was injured while training up to this year's edition of the stakes, and is now recuperating on a farm in Kentucky.

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August 12, 2006
JOSE VELEZ JR. STILL CELEBRATING 3,000TH VICTORY
Monmouth Park.com

Most will remember Thursday's eighth race as a nice allowance debut for the up-and-coming New Jersey-bred Careless Glances, but for jockey Jose Velez Jr. it meant a lot more than just another trip to the winner's circle. 

After crossing the wire two and a half lengths in front of his nearest rival, Velez celebrated his 3,000th career win, and couldn't help but reminisce.

"It's been a long journey getting here," said the 43-year-old native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, who rode his first winner in 1980 at the Meadowlands  "It's hard to believe it's been that long since I first started out."

Velez was quick to share the spotlight and the accolades being thrown his way.

"This is a team effort, every day," the rider said.  "It's not just me out there riding. It's a combination with my agent, the horses and the horsemen, and everything has to click just right.  I have to thank all the agents I've had over the years - Joe Burdo, Kevin Lyons, Dixie Shea, Frank Sanabria, Vic Gilardi, Danny Mellul and Joe Ferrer -- winning my 3,000th race is just as much a credit to their hard work as it is to mine.

"I've been very fortunate over the years in my career and I plan to continue to ride for at least the next five years, so I'm hopeful that good fortune continues in the years to come."

Velez began riding in 1980 at Atlantic City Race Course.  He won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands and two years later was the leading apprentice at Hialeah in 1982, and won the riding title that year at Gulfstream.  He earned titles at Calder in 1983 and 1985 and was inducted into that racetrack's Hall of Fame in 1997.  The following year he was leading rider at the Meadowlands.

His biggest win came in 2003 when he won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth aboard Balto Star. His biggest near-miss came in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile in 2000, when he was beaten a neck aboard North East Bound.

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August 11, 2006
THE CAN'T YOU SEE STORY JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER
Monmouth Park.com

Can't You See is an ordinary-looking 8-year-old chestnut mare who trains (usually) really well, runs (mostly) indifferently, and wins (very) infrequently, but she means the world to owner-trainer Jeanne Vuyosevich; her husband Ken Kehoe, who bred the mare; exercise rider Bill Wilson, and jockey Navin Mangalee. 

The New Jersey-bred daughter of My Prince Charming - Got My Eyes On You, by Jolly Jake, won here on Friday - just her third victory in 63 starts over six seasons - and understandably paid $67.80 to her scattered backers.

Just winning is pretty remarkable for Can't You See, and could be a story in itself. But she took the claiming event while in foal, and after providing physical and mental therapy for Wilson, a stroke victim. And as the icing on the cupcake, she provided jockey Mangalee with his first Monmouth winner ever, and Vuyosevich with her first score of the season.

"She only wins every two years," Vuyosevich said, "and she was right on schedule. But I'm so proud of her for everything that she does."

Wilson, whose father, also Bill Wilson, worked as a valet at Atlantic City and Garden State for many years, loves the mare for the care she's provided him while he's rehabilitating from a stroke last year.

"It was August 7,"  Wilson said, remembering the day. "I was galloping a horse at Louisiana Downs when I had the stroke. The horse got me back to the barn safe. My right side was paralyzed for four days before it started to improve. I was hospitalized in Shreveport for two weeks and then had two weeks in a rehab before they let me come back to New Jersey."

Wilson, who has been part of the Vuyosevich family for years, was finally able to get back on a horse in March at the urging of his physical therapist. The horse he got on every day was Can't You See, who took care of her rider while he recuperated.

"She seemed to know that I needed help," Wilson said, "and she took care of me when I rode her. She did everything right, every day.

"She helped me get stronger, and I think I'm about 90 percent recovered now."

It was in March that Vuyosevich decided to breed Can't You See, who is in foal to Private Interview and due next April.

"I was going to make her a show horse," the trainer said, "but to hedge my bets I decided to breed her. I got the idea from Buddy Raines. I talked to him every day when he was stabled here in the '70s, and one time he told me that he had a filly with a lot of talent who just wouldn't win. He bred her and she won three races while in foal.

"I remembered that, and after we bred Can't You See we brought her back to the track. She was in the right spot last week, and Navin rode her perfectly."

Mangalee, a Trinidad native who came to Monmouth via Emerald Downs and Turf Paradise, kept the mare right up in the mix the entire mile and a sixteenth and she outgamed Gladiator Girl to win by a head. It was his first win since he was injured at the Arizona track during the winter.

Vuyosevich has more plans for Can't You See, who's had quite an eclectic career already.

"She'll have one more start, and then I'll put her in the mare and foal show at the New Jersey Horse Park in September," the trainer said. "It would be great if she could win that."

Can't You See is an eighth generation-bred by Kehoe and Vuyosevich, who operate Sunset Meadow Farm in Farmingdale, New Jersey. 

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August 10, 2006
LEZCANO BRUISED, BUT OKAY FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY FALL
Monmouth Park.com

Jockey Jose Lezcano, second leading rider at Monmouth Park, was reported to be bruised, but okay following a fall just before the wire in the ninth race on Wednesday.

"Jose has no broken bones," said his agent Jason Beides.  "He is badly bruised and we're going to take it day-by-day for right now.  He won't ride today's card, but he's hopeful that he'll be back riding tomorrow (Friday)."

Lezcano was taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch after being unseated by his mount Hermosillo during the running of the final race on the card.  The horse ducked out just before the wire, unseating the rider prior to crossing the finish line.

Through Wednesday's card Lezcano has 61 wins from 276 mounts. 

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August 10, 2006
VELEZ WINS 3,000TH CAREER RACE ABOARD CARELESS GLANCES AT MONMOUTH PARK THURSDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Jockey Jose Velez Jr. recorded his 3,000th career win at Monmouth Park Thursday after guiding Careless Glances to a 2 1/2 length win in the eighth race for trainer John Tammaro and John Bower's Roseland Farm Stables.

"This is just great," said a jubilant Velez following the milestone.  "I'm just so glad I got to win my 3,000th with John Tammaro and Mr. Bowers, who's been very kind to me.  I ride in Jersey and it's even more exciting to win it with Jersey guys.  This is really unbelievable."

A native of Santurce, Puerto Rico, Velez began riding in 1980 at Atlantic City Race Course.  He won his first race later that year at the Meadowlands.  He was the leading rider at Gulfstream Park in 1982 and Calder in 1983 and 1985.  In 1997 he was inducted into the Calder Racecourse Hall of Fame.

His biggest win came in 2003 when he won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth aboard Balto Star.

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August 9, 2006
BLUEGRASS CAT BACK AT SARATOGA TO PREPARE FOR TRAVERS
Monmouth Park.com

Bluegrass Cat, who became trainer Todd Pletcher's first Haskell Invitational winner with a brilliant performance Sunday, was back on the track at Saratoga Wednesday morning as he begins preparations for his next start, the Travers Stakes on Aug. 26.

Elliott Walden, racing manager for WinStar Farm, breeder and owner of Bluegrass Cat, said the horse came out of his seven-length Haskell victory in fine shape.

"He got back to Todd's barn (at Saratoga) about midnight on Sunday," Walden said, "and he looks really good. He came out of the Haskell in good shape, and if everything goes well, we'll run in the Travers."

Meanwhile, back at Monmouth, the Praying for Cash team was still savoring the thrill of a lifetime. The Kelly Breen-trained colt led for nearly a mile of the Haskell, and held gamely to be second. The Grade 1 placing has raised his value considerably.

"We've had all kinds of calls, all kinds of offers," said Ricky Gallo, who owns the colt in partnership with Bobby Hurley and Pat Scire. "It was really thrilling. About the three-eighths pole, I got this chill when I thought we had a chance to win. And then Bluegrass Cat went by.

"But it was an amazing race, and he ran so well that I'm still smiling," Gallo said.

Breen said he'll wait a while before deciding on the next step.

"He came out of the race fine," the trainer said. "He ran a great race."

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August 7, 2006

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND DIPS

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

Over 70,000 fans turned out over the weekend for the two biggest days of the year in New Jersey racing.

On Saturday, the $1.5 million Hambletonian for trotters attracted 29,531 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The combined handle from all sources was over $8 million. In 2005, the race drew 31,245 with a combined handle of $9 million.

Monmouth Park hosted the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday before 42,318, the fifth highest turnout for the race. The total handle was $11.8 million. Both figures were lower than in 2005, when the Haskell Day crowd was 43,769 and the combined handle topped $12.5 million. The record crowd for a Haskell card is the 53,638 who turned out in 2003 to see Peace Rules win.

Still, the large crowds were a welcome development for the beleaguered New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which owns both tracks. New Jersey racing was crippled during the first seven days of July by the shutdown of state government. The Meadowlands lost four live cards; Monmouth two. A heat wave last week forced the cancellation of Monmouth's Wednesday card.

The sports authority again offered a cross-breed daily double combining the Hambletonian and the Haskell. The $2 ticket combining Glidemaster ($14) in the Hambo with Bluegrass Cat ($4) in the Haskell paid $43.80.

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August 7, 2006

WEEKEND CROWD IN JERSEY TOPS 70,000

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

Over 70,000 fans turned out for the two biggest days in New Jersey racing, which featured major 3-year-old stakes.

On Saturday, the $1.5 million Hambletonian for trotters attracted 29,531 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The combined handle from all sources was over $8 million. In 2005, the Hambletonian drew 31,245 and a combined handle of $9 million.

Monmouth Park hosted the $1 million Haskell Invitation on Sunday before 42,318, the fifth-highest turnout for the race. Total handle was $11.8 million. Both figures were less than 2005, when the Haskell Day crowd was 43,769 and the combined handle topped $12.5 million.

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August 7, 2006                         

BREEN, BRAVO GAVE BEST SHOT            

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Kelly Breen and jockey Joe Bravo, who both top the Monmouth Park meet standings, took a strong run Sunday at the Monmouth's biggest prize, the $1 million Haskell Invitational, with Praying for Cash.

Breen was confident Praying for Cash would run well, and he knew Bravo would get the most out of the colt. The end result: a pacesetting second behind the more experienced and Triple Crown-tested Bluegrass Cat.

"Going down the backside, I was so confident," Bravo said. "I had so much horse, I knew it would take a really good horse to pass us, and Bluegrass Cat is a really good horse. He could be one of the top 3 year-olds in the country, and we made him run."

Bravo rode an excellent tactical race. He hustled Praying for Cash right to the front to discourage rivals from contesting the pace. Bravo also picked the right path, keeping Praying for Cash in the third or fourth lane on a day when the rail was dead.

"We left a lot of the decisions up to Joe," Breen said. "We wanted to be on the pace. We didn't think the track was favorable to front-runners, but at the same time we didn't want to take our horse out of his game.

"That's one of the reasons we ride Joe. It's his track. We were in the three path, and it wasn't like we were trying to mess with Bluegrass Cat. We wanted the best advantage that we could get."

Bravo knows the racetrack and its tendencies like most of us know the shortest route to the supermarket.

"It has been a very inconsistent racetrack," Bravo said. "Each lane is different. A big part of the weekend was me knowing the racetrack and which paths were good and bad."

Breen was not sure where Praying for Cash would run next. He did not rule out the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 26.

Bravo and Breen had a Sunday to remember. Bravo won the first five races and had three seconds, including with Breen's Prop Me Up in the Grade 3 Matchmaker.

The two also teamed to win the $65,000 Lincroft Handicap with Meadow Blue.

Who's the Cowboy's presence felt

For over a year, Joey P. has been widely viewed as the leading New Jersey-bred sprinter at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old Joey P. was unbeaten in eight sprints at Monmouth, including last year's Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes, heading into the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes on the Haskell undercard.

Joey P. now has competition for the title after Who's the Cowboy stormed to 1 1/4-length win. Joey P., racing on a very dead rail, ran fourth as the 2-1 favorite.

Who's the Cowboy, a homebred for the Sleeter family, has now won two consecutive Monmouth stakes.

The latest win has owner Gerald Sleeter thinking about a return try in the Grade 1 De Francis Memorial at Laurel on Nov. 25.

Who's the Cowboy was seventh of 14 in last year's De Francis, his final start of the season.

Who's the Cowboy has now won nine of 20 starts, including wins over Grade 1 winners Valid Video in the Teddy Drone and Bishop Court Hill in an allowance race at the Meadowlands last fall.

Who's the Cowboy will probably next run against statebreds in Monmouth's $100,000 Friendly Lover Handicap on Sept. 16.

Rail post an iffy spot

Red Damask finds herself on the rail - so dead here Sunday - for Wednesday's $38,000 first-level allowance feature for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

If the inside is better at the start of the new week, Red Damask will be very tough. She turned in a strong pacesetting effort in her Monmouth debut on June 30, holding on for second.      

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August 7, 2006

MASSEUSE OKAY AFTER INJURY

By DAVID GRENING, Daily Racing Form

Masseuse was pulled up by Edgar Prado just a few strides out of the gate as the 6-5 favorite in the Matchmaker on Saturday at Monmouth Park, and was found to have a sore left hind stifle, trainer Jimmy Toner said.

Toner said Masseuse should be fine and able to make it back to the races soon.

"I haven't spoken to Edgar yet, but you can't question anything he did," Toner said. "She takes a lot of warming up, and for some reason they had a very short post parade, and I don't think she had a lot of time to warm up."

Toner said he had flashbacks to the Preakness when he saw Prado pulling Masseuse up. Prado was also aboard Barbaro when he pulled him up one furlong into the running of the Preakness.

"I'm looking at Barbaro in my head - 'Don't do this to me,' " Toner said. "Fortunately, she should be okay in a couple of days."

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August 7, 2006
BLUEGRASS CAT MAY PARLAY HASKELL WIN INTO TRAVERS START
PRAYING FOR CASH (2ND), STRONG CONTENDER (3RD) IN FINE FETTLE
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - The connections of Bluegrass Cat were continuing to celebrate their win on Monday following their colt's record seven-length score in Sunday's $1 million Haskell Invitational before a crowd of 42,318 at Monmouth Park.

Sent off the odds-on choice, Bluegrass Cat came into the Haskell off runner-up performances in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.  His connections indicated the Travers may be the next stop for the colt by Storm Cat out of the A.P. Indy mare She's a Winner.

"We only have 20 days to the Travers," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher following the Haskell.  "We'll let him tell us how he bounces out of this."

Praying for Cash, runner-up in the million-dollar race, was reported in fine fettle following the Haskell.

"He's in great shape," said his trainer Kelly John Breen.  "Joe (jockey Bravo) rode him great.  He knows this racetrack like the back of his hand and he did a fantastic job.  We're all still ecstatic over the race.  We haven't decided on his next start as of yet."

Trainer John Ward, who sent out third place finisher Strong Contender in the mile and an eighth Haskell, reported his horse in good shape as well, even after getting bumped around in the race.

"The colt is fine," said Ward from his Saratoga headquarters.  "He's no worse for the wear after the roller derby that he was in.  He's back at Belmont now and we'll sit down and make a decision about his next race soon."

Sunday's crowd of 42,318 was the sixth largest on record for Monmouth's signature event.  Total handle of $11.7 million was the fourth largest.

Monmouth Park's Thoroughbred meet runs through Sunday, Sept. 24 with live racing Wednesday through Sunday - first post 12:50 p.m.

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August 6, 2006
READY'S GAL, THREE VALLEYS TAKE GRADED TURF STAKES SUNDAY
BRAVO WINS FIRST FIVE RACES ON HASKELL DAY BRAVO WINS FIRST FIVE RACES ON HASKELL DAY UNDER CARD
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. -Ready's Gal captured the $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3), Three Valleys took the Oceanport Stakes (G3) and Joe Bravo provided early excitement on the Haskell Day under card as Monmouth's leading rider swept the first five races, including the Lincroft Handicap (first race), and the Lady's Secret Stakes (third race).

In the Matchmaker, James Scatuorchio's Ready's Gal, the 5-2 second choice, caught the speedy Humoristic coming into the stretch and then held off Prop Me Up to win by a half-length. Ready's Gal stopped the timer in 1:48 3/5 for the mile and an eighth on firm turf, and paid $7.80, $4.60 and $4.40 across the board. Prop Me Up, a 10-1 chance, completed the $79.40 exacta and paid $9 and $5. Humoristic held third and paid $8 to show.

Masseuse, the 6-5 favorite, was pulled up soon after the start and was vanned off.

Ready's Gal is now two-for-two at Monmouth. She won the Little Silver on grass here last year. It was the second stakes score of the year for the 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready who won the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay in March.

Juddmonte Farms' Three Valleys provided trainer Bobby Frankel with his second straight victory in the Oceanport Stakes as he rallied to score by a neck over Hotstufanthensome. Frankel took last year's edition of the Oceanport with Ay Caramba.

Three Valleys, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, raced the mile and a sixteenth over the firm course in 1:40 flat, and paid $6.60, $3.80 and $2.80 across as the tepid choice. Hotstufanthensome completed the $24.40 exacta and paid $4.20 and $2.80 as third choice in the field of 10. Rebel Rebel, the 5-2 second choice, ran third, three lengths behind the top two.

This was the first start in 10 months for Three Valleys, a 5-year-old son of Diesis who had not run since last October at Keeneland. He was a Group 1 stakes winner as a 3-year-old in England, and a graded stakes winner in the U.S. last season, taking the Grade 2 Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap.

"My horse had a great trip," Dominguez said. "I wasn't really worried about the pace up front because I was focused on my horse. When I got to the quarter-pole, I had a ton of horse and I knew it was going to be between my horse and the six (Hotstufanthensome)."

In the day's fastest race, Gerald Sleeter's Who's the Cowboy collared the front-running Kazoo in deep stretch and drew off to score by a length and a quarter in the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes, stopping the timer in 1:08 4/5 for six furlongs.

Who's the Cowboy, trained by Kevin Sleeter and ridden by Eddie King Jr., paid $10, $4.20 and $3.40 across the board and topped a $53.60 exacta. Kazoo finished nearly three lengths before the 32-1 Maddy's Lion.

Joey P., who had never lost a sprint at Monmouth, tired badly in the stretch to finish fourth as the 2-1 favorite.

"He loves the outside," trainer Kevin Sleeter said of his horse's Post 8. "He loves lying back a little. There was a lot of speed in there. Sometimes, it sets up perfect."

"When I saw the post positions, I knew I was a winner," King said. "He did it easy today."

In the $100,000 Regret Stakes for fillies and mares, Runnin Cardinal & C.E. Glasscock's My Lucky Free shot to the lead on the turn and stormed home from there, winning by five and a quarter lengths and stopping the timer in 1:09 flat for six furlongs.

Cam Gambolati trains the 3-year-old daughter of Mazel Trick, who paid $5.40, $2.60 and $2.60 across the board as the favorite in the field of eight with Chuck C. Lopez aboard.

Notimetoquit rallied for second to complete the $25.60 exacta, finishing one length in front of Summer Sting.

It was the first stakes victory and second straight Monmouth score for My Lucky Free, who scored by five and a half lengths in 1:09 1/5 here last month.

"I was fortunate she got to sit off the pace," Lopez said. "I sat back and watched the fireworks. When I asked her to go, she just took off."

Bravo suffered his first defeat of the day in the sixth race, the $100,000 Jersey Derby Stakes, when Patricia A. Generazio's Presious Passion proved a nose the best in a three-horse blanket finish.

Rock Lobster, with Bravo up, was second by a nose over Extra Bend in the mile and a sixteenth event for 3-year-olds.

Presious Passion, trained by Mary Hartmann and ridden by Eddie Castro, stopped the timer in 1:41 for a mile and a sixteenth on firm turf, and paid $22.80, $7.80 and $4 across the board as one of the outsiders in the field of nine.

Rock Lobster, the 2-1 co-favorite with Extra Bend, completed the $86.60 exacta.

"He finally got a good trip today," Hartmann said. "He's been unlucky in some of his other races here."

Presious Passion, a Royal Anthem gelding, stayed close to the rail rounding the stretch turn, and then was out in the clear for the stretch drive. Rock Lobster put a head in front at one point, but the winner stubbornly came back and prevailed to the wire as Extra Bend made a strong late run to get in the photo.

Gilbert G. Campbell's Friel's for Real proved her victory in last year's $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes was no fluke, as she rolled to a five and a half-length score in the 2006 edition of the mile and a sixteenth event for fillies and mares.

Friel's for Real, trained by Ned Allard, became Bravo's third winner of the day when she rallied into contention on the turn, went by Capeside Lady in midstretch and then drew off for a handy score. She stopped the timer in 1:43 2/5 and paid $9, $3.60 and $3.20 as third choice.

Capeside Lady, the even-money favorite in the field of six, easily held second by nearly six lengths over Silmaril to complete the $19.60 exacta.

This was the first victory for Friel's for Real since she won last year's Lady's Secret Stakes on Aug. 7. The 6-year-old daughter of Sword Dance is now a perfect two-for-two on Monmouth's main track.

"Everything went her way today," trainer Allard said. "She had a very clear trip and she responded perfectly. She ran well here last year, and we were trying to repeat last year's scenario."

In the $65,000 Lincroft Handicap for New Jersey-breds that kicked off the Haskell Day card, Presidential Thoroughbreds' Meadow Blue was the easiest kind of winner, drawing off to score by seven and a half lengths.

The Meadow Monster colt, trained by leading conditioner Kelly Breen, provided the first winner of the day for Bravo, Monmouth's top jockey. He raced the one mile and 70 yards in 1:40 3/5 and paid $6.60, $3.40 and $3 across the board as second choice in the field of six.

Jersey Peach finished second to complete the $40.60 exacta, more than nine lengths before Brucker's Brother, with Upturn, the 6-5 favorite in fourth.

Meadow Blue was coming off a last-place finish in the Grade 3 Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes. He had won his previous two races at Monmouth.

"He didn't get to run his race last time because he hurt his foot coming out of the gate," Breen said. "I didn't know if we could get him ready in time for this race. It was touch-and-go until the middle of this week. But his foot got better in time, and we were able to run him today."

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August 6, 2006
Haskell Race Quotes
Monmouth Park.com

WINNING TRAINER (TODD PLETCHER) – “He’s been doing so well since the Belmont Stakes (where he finished 2^nd), that we were enthusiastic about this race. Although you never envision something as dominating as this. His performance today is as good as any 3-year-old’s this year. To win a Grade 1 as significant as the Haskell puts him in the elite category as a racehorse and prospective sire.”

Asked about running in the Travers on Aug. 26:

“We only have 20 days to the Travers, which gives the horses who ran in the Jim Dandy an extra day on us. We’ll let him tell us how he bounces out of this.”

How does it feel to win his first Haskell Invitational?

“It feels great!”

WINNING JOCKEY (JOHN VELAZQUEZ) – “I wanted to be close to the pace.  I could see he (Praying for Cash) was going a good pace, but he was doing it so easily that I wanted to stay close.  The way the track was playing I wanted to stay outside, so drawing post 9 turned out to be good.

“We were able to get good position going down the backstretch and he was pulling on me just waiting for me to ask him to run.  When I called on him that was it.  He really just took off, went right by that other horse (Praying for Cash) turning for home.  He did the whole thing really easily.  It was a very impressive race from him.”

JOCKEYS

JOE BRAVO of 2^nd place finisher Praying For Cash—“This horse ran awesome.  Down the backside, I had lots of horse and all I could think about was the gold.  This is a great horse.”

EDGAR PRADO of 3^rd place finisher Strong Contender—“ Unfortunately the rail was dead today so that hurt us.  I tried to get outside, but it didn’t work.”

EDDIE CASTRO of 4^th place finisher Victory Lake – “I was behind the speed. He ran good. He tried all the way.”

ABEL CASTELLANO of 5^th place finisher Electrify—“I was behind the speed and tried to stick with Bluegrass Cat, but when he ran off, I couldn’t stay with him.”

RAMON DOMINGUEZ of 6^th place finisher Awfully Smart – “He broke against the gate a little bit. He lost contact at that point and never made up any ground.”

JOSE SANTOS of 7^th place finisher Flashy Bull – “I got a real good trip. He broke real sharp. He was handling the track perfect. But by the 5/16th-pole he just threw in the towel.”

RENE DOUGLAS of 8^th place finisher Deputy Glitters – “The track is too deep on the inside.”

JOSE LEZCANO of last place finisher Little Cliff – “Everything was all right. He just got tired.”

TRAINERS

KELLY JOHN BREEN of 2^nd place finisher Praying for Cash – “I left it in Joe’s hands. I said to make sure he breaks sharp and he can go to the front. I was watching the race closely; when he spurted away at the 3/8th-pole I thought he had a big shot. He ran a big race. I couldn’t expect much more than winning. He ran great. We were just second best.”

JOHN WARD of 3^rd place finisher Strong Contender – “It was a polo match around the first turn. He had a rough trip. We got crammed, rammed, and bammed. The winner got away clean. That’s horse racing. Anything that takes that much knocking around early in the race is tough to overcome. He had a kind of coming of age today. You had to be there at the half-mile pole. He was still fighting through horses and the winner was already gone. We’ll see how he comes back. He was sharp in the post parade. He was a happy horse today.”

ALAN GOLDBERG of 4^th place finisher Victory Lake and 6^th place finisher Awfully Smart – “He (Awfully Smart) threw his head in the air at the start. He was last and Ramon said he didn’t handle the track. Victory Lake was way wide. I thought he’d (Awfully Smart) be closer to the pace, sitting off Praying for Cash. Both didn’t get the best of trips.”

ED PLESA JR. of 5^th place finisher Electrify – “Bluegrass Cat was just by far the best. Everyone else was just chasing him. This puts things in perspective for us.” 

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August 6, 2006
BLUEGRASS CAT ROLLS TO SEVEN-LENGTH SCORE IN HASKELL, PRAYING FOR CASH 2ND, STRONG CONTENDER 3RD AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat was the dominating force at Monmouth Park Sunday, driving to an impressive victory in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage, and putting himself squarely in the championship picture as racing's second season begins.

The Storm Cat colt, who finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes this year, finally collected his own Grade 1 trophy with a tour de force performance that left a talented field in his wake. He also gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first victory in the Haskell Invitational with his fourth starter in the race. It was also the first Haskell win for jockey John Velazquez.

A crowd of 42,318 - fifth largest in Haskell history - cheered home the winner, who went off the even-money favorite and beat local favorite Praying for Cash by seven lengths. Strong Contender finished third, a length and a quarter farther back, and Victory Lake was fourth, four and a half farther back.

"We couldn't have asked for a better day today," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. "It's been an extraordinary weekend for racing in New Jersey, with the Hambletonian yesterday and the Haskell today, and I have to thank the horsemen and the fans for making it all possible.

"Anytime 70,000 people show up to watch racing you know you've created two great events that generate excitement not only statewide, but nationwide, and will continue to grow for many years to come."

Praying for Cash, owned by Bobby Hurley, Ricky Gallo and Pat Scire, trained by Monmouth leader Kelly Breen and ridden by perennial Monmouth champ Joe Bravo, gave the crowd a thrill for a mile in the Haskell as he took the track at the start and set solid fractions.

But Bluegrass Cat was sitting on ready, and when Velazquez asked the question in the stretch, the colt answered emphatically, drawing off as the rider pleased. Praying for Cash, who went off at 9-1, held gamely for second and Strong Contender, the 21-10 second choice, finished evenly for the show.

Bluegrass Cat raced the mile and an eighth in 1:48 4/5, and paid $4, $2.80 and $2.40 across the board. Praying for Cash returned $5 and $3 and completed the $40.60 exacta. Strong Contender was $2.60 to show.

"He's been doing so well since the Belmont Stakes that we were enthusiastic about this race," Pletcher said. "Although you never envision something as dominating as this.

"His performance today is as good as any 3-year-old's this year. To win a Grade 1 as significant as the Haskell puts him in the elite category as a racehorse and prospective sire."

Velazquez said he was impressed by the colt's performance.

"We were able to get good position going down the backstretch," the rider said, "and he was pulling on me just waiting for me to ask him to run. When I called on him, that was it. He really just took off, went right by that horse (Praying for Cash) turning for home. He did the whole thing really easily. It was a very impressive race from him."

Pletcher would not commit to the Travers Stakes (Aug. 26 at Saratoga) as Bluegrass Cat's next step on the road to the Breeders' Cup and year-end honors.

"We only have 20 days to the Travers," he said, "which gives the horses who ran in the Jim Dandy an extra week on us. We'll let him tell us how he bounces out of this."

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August 5, 2006
IN RETURN RALLIES TO WIN STAYBRIDGE SUITES STAKES, SETS COURSE RECORD ON MONMOUTH TURF; ZAYNAB RALLIES FOR 2ND
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jayeff B Stables' In Return ran down the front-runner in mid-stretch and went on to register a two and a quarter-length victory in the $60,000 Eatontown Staybridge Suites Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

The winner, trained by Alan Goldberg and ridden by Chuck C. Lopez, set a course record of 1:39 4/5 for the mile and a sixteenth on a firm turf course and paid $8.60, $3.40 and $4 across the board as third choice in the field of six fillies and mares. The former course record of 1:40 2/5 was set on June 30 by Giant Wrecker.

Zaynab rallied to be second, a head in front of Mambo With G, who set sizzling fractions for almost a mile before losing the lead to In Return. The exacta paid $24.40.

It was the second win in a row on Monmouth turf for In Return, a 3-year-old daughter of Horse Chestnut who broke her maiden here on July 14.

"I always thought she was a really nice filly," Goldberg said. "When she ran two back she was a little flat, but she won a nice maiden race last time."

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August 5, 2006

CHAVEZ SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOUND

Oceanport Racing Report.com
 
Margaret Ransom reports in The Bloodhorse.com that Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jorge Chavez plans to relocate from his East Coast base to ride regularly on the Southern California circuit within the next two weeks, according to agent Chuck Marikian.

Chavez is expected to arrive in Del Mar on Aug. 16 and begin accepting mounts on Aug. 18, Marikian said.

"He's going to retire here," said Marikian, a former trainer. "The response (from horsemen) has been overwhelming. He always wanted to come out here, and when the opportunity presented itself, he jumped on the chance."

The 44-year-old Chavez, a native of Peru, was aboard Monarchos to win the 2001 Kentucky Derby (gr. I)and also earned the Eclipse Award as the nation's top rider in 1999.  He is currently ranked seventh in the Monmouth Park jockey standings with 26 wins.

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August 4, 2006
TAYLOR MADE MATCHMAKER, OCEANPORT ON TURF TOP SEVEN STAKES ON HASKELL DAY UNDERCARD SUNDAY
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Seven stakes, including two graded events, will be featured on the undercard Sunday as Monmouth Park makes Haskell Day 2006 a very special event.

The $1 million Haskell Invitational Presented by Vonage is the star attraction Sunday, but the other stakes events on the 14-race card will provide fans with a wide variety of wagering options.

Gates will open at 10 a.m. on Haskell Day, with the first race set to go at noon. The Haskell will be run as the 12th event, with a scheduled post time of 5:45 p.m. It will be televised live as part of the "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships - Powered by Dodge" series on ESPN from 5-6 p.m. Sunday. The Haskell is the major Classic Division race Sunday for horses being pointed to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge, at Churchill Downs on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Topping the undercard stakes are a pair of $150,000 turf events, the Taylor Made Matchmaker for fillies and mares at a mile and an eighth, and the Oceanport Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a sixteenth.

The Taylor Made Matchmaker, which drew a field of eight, goes as the 11th race, and will be televised on the ESPN show. The race is a part of the Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf Division on the Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The Oceanport, with 12 entered, will be presented as the ninth race, and features stakes winners Hotstufanthensome and Icy Atlantic.

The top ungraded race of the day will be the $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes, carded as the 10th event. The six-furlong test drew a field of eight, headed by some of the fastest sprinters on the grounds, including Joey P., who has never lost a sprint at Monmouth; High Blitz, who has won two stakes at the meet; Who's the Cowboy, who worked an eye-popping three furlongs in :33 flat for this, and Valid Video, a Grade 1 sprint winner and a stakes winner at Monmouth.

The other stakes on the card are the $100,000 Regret Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs, the seventh race which drew eight; the $100,000 Jersey Derby Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf, the sixth race, which drew nine; the $100,000 Lady's Secret Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth, carded as the third with six starters, and the $65,000 Lincroft Handicap, for New Jersey-breds at a mile and 70 yards, which goes as the day's first event with six runners.

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August 2, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK CANCELS LIVE RACING FOR WEDNESDAY DUE TO HEAT
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – In the interest of the safety of our patrons, horses and riders, Monmouth Park has cancelled live racing for Wednesday, Aug. 2, due to extreme heat.

Monmouth joins fellow East Coast tracks Delaware Park and Saratoga in canceling live racing on Wednesday.

The racetrack will be open for simuclasting in the Clubhouse only.

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July 28, 2006
BIG CITY DANSE WINS FIRST TURF CHUTE SPRINT AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Forbes and Mosca's Big City Danse won the first race ever run out of Monmouth's new five and a half-furlong turf chute, capturing the fourth event Friday by a half-length.

Big City Danse, trained by leading conditioner Kelly Breen and ridden by Jose Lezcano, held off all challenges in the stretch to stop the timer in 1:02 3/5 for the five and a half furlongs on "good" turf. The time automatically became a track record because it is the first time the distance was run on Monmouth's new grass course.

The winner returned $5.60, $3.60 and $2.40 across the board and combined with Baby Book for a $19 exacta. To the Crowd was a nose back in third.

Monmouth's new turf course was first used at the end of June, and the mile and an eighth chute has been used several times since then. The five and a half-furlong chute, however, had been used just once before today. That was on June 23, when six horses participated in a workout from the chute. Today's fourth race was the first ever pari-mutuel event out of the chute.

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July 28, 2006
PETER WALDER NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Peter Walder, who saddled four straight winners over the course of two days, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Walder will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Walder, who has the highest win percentage at the meeting with a batting average of nearly 40 percent, sent out three winners from three starters last Friday, as Size the Bet ($2.80) won the first, Keep Cruising ($4.20) won the second, and Kissin Wife ($3.60) won the sixth. He also won with his first starter on Saturday's card as Groomeroma ($9.20) won the third race. Jockey Jose Lezcano was aboard all four winners.

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July 27, 2006
BRAVO WINS 4TH OF DAY IN TURF FEATURE AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Leading rider Joe Bravo recorded his fourth winner of the day in the $40,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park Thursday, as he guided Silly Goose Racing Stable's Approved By Dylan to a front-running victory on the turf.

Approved By Dylan, sent off second choice in the field of seven, raced the mile and an eighth over a firm course in 1:47 flat, and returned $6.80, $4 and $2.60. He finished nearly a length in front of Gadget Man, who closed to get the place and complete the $33.20 exacta. A Nice Splash, the 6-5 favorite, ran third.

The winner, trained by leading conditioner Kelly John Breen, scored his first win at Monmouth in his second start. It was the second victory of the season in six starts for the 4-year-old colt by With Approval.

Bravo won the first race aboard I'm a Dilemma ($5.80), and then added the fourth on Hither Lane ($4.20), and the sixth on Hydrogen ($4.80) before taking the feature.

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July 27, 2006
FRANKEL BACK ON MONMOUTH SCENE WITH 10 HORSES
Monmouth Park.com

Bobby Frankel has shipped in horses to Monmouth for the second summer in a row, and the 10 runners are bedded down in Barn 21 with assistant Chad Brown overseeing their training.

The top horse in the barn is the Brazilian-bred Ay Caramba, whose main claim to fame early in his career was that he was the last horse to beat 2005 turf champion Leroidesanimaux, back when both were competing in South America.

Now a 6-year-old, Ay Caramba returns to Monmouth to seek a repeat in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3), which will be run on Haskell Day, Sunday, Aug. 6. Last season, the son of Roi Normand scored by nearly a length over Hotstufanthensome in the mile and a sixteenth turf event.

Brown has several allowance horses in the barn, including Indian View, a winner in Germany last year, and Ginger Punch, a lightly raced daughter of Awesome Again who broke her maiden at Churchill Downs in May, and is getting ready to return to the races.

"All the horses should be ready to run during the Monmouth meeting," Brown said. "I'm hoping some of them will develop into stakes runners."

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July 27, 2006                         

TEDDY DRONE TARGET FOR VALID VIDEO          

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Valid Video worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Wednesday at Monmouth in preparation for his comeback Aug. 6 in the Teddy Drone Stakes.

It has been a long, frustrating road for trainer Dennis Manning. Valid Video was among the leading 3-year-old sprinters in 2003, when he won the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga, but he has run only five times since competing in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Sprint, in which he tore a sacroiliac muscle, located in the lower back.

"It didn't knit right," Manning said. "Now, fortunately, we're in good shape."

Valid Video last ran in January in the Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park, finishing seventh at 42-1.

"I didn't have him 100 percent and he only got beat five lengths," Manning said. "Then he got sick and I lost all that time.

"He's doing okay," Manning said. "If everything goes all right and he breezes well on Wednesday, I'll run him on Haskell Day in the Teddy Drone Stakes. I would prefer to run him in an easier spot, but there aren't any."

The Teddy Drone is normally a very tough spot, especially for a horse who has not run in a long time, but Manning said he is confident that Valid Video will be ready.

"I'll have him as right as you can have a horse coming off a long layoff," Manning said.

Monmouth horses shine at Spa

A pair of fillies with Monmouth Park connections finished one-two in the Grade 3 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, the opening day feature Wednesday at Saratoga.

Cotton Blossom, who won her maiden here June 16, got the victory for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Desire to Excel, from the barn of Monmouth's leading trainer Kelly Breen, was a hard-luck second. The 7-5 favorite following her win in Belmont's Astoria Stakes, Desire to Excel stumbled badly out of the gate and tore her left-front shoe half off.

"It was a tough break," Breen said Thursday morning at his Monmouth barn. "She ran a game race. We'll go over her good today. She's got some aches and pains, and we'll see how she looks in a couple of days."

Town Council steps up for Rumson

The $60,000 Rumson Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs is the supporting feature Saturday.

Town Council, who won a first-level allowance under Joe Bravo here June 25, is back in a stakes for the first time since finishing fourth in the Cowdin at Belmont Park last October.

"He ran well, and he's been training well," said trainer Ben Perkins Jr. "Joey Bravo likes him a lot."

Town Council finds himself in a tough spot.

"It was either face older horses in a second-level allowance or try a stakes," Perkins said.

He's Got Grit is back at Monmouth, where he has always run well. He swept the Monmouth 2-year-old stakes last season, winning the Tyro and the Grade 3 Sapling. Most recently, He's Got Grit was a distant third behind Henny Hughes in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes.

Flirtatious Smile is undefeated in three starts, all coming at this meet against New Jersey-breds. The Rumson will be his stakes debut.

Trainer Mike Hushion will shorten up River City Rebel, most recently a game second at Belmont in a second-level allowance race at one mile.

As often happens in the region, Monmouth stakes faces competition on the same day. Delaware Park offers the $54,000 Oh Say Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Put Back the Shu, Valid Brush, and Clinton Harbor Md were entered in both the Rumson and the Oh Say.

* Jose Lezcano won four races on Wednesday to tighten the jockey race. Bravo, who leads the standings and is biding for a 12th title, responded with a four-win performance Thursday.        

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July 26, 2006
BLUEGRASS CAT, STRONG CONTENDER EXPECTED TO HEAD 7-9 IN MONMOUTH'S $1 MILLION HASKELL INVITATIONAL ON AUG. 6
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - A field of seven to nine 3-year-olds looks set for the $1 million Haskell Invitational, the centerpiece of Monmouth Park's meeting on Sunday, Aug. 6.

Monmouth racing secretary Mike Dempsey said the field for the mile and an eighth, Grade 1 test, will likely be topped by WinStar Farm's Bluegrass Cat, who finished second in both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, and has been working sharply at Belmont Park for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The other top 3-year-olds expected to contest the 39th running of the Haskell are Jayeff B Stable's Awfully Smart; Joseph Lacombe Stables' Deputy Glitters; Padua Stables' Electrify; West Point Thoroughbreds' Flashy Bull; Hurley, Gallo & Scire LLC's Praying for Cash; and, John C. Oxley's Strong Contender.  Considered possible for the race are Robert & Beverly Lewis Trust's Point Determined and William Farish Jr.'s Seaside Retreat.

Strong Contender is expected to be just that for trainer John Ward Jr. The lightly raced son of Maria's Mon drew off to an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont after finishing third in both the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes and Grade 2 Peter Pan.

Bob Baffert, who has won the Haskell three times in the past five years, including last year's running with Roman Ruler, may return to Monmouth with Point Determined, a colt from the first crop of 2001 Haskell winner in Point Given. The big bay colt bounced back from a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby to win the Affirmed Handicap (G3) and last out ran second in the Grade 2 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes.

Monmouth-based horses have provided Haskell excitement over the years, and this season's local hero is Praying for Cash. Leading trainer Kelly John Breen conditions the son of Songandaprayer who earned his Haskell berth with a sharp victory in the Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes last out.

Awfully Smart, trained by Alan Goldberg, earned a Haskell invitation by winning the Leonard Richards Stakes (G3) at Delaware last out. The gray colt by Anees has started twice at Monmouth, finishing second in a maiden race last year, and sixth in the Spend a Buck Stakes this May.

Tom Albertrani trains Deputy Glitters, who scored by a neck in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby last out. Albertrani is pointing Preakness winner Bernardini for the Travers, and feels Deputy Glitters is a better fit at Monmouth. The Deputy Commander colt won the Tampa Bay Derby (beating Bluegrass Cat) in March, and then finished sixth in the Wood Memorial, eighth in the Kentucky Derby and 11th in the Belmont Stakes before his win at Thistledown.

Electrify , now stabled at Monmouth with trainer Eddie Plesa Jr.'s string, won two stakes at Calder in the spring, but finished fifth in the Iowa Derby on June 30 as he failed to handle the Prairie Meadows track in his only local outing, the colt by Monmouth stakes winner Delaware Township finished second to Extra Bend in the Spend a Buck Stakes.

Kiaran McLaughlin trains Flashy Bull, who finished third to Deputy Glitters in the Ohio Derby most recently. The gray son of 1994 Haskell winner Holy Bull had the outside Post 20 in the Kentucky Derby, and was never able to improve position as he finished 14th.

Seaside Retreat, a stakes winner on both turf and dirt, may invade from Canada, where he trains with Mark Casse's stable. The son of King Cugat won the Display Stakes at Woodbine last season on the main track, and this year captured the Charley Barley Stakes on grass at the Toronto track after running 10th in the Kentucky Derby. Most recently, the bay colt was second to Go Between in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby on turf at Colonial Downs.

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July 26, 2006
VONAGE SIGNS 3-YEAR DEAL WITH MONMOUTH PARK TO BECOME PRESENTING SPONSOR OF HASKELL INVITATIONAL
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park racetrack announced today that Vonage America, Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE:VG), a leading provider of broadband telephone services, signed a 3-year deal to become the presenting sponsor of the Haskell Invitational. The 39th running of the Haskell will be held on Sunday, August 6, at Monmouth Park racetrack in New Jersey. 

"We're very pleased to team up with Monmouth Park and become the presenting sponsor of this very prestigious race," said Michael Tribolet, President of Vonage America, Inc.  "Vonage is a provider of broadband telephone services and is headquartered right here in Monmouth County, which makes this fit between us and Monmouth Park a perfect combination."

Headquartered in Holmdel, Vonage is a leading provider of broadband telephone services with more than 1,500 employees. Vonage's Internet telephone service is easily installed and works using a standard touch-tone telephone handset. In addition, consumers benefit from a number of advanced telephone features such as call waiting, 3-way calling, call forwarding and voicemail - all of which can be managed online.

"This is a win-win agreement," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.  "We're extremely pleased to have Vonage sponsor our most prestigious race and look forward to a partnership with them that will stretch into the years to come."

The Haskell was inaugurated in 1968 and has seen 20 champions compete in its 38-year history.  This year's renewal of the $1 million, Grade 1 event will be televised live on ESPN from 5 to 6 p.m.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a pioneer in the Internet telephony industry. The award winning Vonage(R) service is sold on the web and through national retailers. Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. For more information about Vonage's products and services, please visit http://www.vonage.com or call 1-VONAGE-HELP. Vonage(R) is a registered trademark of Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.
Vonage

Mitchell Slepian, 732-528-2677
mitchell.slepian@vonage.com 

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July 26, 2006                         

TURF TOO SOFT IN NEW CHUTES       

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form
 

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The brand new $6 million turf course that Monmouth Park unveiled last month continues to veer to extremes.

Some trainers have complained that the main turf course is too firm, but the opposite has been the case with the course's two chutes. Management has yet to run a race from the brand-new 5 1/2-furlong turf chute, because the footing has been too soft. The chute's maiden voyage could come in Friday's fourth race.

The chute issues were magnified Sunday, when three grass races were scheduled on the card. The two route races remained on the turf, which was listed as good. The start of the 1 1/16-mile race, which was to have been from the traditional 1 1/8-mile chute, was shifted to the straightaway. The other race, at one mile, started as scheduled on the main course. The sprint, the Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, was taken off the grass and switched to the main track.

"The chutes were still wet," said race secretary Mike Dempsey. "The chutes did not drain sufficiently to be consistent with the rest of the track. Our new turf course drains so well while the chutes drain like a normal turf course."

Ten Frankel horses arrive from Churchill

Bobby Frankel shipped in 10 horses Wednesday from Churchill Downs. Frankel had a very productive summer here last year, when he also arrived late in the meet, posting a record of 5-3-1 in 13 starts.

Among the horses who arrived was Ay Caramba, winner of last season's Grade 3 Oceanport Handicap. This year's renewal is set for Aug. 6.

Ay Caramba, 6, has made one start this year, finishing third in a turf allowance race at Churchill Downs.

His stablemates include Witch Woman, a 3-year-old filly who captured a first-level allowance at Churchill Downs on July 7.

Vonage to sponsor Haskell

Vonage has signed on as the title sponsor for Monmouth's premier event, the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational for 3-year-olds on Aug. 6.

Vonage, a leading provider of broadband telephone services, is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. Vonage is headquartered in nearby Holmdel, N.J., and has more than 1,500 employees.

Under the terms of the 3-year deal, the race will be known as the Haskell Invitational presented by Vonage.

Bluegrass Cat leads Haskell probables

The Haskell looks like a seven- to nine-horse field topped by Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up Bluegrass Cat.

Dempsey also listed the following as likely Haskell runners: Awfully Smart, winner of the Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park; Deputy Glitters, who dug in gamely to win the Ohio Derby by a neck; Point Determined, who is trained by Bob Baffert, who has won three of the last five Haskells; Praying for Cash, who is trained by Kelly Breen, Monmouth's leading trainer; Strong Contender, the impressive winner of the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park; Seaside Retreat who ran second on the turf in the Virginia Derby; Electrify, who captured the Unbridled Stakes at Calder; and Flashy Bull, who has hit the board in three Grade 2 stakes - the Remsen at Aqueduct, the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, and the Ohio Derby.

Lezcano stays hot with four-win day

The only thing hotter than the sultry weather at Monmouth on Wednesday was jockey Jose Lezcano, who won four more races.

Lezcano has been on a roll here with 12 wins over the last five cards. Joe Bravo leads the pack with 66 wins. Lezcano is now solidly in second with 54.

Blinkers could give Frozen Treat boost

Frozen Treat adds blinkers and could show improved speed in Friday's first-level allowance feature for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Frozen Treat dropped far behind in her last two races, at Belmont and Delaware Park.

Frozen Treat has been working like clockwork here, breezing four furlongs on each of the last four Sundays.  

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July 25, 2006                         

PARK AVENUE BALL SHARP IN PREP FOR ISELIN          

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Time off over the winter helped Park Avenue Ball grow and mature. The fruits of that rest have been impressive so far this season at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old Park Avenue Ball is 2 for 3 in stakes this meet, with the lone loss a rallying second behind Flower Alley, the Travers winner and Breeders' Cup Classic runner-up, in the Salvator Mile.

The latest win last Sunday was one of the New Jersey-bred Park Avenue Ball's most impressive. He took charge early and rolled to a dominant five-length victory in the Skip Away Stakes, the prep for the Grade 3, $250,000 Philip Iselin Stakes here on Aug. 19.

"He came out of the race great," said trainer Jim Ryerson. "We couldn't be happier. I think at this time, the Iselin is where we're headed."

Park Avenue Ball had a solid season here last year, easily winning the Grade 3 Long Branch BC Stakes before running third in the Grade 1 Haskell.

"He had a hard grind last year at 3," Ryerson said. "He fought some health issues and allergies last year. Stopping and giving him a rest in Ocala for a couple of months really helped him."

Ryerson noticed the difference when Park Avenue Ball returned from the vacation.

"He came back physically stronger," Ryerson said. "That was his longest break since he came to the racetrack. Now he seems like a much stronger horse overall. He's thicker and he's carrying more weight, and that helps him recover from his efforts."

Park Avenue Ball could find Skip Away runner-up Indy Wind awaiting him in the Iselin.

Indy Wind, also 4, was making only his fifth start and first in a stakes.

Owner-trainer Amy Tarrant was pleased with the effort by Indy Wind, who was 3 for 4 in his injury-hampered career heading into the Skip Away.

"It was the first real workout of his life in a race," Tarrant said. "He got a lot out of the race. I was pleased with his effort. He showed me a lot in the race, but he's got more work to do."

Indy Wind burst on the scene last summer with a pair of impressive wins before heading to the sidelines with a hairline fracture of the right front ankle.

"I am debating the Iselin," Tarrant said. "I haven't made up my mind totally, yet."

Allowance sets up for Pickin Laurel

Pickin Laurel has been knocking on the door this season with three seconds in three starts.

The 4-year-old Pickin Laurel could finally break through Wednesday in Monmouth's featured $40,000 second-level allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Pickin Laurel, a homebred for the Sleeter family, is a closing sprinter who should have plenty of pace to chase, courtesy of a pair of New York shippers: Sleeping and Faster Tapper.

Sleeping, trained by Gary Contessa, most recently rolled to an eight-length win in a claimer for 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park. Her best efforts have come when she has been on or close to the lead.

Faster Tapper was claimed by Frank Laboccetta for $35,000 at Aqueduct in April. She was a strong pacesetting winner in a first-level allowance race at Belmont in her debut for the new barn and most recently was a tiring fourth in the slop in second-level allowance.

While those two dictate the pace, Pickin Laurel, with the outside post in the six-horse field, will be biding her time under Felix Ortiz.

"I think she likes the outside," said owner Gerry Sleeter. "That favors her a little bit. She gets herself together and tries to pounce."

Pickin Laurel should be sharp following a bullet three-furlong work in 35 seconds last Thursday.        

_________________________________________

July 23, 2006
PARK AVENUE BALL DOMINATES SKIP AWAY, NEXT STOP ISELIN
DeCARLO SWEEPS STAKES TAKING CRANK IT UP WITH MISTY ROSETTE
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Char-Mari Stable's Park Avenue Ball moved to the lead around the first turn and never looked back, winning the $70,000 Skip Away Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday by five lengths, before a crowd of 12,644.

In the $55,000 Crank It Up Stakes, Misty Rosette battled through early fractions of :21 2/5 and :44 2/5 before stopping the timer in 1:03 1/5 for five and a half furlongs in a race transferred from the turf to the main track.  Both stakes winner were ridden by Chris DeCarlo.

Park Avenue Ball set fractions of :22 3/5, :46 1/5 and 1:11 flat before coming home in a quick 1:41 3/5 for a mile and sixteenth over a fast main track.  The winner returned $4.20, $2.60 and $2.40 as the 11-10 favorite in the field of seven colts and geldings.  Indy Wind, who chased the winner most the way, held on for second and paid $3.20 and $2.80 and completed a $14.80 exacta.  It was a neck back to Smokescreen who returned $3.20 to show.

"He's chased some fast paces before," said winning trainer Jim Ryerson, "but today we figured we were the fastest of the bunch so we'd let them chase us.  He's a good turn horse, that's where he wins his races.  I was a little worried when I saw Indy Wind move toward him at the top of the stretch, but he was able to spurt away from him through the stretch.  If he comes back okay we'll likely head to the Iselin (Aug. 19)."

A 4-year-old colt by Citidancer from the Cahill Road mare Road to the Ball, Park Avenue Ball improved his record to 6-5-2 from 16 starts.  Sunday's win boosted his bankroll to $754,000.

Misty Rosette, sent off the 11-10 favorite, paid $4.20, $3 and $2.40 in winning the Crank It Up Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths.  New Hope Seven rallied to complete a $15.80 exacta and paid $3.80 and $3.  Stolen Prayer paid $3.40 to show, finishing a length and a half back in third.

A 3-year-old filly by Stormin Fever from the Ecliptical mare Exclusive Rosette, Misty Rosette captured her fourth win in six starts and increased her earnings to $155,700 for owners S. Chapman and S. Tsujimoto.  She is trained by James K. Chapman.

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Wednesday, July 26 - first post 12:50 p.m.  As always the track is open seven days a week for simulcasting.

________________________________

July 22, 2006
DURSO REJOINS TRAINING RANKS AFTER ENFORCED ABSENCE
Monmouth Park.com

Bob Durso, who underwent heart surgery during the winter and turned over all his horses to long-time assistant Luis Carvajal Jr. in April, was back saddling a runner this week at Monmouth.

"I couldn't stay away entirely," said Durso, 67, who has been training more than 40 years. "I wanted to keep doing what I always did. I missed it."

Durso said he has three horses now - all owned by Durso and his wife Carol Dender - and three that have not yet started.

"I have two 3-year-olds and a 2-year-old who probably will start later this meet," he said. "Two-year-olds always give you hope."

Durso, under treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, said he hopes a new treatment program will alleviate the pain, because he has plans to get a pony.

"I'd like to get back to doing what I did years ago," he said, "riding a pony around the track and training the horses."

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July 22, 2006
GEORGE HANDY NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

George Handy, who saddled his first winner with his only starter in nearly a year and a half last week, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Handy will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Handy, who has more than 2,200 victories during a career that spans 60 years, saddled Vow to win a claiming race on Friday, July 14, the day after he celebrated his 83rd birthday. Handy claimed Vow in his own name to get back into action. It was the first horse he sent to the post in nearly 18 months. 

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July 21, 2006

NEW TURF COURSE STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS  

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The learning curve continues at Monmouth Park as management and the maintenance crew seek the right balance for the new turf course that debuted in June.

The weather was very hot last weekend, and course records fell as horses ran exceptionally fast.

"We do have a learning curve, in terms of how much water this course takes," said Bob Kulina, vice president and general manager. "Last week was pretty hot. The course got dry, and since then we've put a lot of water down. We're aerating it. It's a matter of figuring out the exact amount of moisture Mother Nature, and we, need to put down. In the summer, any turf course gets dry and hard."

Trainer Tim Hills agreed that course maintenance remains a work in progress.

"It's a very firm course, the way it is designed." Hills said. "I've walked it several times. The grass is lush, but the dirt underneath it is pretty firm.

"I hope as they go along that they will learn to maintain it better. It's not the design of the course, which is beautiful. It's a matter of learning what they can do and can't do."

The firmness of the course has created some stung hoofs.

"I would say there are some horses that are stinging from it," Hills said. "I have not run a lot of horses over it, to be fair. But I think the big, powerful horses that hit the ground hard are at a disadvantage."

Joe Orseno is one trainer very concerned about the course after Senor Swinger, a recent private purchase, ran fourth Saturday in the Elkwood Stakes in his Monmouth debut.

"This turf is too hard for him," Orseno said. "There's a horse that ran at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park and handled that fine. He comes here, and it's like a paved road.

"I'm not running another horse on the grass here, if I can avoid it. I would never run him here. He's too valuable to us."

While Orseno looks elsewhere for turf opportunities, racing secretary Mike Dempsey reports strong interest from horsemen ready to send their runners over Monmouth's renovated course.

"There is no shortage of horsemen looking to run on the course and requesting that we put up extra grass races," Dempsey said.

Two with turf experience lead Crank It Up

The $55,000 Crank It Up Stakes for 3-year-old filly turf sprinters drew a full field of 10 as the supporting feature for Sunday's $70,000 Skip Away. Seeknfind and Stolen Prayer could have an advantage as the only runners with prior grass experience.

Seeknfind, owned by Jayeff B Stables, has made all three of her starts in grass sprints, with a win and a third. Trainer Alan Goldberg will add blinkers to Seeknfind, a homebred daughter of Giant's Causeway.

Stolen Prayer shortens up after flashing speed before fading in Monmouth's Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The rest, including Sister Silver, get their first turf test.

"She's by Saint Ballado, so she's bred for turf," said trainer Ben Perkins Jr of Sister Silver. "She acts like she has a turf way about her."

Sister Silver is coming out of a Monmouth allowance race in which she wound up in a tight spot entering the turn and finished fourth.

"She ran pretty good the last time after she got stopped and had to drop back to swing around," Perkins said. "Everything went wrong and she got beat only 1 1/2 lengths."

* Trainer Peter Walder and jockey Jose Lezcano combined to win three races Friday. They swept the daily double with Size the Bet ($2.80) and Keep Crusing ($4.20) and followed with Kissin Wife ($3.60) in sixth.                        

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July 20, 2006
‘SCOOTER’ DICKEY HAPPY TO BE BACK AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

Charles Leroy Dickey is back in town, but if you want to talk to him, you’d better yell for “Scooter,” which has been his nickname since boyhood.

The veteran trainer shipped to Monmouth this week after Churchill Downs closed and is established in Barn 33 in the Elkwood section of the Monmouth stable area with 10 horses.

“It’s good to be back,” Dickey said. “I’m in the same barn I had when I was last here 18 years ago.”

Dickey, 65, a Kansas native who started his training career in Colorado in 1963, trained at Monmouth and the Meadowlands for eight years from 1980 to 1988, spending winters in Florida.

“I had back surgery in 1988,” Dickey said, “and I had to give up the horses for a few years. When I came back I stayed in Kentucky most of the year, with winters in Florida. The last three years, I’ve gone to Oaklawn Park for the winter.”

Dickey said that rather than go to Ellis Park when Churchill closed this year, he decided to see if the Jersey Shore was still as nice as he remembered.

“I’m really happy to be back,” he said. “I spent Wednesday in the grandstand watching races. It’s a great grandstand. My two favorite grandstands are Gulfstream, which they tore down, and Monmouth.”

Dickey said the 10 horses he brought north are mostly high-priced claimers and young allowance horses.

“I’m hoping some of them will go through their conditions and become stakes horses here,” he said.

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July 19, 2006
29 3-YEAR-OLDS INVITED TO $1 MILLION HASKELL INVITATIONAL
GRADE 1 TEST WILL HAVE 39TH RUNNING ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. -- Monmouth Park has invited 29 horses to participate in the 39th running of the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on Sunday, August 6.

The list, announced Wednesday by racing secretary Michael Dempsey, includes every prominent 3-year-old in training, topped by a quartet from trainer Bob Baffert, who has won three runnings of the Haskell this decade, and three from Todd Pletcher, the nation's leading trainer.

The invitation list also includes Praying for Cash, the Monmouth-based colt trained by Kelly Breen who earned his Haskell berth with a victory in last Saturday's Grade 3 Long Branch Breeders' Cup Stakes. Latent Heat, second in the Long Branch, was also invited.

This year's Haskell, at a mile and one-eighth, will be run under allowance conditions for the first time after 38 years as a handicap. Under the conditions, winners of a Triple Crown race carry 122 pounds, while winners of any Grade 1 other than a Triple Crown event this year tote 120. Non-winners of a Grade 1 at a mile or over this season carry 118.

The Haskell Invitational, centerpiece of Monmouth's summer meeting, will top a card of 14 races on Aug. 6, with seven stakes worth a total of $765,000 slated on the under card.

Baffert, who won the Haskell last year with Roman Ruler, also took the race in 2002 with War Emblem, and 2001 with Point Given. This year one of his invitees is Point Determined, a son of the 2001 winner. His other invitees are Bob and John, Wanna Runner and Sinister Minister.

Pletcher, who has won the Eclipse Award as the nation's top trainer the last two years, has had only two previous Haskell starters. In 2000, the Pletcher-trained More Than Ready finished fourth behind Dixie Union, and his Impeachment was sixth that day. His invitees this year are Bluegrass Cat, High Cotton and Sunriver.

Trainer John Ward Jr., who saddled Pyramid Peak to run second behind Serena's Song in the 1995 Haskell, has two invitees in Minister's Bid and Strong Contender.
Richard Mandella, who saddled Dixie Union to victory, has been given an invitation for One Union, a son of the 2000 winner.

Other prominent invitees are Preakness winner Bernardini and Ohio Derby winner Deputy Glitters for trainer Tom Albertrani; Awfully Smart, who won the Leonard Richards Stakes last week for Alan Goldberg; and Arson Squad, winner of the Grade 2 Swaps Breeders' Cup Stakes for Bruce Headley.

The complete list of Haskell Invitational invitees:

HORSE  OWNER TRAINER

A.P. Warrior     Stan E. Fulton    John Shireffs

Arson Squad      Jay Em Ess Stable Bruce Headley

Awfully Smart    Jayeff B Stable   Alan Goldberg

Bernardini  Darley StableTom Albertrani

Bluegrass Cat    WinStar Farm Todd Pletcher

Bob and John     Stonerside Stable Bob Baffert

Bright One  Carolyn Sue BruderDale Romans

Corinthian  Centennial Farms  James Jerkens

Deputy Glitters  J. Lacombe Stable Inc  Tom Albertrani

Doc Cheney  My Meadowview FarmNick Zito

Electrify   Padua Stables     Ed Plesa Jr.

Flashy Bull West Point TBreds     Kiaran McLaughlin

Halo Steve  Marta Racing Ventures  Terry Jordan

Hemingway's Key  Kinsman Stable    Nick Zito

High Cotton Peachtree Stable  Todd Pletcher

Latent Heat Juddmonte Farms Inc    Bobby Frankel

Lewis Michael    Frank C. Calabrese     Wayne Catalano

Minister's Bid   John C. Oxley     John Ward Jr.

More Than Regal  Vinery Stables    Scott Blasi

One Union   Herman Sarkowsky  Richard Mandella

Point Determined B. & B. Lewis Trust    Bob Baffert

Praying for Cash Hurley, Gallo & Scire  Kelly Breen

Sacred Light     Amerman Racing LLC     David Hofmans

Showing Up  Lael Stables Barclay Tagg

Sinister MinisterLanni Family Trust, et al Bob Baffert

Steppenwolfer    Lawana & Robert Low    Daniel Peitz

Strong Contender John C. Oxley     John Ward Jr.

Sunriver    Marie & Aaron U. Jones Todd Pletcher

Wanna Runner     Michael Pegram    Bob Baffert

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July 19, 2006

BOARD APPROVES REPLACEMENT DATES 

By MIKE FARRELL, Daily Racing Form

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The New Jersey Racing Commission on Wednesday approved the request from Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands Racetrack to add four Thoroughbred racing dates to the 2006 schedule to replace cards lost earlier this month during the shutdown of New Jersey state government.

Monmouth picked up one day, Sept. 6. The Meadowlands picked up three days: Oct. 31, Nov. 6, and Nov. 7. The Meadowlands also got two additional harness dates: Aug. 11 and 12.

Also at the meeting, which took place at Monmouth:

* The commission disbursed $1.8 million from the 2005 Casino Simulcasting Special Fund to the state's racetracks and associations representing horsemen and breeders. The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association opposed the distribution on procedural grounds.

* The commission affirmed an administrative law judge's decision supporting the stewards' decision in Monmouth's 2005 Iselin Handicap.

West Virginia won the race despite drifting into the path of runner-up Zoffinger. The stewards found no grounds for a disqualification.

Dennis Drazin, the president of the horsemen's association and also the owner of Zoffinger, filed an appeal to the commission that referred the case to an administrative law judge for a full hearing. Having lost at the commission level, Drazin said he will file a court challenge.

* The commission heard a request from jockey Jesus Guadalupe for reinstatement of his license. Guadalupe, who has ridden for the last 20 years in Puerto Rico, was convicted in 1977 of race fixing at Garden State Park. The commission deferred a decision while Guadalupe tries to have the criminal conviction expunged from his record.

Bluegrass Cat among Haskell invites

Monmouth extended 29 invitations for the $1 million Haskell for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 6.

Among the likely Haskell runners, according to race secretary Mike Dempsey, were Bluegrass Cat, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes runner-up; Deputy Glitters, who won the Ohio Derby; and Praying for Cash, a local hopeful who earned the invitation with a victory last Saturday in Monmouth's Grade 3 Long Branch Stakes.

Making only his second start in a route race, Praying for Cash dueled 1-2 favorite Latent Heat into submission in the 1 1/4-length win.

Praying for Cash returned to the track Wednesday morning.

"We took him back to the track, and he seems the same as he did before the race," said trainer Kelly Breen. "He was just trotting around. We're trying to take it easy with him because it is still a little hot out.

"I just hope he belongs in the Haskell. It's going to be a tough race. They don't give away a million dollars. It's great to be in the hunt."

Godolphin trying to go 3 for 3

The Godolphin Stable has won both of its starts at Monmouth this meet, including the Elkwood Stakes last Saturday with Ashkal Way. It will try to extend the streak Friday, when it sends Safsoof in a $45,000 third-level allowance. The race will be contested at six furlongs and has an optional claiming price of $50,000.

A 4-year-old who has raced in Europe and Dubai, Safsoof has a win and a second in two U.S. starts, both at Belmont Park. He earned Beyer Speed Figures of 96 and 97 in those races.

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July 15, 2006
JUSTIN NIXON NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Justin Nixon, who saddled High Blitz to win the Mr. Prospector Stakes last weekend, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Nixon will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Nixon, who trains the Stronach Stables horses, sent out High Blitz for his second stakes victory of the Monmouth meeting. The horse won the Wolf Hill Stakes on May 29 in his previous Monmouth start.
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July 14, 2006
GEORGE HANDY CELEBRATES 83RD BIRTHDAY WITH MONMOUTH WIN
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer George Handy, who has saddled more than 2,200 winners in a career that stretches back to 1946, threw himself a comeback party at Monmouth Park Friday, as Vow, a horse he owns and trains, captured the day's fourth race.

It was the first winner for Handy since he parted company with New England owner Francis McDonnell in March of 2005, and a fitting birthday present for the trainer, who celebrated his 83rd birthday on Thursday.

Handy, who was without a horse to train for nearly a year and a half, claimed the 8-year-old Vow for $7,500 here on June 30.

"I got tired of waiting for owners to come along and I decided to claim this one for myself to get back into action," a delighted Handy said. "My son, George Jr., is my partner on this one."

Fittingly, Vow was ridden to a neck victory by a jockey named Jorge  -- Chavez - in the six-furlong test for $10,000 claimers. Vow, who rallied in deep stretch for the win, stopped the timer in 1:10 4/5 and paid $25.60, $8.80 and $5.40 across the board. Country Music was second by a neck over Barney Smith to complete the $90 exacta.

Vow, a new Jersey-bred gelding by Rahy - Missy Slew, by Seattle Slew, earned $12,600 for the win, turning a quick profit for the owner-trainer. It was Vow's 11th win in 47 career starts and boosted his lifetime earnings to $393,891.

Handy, a New England native, won his first training title at Suffolk Downs in 1956, and was a major force on that circuit for decades.

___________________________

July 14, 2006

PHILLIP ISELIN BREEDERS' CUP OUTCOME APPEAL DENIED

ORR.com

Tom De Martini is reporting on Thoroughbred Times.com that a New Jersey administrative law judge has denied an appeal by owner-breeder Dennis Drazin concerning the outcome of the 2005 Philip Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap (G3) at Monmouth Park.

The race, contested on August 28, 2005, was won by Donald and Mary Zuckerman's West Virginia by a length over Drazin's Zoffinger. A stewards' inquiry and an objection followed the race concerning possible interference by the winner, but the order of finish stood.

Drazin appealed to the office of administrative law, which recently affirmed the decision of the stewards, according to Jeff Lamb, a spokesman for the New Jersey Attorney General's office.

__________________________________

July 8, 2006
AMY TARRANT NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Amy Tarrant, who saddled two long-priced winners during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Tarrant will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Tarrant, who trains her own Hardacre Farm horses, sent out Juniper Knight ($74.40) to win a turf race on Monday, and Aerocat ($23) to take a maiden sprint on Tuesday. 

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July 8, 2006
RACING RESUMES JULY 8 AT MEADOWLANDS & MONMOUTH PARK

Monmouth Park.com

Racing resumes at both the Meadowlands and Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 8.
    With the passage of a 2007 fiscal year budget, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed Executive Order 19 at approximately 6 a.m., ending the shutdown of state government that resulted in the furloughing of thousands of state employees, including those essential for the operation of horse racing.
    With the resumption of live and simulcast racing, the following activities will take place at the Meadowlands on Saturday:
•   Baby races will take place at 10:30 a.m.
•   Three elimination races for the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old trotting colts and two elimination races for the $375,000 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies will take place as non-betting events at 5 p.m.
•   First race post time for Saturday night will be delayed until 7:45 p.m.
    The Meadowlands last presented live racing on Friday, June 30 while Monmouth Park’s last live card was on Tuesday, July 4.
    Monmouth Park’s Saturday afternoon program features the $750,000 Grade I United Nations, at a mile and three-eighths.  This year’s 53rd running will be the first over the new Monmouth turf course.  The race was shifted from Atlantic City Race Course to Monmouth Park in 1999.  First post is 12:50 p.m.
    New Jersey Account Wagering [NJAW] will be back in action with its schedule of daytime tracks.  For more information, visit www.4njbets.com.  
    Both Meadowlands and Monmouth Park will offer simulcasting today as well.  A listing of those offerings is available on the track websites – www.thebigm.com and www.monmouthpark.com.

____________________________________ 

July 8, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK, MEADOWLANDS OPEN FOR LIVE & SIMULCAST RACING, SAT. JULY 8
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Monmouth Park Racetrack and the Meadowlands will be open for live and simulcast racing on Saturday, July 8.

Monmouth’s live Thoroughbred card gets underway at 12:50 p.m., while the Meadowlands live standardbred card starts at 7:30 p.m.  Gates open at Monmouth at 11:30 a.m. and at the Big M at 11:00 a.m.  Both racetracks will be open for day and night simulcasting.

_________________________________ 

July 7, 2006
LIVE RACING CANCELLED FOR FRIDAY, JULY 7 - OFFICIALS HOPEFUL FOR SATURDAY CARD

Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport,  N.J.   Monmouth Park has cancelled live racing for Friday, July 7, as the track waits for state regulators to be called back to work. 

In addition, simulcasting on Friday afternoon at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands has also been cancelled.  A decision about Friday night’s live Meadowlands card will be made at approximately 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.

Continuous updates are available at www.monmouthpark.com and www.thebigm.com, or by calling 201-935-8500 or 201-THE BIG M.


MEADOWLANDS CLOSED FRIDAY; HOPEFUL TO RACE SATURDAY

The Meadowlands has canceled live and simulcast racing for Friday, July 7 and announced plans for the hopeful resumption of racing on Saturday, July 8.

“We are optimistic that we will be able to be open for live and simulcast racing at both Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands on Saturday, July 8,” said Vice President for Racing Operations Chris McErlean.  “However, the timetable of activities in Trenton for the passage of the budget bill in both houses precludes our opening on Friday.

“We do ask that horsemen and racing fans check our websites and phone lines for the most recent updates on Saturday,”

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July 7, 2006                                 

BROTHER DEREK TO MISS HASKELL           

By STEVE ANDERSEN, DRF.com

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Brother Derek, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby who was fourth in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, will not start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 6 because of a recent illness, trainer Dan Hendricks said.

Hendricks said that Brother Derek has recovered from a suspected virus detected in June but missed two weeks of training.

"He spiked a small temperature, probably some kind of virus," Hendricks said. "He had an elevated white blood count. We got backed up. We won't start working for a couple of weeks. We won't make the Haskell."

Hendricks said it is unclear when Brother Derek will return. Brother Derek could start in the $100,000 El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 2, using the race as a prep to the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sept. 23.

"I won't know until I start breezing," Hendricks said. "There is a race or two at Del Mar. He just started back tack-walking. He hasn't gotten back to the track."

Owned by Cecil Peacock, Brother Derek has won 6 of 10 starts and $1,302,080. After the Preakness Stakes, Brother Derek underwent a battery of physical tests and was found to have suffered no injuries.                 

________________________________

July 6, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK CLOSED FOR LIVE RACING THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2006
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. – Monmouth Park Racetrack will be closed for live racing on Thursday, July 6 due to the continuing state budget impasse in Trenton.

A decision on the live Meadowlands standardbred card will be made early Thursday afternoon.

Updates will be continuously posted on www.monmouthpark.com, www.thebigm.com, or by calling 201-THE BIG M or 201-935-8500.

________________________________ 

July 5, 2006
DECISION ON THURSDAY'S LIVE MONMOUTH CARD TO BE MADE THURSDAY MORNING

Monmouth Park.com

With the New Jersey legislature still at an impasse over its budget, the Meadowlands has canceled its live racing program for Wednesday, July 5, 2006.

“Given the hour-to-hour nature of the negotiations, we will take each program day-by-day,” said Vice President for Racing Operations Chris McErlean.  “We are moving forward with the expectations of offering live racing on Thursday night and will make a decision early Thursday afternoon.”

The Wednesday cancellation applies to simulcasting as well.

A decision about Monmouth Park’s live thoroughbred racing on Thursday afternoon will be made early Thursday morning.

The failure to finalize a 2007 fiscal year budget in Trenton has lead to the furlough of thousands of state employees and the shutdown of several industries dependent on monitoring by state regulators.  In the instance of horse racing, the judges and stewards, the state veterinarians, the licensing and testing staffs and the mutuel auditor are all employed by the state and must be present when racing is conducted.  The mutuel auditor is also required for simulcasting.

The Meadowlands had already lost one live racing program as well as simulcasting on the evening of Saturday, July 1.  A court order reinstated racing and simulcasting in the state through Tuesday, July 4 to allow an orderly shutdown.

___________________________ 

July 4, 2006
SIMULCASTING TO CONTINUE AT MONMOUTH AND THE BIG M TUES. - DECISION ON JULY 5 LIVE BIG M CARD EXPECTED WED. AFTERNOON
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands will remain open for live and simulcast racing through midnight on Tuesday, July 4.

Following Tuesday night's simulcasting at Monmouth and the Meadowlands, the two racetracks will be closed until a budget agreement is reached by lawmakers in Trenton.

A decision about the Meadowlands live standardbred card will be made early Wednesday afternoon on July 5, to allow fans to prepare to attend the races should an agreement be reached early on that day.

Live racing is set to resume at Monmouth Park on Thursday, July 6 - also pending a resolution of the budget in Trenton.

For continuous updates about the two racetracks fans can log onto www.monmouthpark.com or www.thebigm.com or telephone at 201-THE BIG M or 201-935-8500. 

________________________________ 

July 2, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK, MEADOWLANDS TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGH TUESDAY, JULY 4 FOR LIVE AND SIMULCAST RACING
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, and the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, will be open for live and simulcast racing through midnight on Tuesday, July 4.

"We will keep our horsemen, guests and employees apprised of the status of live and simulcast racing at both racetracks beyond the July 4th holiday card as soon as we are informed," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

In addition to simulcasting all day long, Monmouth Park will conduct live Thoroughbred cards on Monday and Tuesday, getting underway at 12:50 p.m.  Gates open at Monmouth at 11:30 a.m.

The Meadowlands will be open for a full slate of simulcasting on Monday and Tuesday beginning with Philly Park at 12:25 p.m.  Gates at the Big M open at 11:00 a.m.

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July 2, 2006                                 

MONMOUTH ALLOWED TO RACE                   

By MIKE FARRELL, DRF.com
 

An appellate court in New Jersey ruled Sunday that Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands could remain open through the end of business on Tuesday, avoiding a holiday closing threatened by the state's unprecedented shutdown of government.

The ruling came on a motion filed by the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and representatives of the state's Standardbred horsemen.

The decision allowed Monmouth to proceed with its Monday and Tuesday cards and meant the resumption of simulcasting and account wagering throughout the state.

Horse racing was one of the first government-regulated concerns mentioned in Gov. Jon Corzine's order Saturday shutting all "nonessential" state services when the legislature failed to deliver a balanced budget by the July 1 constitutional deadline.

Corzine's order closed the New Jersey Racing Commission, and state law requires regulatory oversight of any gambling. As a result, all simulcasting and account wagering was halted in New Jersey at 6 p.m. Saturday, and The Meadowlands cancelled that night's harness card.

"We are very pleased with the court's decision," said Dennis A. Drazin, president of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "Our industry and the state would have lost millions of dollars in revenue if racing was cancelled."

The budget battle centers on Corzine's demand for an increase in the state sales tax from 6 to 7 percent to close a projected $4.5 billion budget deficit, a proposal legislators rejected. There was some activity Sunday in Trenton, the state capital, as legislative leaders met with Corzine in an effort to break the impasse.               

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July 1, 2006
TODD PLETCHER NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Todd Pletcher, who saddled Flower Alley for a sharp victory in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile Stakes last Saturday, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Pletcher will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant.

Flower Alley, winner of the Grade 1 Travers Stakes last year, made his first start of the season in the Salvator Mile, and scored a powerful victory in Monmouth's first graded stakes event of the year.

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July 1, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK, MEADOWLANDS CLOSED BEGINNING 6 P.M. SATURDAY, JULY 1
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, and the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, are closed beginning 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 1.  Monmouth Park will conduct live racing on Saturday; however, the Meadowlands live harness card slated for Saturday night has been cancelled.

"It's unfortunate that were forced to close, but it's the law of the state," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.  "The racetracks are required to have state regulators from the Racing Commission in order to conduct live, simulcast or internet wagering.  Without those regulators we were left with no option but to close.

"It's a minute-to-minute, hour-by-hour situation that will hopefully meet an expeditious resolution.  Should the shutdown continue throughout the holiday weekend the net loss could be around $1 million.

"In the interest of our fans, the horsemen and employees, we hope this temporary shutdown is just that - temporary," Dowd said.

Updates on live and simulcast racing will be posted on the racetrack's websites at www.monmouthpark.com or www.thebigm.com.  In addition, fans can get continuous updates by calling 201-935-8500 or 201-THE BIG M.

Monmouth Park's current live Thoroughbred meet is scheduled to run through Sept. 24, while the Meadowlands' current standardbred meet is slated to continue through Aug. 5.

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July 1, 2006
HENNY HUGHES, 2-5 FAVORITE, ROMPS HOME 10 LENGTHS THE BEST
IN JERSEY SHORE STAKES; SAINT DAIMON RUNS 2ND AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Henny Hughes put on a show at Monmouth Park Saturday as he made a triumphant return to the races with a 10-length victory in the $150,000 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes (G3).

The 3-year-old colt by Hennessy, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin and ridden by Joe Bravo, exploded to the lead in midstretch and kept running to the wire, stopping the timer in 1:08 1/5 for six furlongs on the fast main track, just two ticks off the record of 1:07 4/5.

Sent off the 2-5 favorite in the field of four 3-year-olds, Henny Hughes returned $2.80 and $2.10 (no show wagering), and topped a $10.60 exacta with Saint Daimon, the longest price in the field at 9-1. He's Got Grit, the 2-1 second choice, finished third, almost a length behind Saint Daimon, with Changing Weather fourth.

The race unfolded swiftly, with He's Got Grit setting fractions of :22 1/5 for the quarter and :44 3/5 for the half with Henny Hughes sitting just off his shoulder. Henny Hughes rolled up outside the leader on the turn, put his rival away in midstretch and widened his margin to the wire.

"This is what I wake up in the morning for," Bravo said. "He was spectacular today. Kiaran had this one ready to roll. Last year when I rode him, he was just a boy, but he's filled out and is a man now.

"I didn't want to use him early on and I just let him do what he wanted. By the time we reached the top of the stretch, he was still well within himself, and after that he just drew off."

Henny Hughes, who races for Zabeel Racing International, had not started since finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last Oct. 29 at Belmont. The chestnut colt broke his maiden at Monmouth last June and went on to win the Tremont and Saratoga Special in New York while trained by Patrick Biancone.

Henny Hughes was sold to Zabeel Racing International before the Breeders' Cup and McLaughlin took over the colt's training. Henny Hughes spent the winter training in Dubai, but was returned to the United States in April and McLaughlin prepared him for his 2006 debut.

The colt earned a prize of $90,000 for his owners, bringing his career total to $734,820.
 

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June 30, 2006

N.J. SOLICITS BIDS FOR OUT-OF-STATE BETS

By MATT HEGARTY, DRF.com

The owner and operator of Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands is seeking an exclusive partner for its account-wagering business outside of New Jersey, according to officials of the tracks and account-wagering companies.

The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the state agency that runs the two tracks, issued a request for proposals for the out-of-state business on Monday, according to the officials.

The request for proposals asks account-wagering companies to submit bids for the exclusive right to broadcast the video signals from the two tracks and take wagers on the races beginning Sept. 1. The bids are due on July 13, and the authority's board is expected to issue a recommendation at its board meeting on July 19, according to Chris McErlean, the vice president of racing operations for the sports and exposition authority.

The request for proposals was sent to "every major account-wagering company" with national broadcasting capabilities, McErlean said. The list includes Television Games Network, Youbet.com, AmericaTab, HorseRacing TV, Philadelphia Park, and New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation.

The authority already operates an account-wagering business, and will continue to take wagers from New Jersey residents through its existing operation, McErlean said. The signals from Monmouth and The Meadowlands are currently offered on every major national account-wagering operation with the exception of TVG.

McErlean said that approximately $150 million was bet in 2005 through national account-wagering services on the Monmouth and Meadowlands signals.

Officials from account-wagering companies who could be reached on Friday declined to speak about specifics of the request for proposals, citing the need to keep details of their bids confidential.

"About all I can say is that we'll turn in an application and give it our best shot," said Mike Weiss, the general manager of Beulah Park, which is a part-owner in AmericaTab.

The decision to seek an exclusive operator outside of New Jersey has echoes of an arrangement reached between the New York Racing Association and Television Games Network two years ago. Under that deal, TVG paid a multimillion-dollar upfront fee for the exclusive right to carry the signals from NYRA's three tracks: Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. TVG has in turn licensed the NYRA signals to competing companies.

McErlean said that the request for proposals does not detail how bidders should structure their business proposal.

"It could be an upfront fee, it could be a percentage of handle, it could be a combination of both," McErlean said. "It's up to the bidders to decide how they want to structure the proposal."

According to an official with knowledge of the authority's decision, the authority issued the request for proposals for the out-of-state business in part to shield the authority from any questions surrounding the legality of taking bets over the Internet in other states. Thirteen states have laws explicitly allowing telephone and Internet betting, but most account-wagering companies take bets from customers in more than 30 states, despite the murkiness of the legality of the practice.

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June 12, 2006
NEW MONMOUTH PARK TURF COURSE GETS FIRST TEST AS QUARTET OF RUNNERS FROM HILLS BARN WORK MONDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - A quartet of runners from the Tim Hills barn were the first to try the new Monmouth Park turf when they all worked over the surface on Monday - the first horses to set foot on the $4.5 million course.

"They all went great," said Hills, the leading Monmouth Park trainer in 2004. "All the riders came back raving about the new course.  The big thing was that they all said it was consistent all the way around - something that the old course wasn't."

Going the fastest of the bunch was 10-year-old Rolled Stocking, under exercise rider Michelle McSweeney, who worked four furlongs in :49 4/5 with the dogs up.  Also stretching their legs on the course were Scattering Breezes, Nautical Agent and Sparkling Humor, who was the first to set foot on the new course at approximately 9:50 a.m.

"The course really is perfect," Hills said.  "It's lush, it looks good and healthy.  No clods came up at all - everything looks great."

Over the course of the next couple of weeks horses will continue to work over the turf, including out of the gate from both chutes.  Following that, the first turf race of the meet will be run Sat., June 24.

"It couldn't have worked out better," said Robert Kulina, vice president and general manager of Monmouth Park, who was on the turf course for Monday's activities.  "All the horses went very well over the surface.  One of the most encouraging signs was the drainage.  We had six to seven inches of rain last week and the course drained beautifully.  The grass has had sufficient time to take root and we'll be set to go on June 24."

In addition to Hills being on-hand, several other trainers attended Monday's turf works, among them John Forbes.

"I walked the course after the works and it was great," said Forbes, a five-time training champion at Monmouth.  "Everything looks fantastic."

The new turf course is among many improvements being made to the Oceanport racetrack as it gets set to host the 2007 Breeders' Cup, the first ever in the Garden State.

The 2006 live race meet continues at Monmouth Park through Sept. 24 - first post 12:50 p.m.

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June 10, 2006
TONY WILSON NAMED CASK 591 TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Monmouth Park.com

Tony Wilson, who saddled his fourth winner from just 12 starters when Pure Disco won the featured race here Friday, has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week.

The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway in Long Branch. Wilson will receive a gif certificate from the restaurant.

Wilson trains the horses of Frank and Patricia Generazio at Monmouth.

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June 10, 2006
MALIBU MOONSHINE SETS TRACK RECORD IN POINT GIVEN STAKES
I'MTOOGOODTOBETRUE CAPTURES SPRUCE FIR AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Louis J. Smith's Malibu Moonshine upset the $60,000 Point Given Stakes and shattered the track record in the bargain, and Philip J. Torsney's I'mtoogoodtobetrue captured the $60,000 Spruce Fir Stakes at Monmouth Park Saturday.

Malibu Moonshine, trained by Tom Albertrani, got a heady ride from Jose Lezcano as he tracked the early speed, gained command turning into the stretch and drew off to score by two and a quarter lengths over the closing Scipion in the mile and a half event. Colita, who set much of the pace, settled for third, three-quarters of a length farther back.

Malibu Moonshine ran the 12 furlongs in 2:31 2/5, shaving nearly three seconds off the old track record of 2:34 1/5, set by Chappy's Joy in 1989.

The 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon, sent off the longshot in the field of seven, paid $27.40, $10.40 and $4 across the board and topped a $182.20 exacta.

"The trainer told me to lay just off the pace," Lezcano said, "about two or three lengths off it. He was sitting very good and when I asked him at the quarter-pole, he took off. That was it from there."

It was the first win of the year in five starts for Malibu Moonshine, and his first victory since he took the Tesio Stakes at Pimlico in April of 2005. He subsequently ran eighth behind Afleet Alex in the Preakness.

The Spruce Fir essentially turned into a match race as Beautiful East took the lead from the start and I'mtoogoodtobetrue raced up to challenge on the backstretch. The winner gained command turning for home, and the two drew far off from the others through the stretch. At the finish, I'mtoogoodtobetrue won by two lengths over Beautiful East, with Cigno d'Oro 15 1/4 lengths farther behind.

I'mtoogoodtobetrue, trained by Ned Allard and ridden by Joe Bravo, stepped the mile and 70 yards in 1:42 flat and returned $4, $2.80 and $2.60 across the board as the favorite in the field of six New Jersey-bred fillies and mares. The exacta paid $13.60.

It was the third win at Monmouth in seven career starts for the winner, a 4-year-old daughter of Good and Tough, bred by her owner. I'mtoogoodtobetrue took the Girl Powder Stakes here last year.

"I think she's just as good sprinting or going long," said Allard. "She's a very nice filly and always puts her best foot forward. We'll go in the next New Jersey-bred stakes (Goldfinch on July 4)."    

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June 9, 2006
PURE DISCO NEVER HEADED IN FEATURE AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. -- Patricia Generazio's Pure Disco took command at the start and was never threatened as she captured Friday's $50,000 allowance feature by nearly eight lengths at Monmouth Park.

The winner, trained by Tony Wilson and ridden by Eddie Castro, raced the six furlongs in 1:09 3/5 and returned $4.40, $3.60 and $2.60 as the favorite in the field of seven New Jersey-bred fillies and mares.

Out of the Loop, who chased Pure Disco through the early stages, held second by a length and three-quarters over Catessa to complete the $51.60 exacta.

This was the third career victory and first of the year for Pure Disco, a 3-year-old daughter of Disco Rico - V for Vera, by Concorde's Tune, who broke her maiden here last year and went on to win the filly division of the New Jersey Futurity at the Meadowlands in November.

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June 9, 2006
BACKSTRETCH NOTES
Monmouth Park.com

Scott Volk has been named the Cask 591 Trainer of the Week. The award, bestowed by media covering Monmouth Park racing, is sponsored by Cask 591, a popular new Long Branch restaurant and lounge located at 591 Broadway. Volk will receive a gift certificate from the restaurant. The trainer saddled Extra Bend to upset the Spend a Buck Stakes at Monmouth on Memorial Day ...

Trainer Kelly John Breen will be the guest on the June 20 segment of CN8's "Experience New Jersey Week." Breen, tied for the lead as Monmouth's top trainer, will be one of the guests on the CN8-The Comcast Network show at 6:30 on Tuesday, June 20, representing Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey.

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May 26, 2006

LEGISLATORS TO NJSEA: MOVE FASTER ON OTB NETWORK
ORR.COM
 

Atlantic City, which this year offered four days of all-turf racing, serves as a year-round simulcast facility and must offer some live racing to maintain its license. It is not, however, considered an OTB parlor. Garden State Park in Cherry Hill Township closed several years ago, and Pennwood, which owned the track, kept a 10-acre parcel of the property in the hope of constructing an OTB parlor.
 

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May 26, 2006

JERSEY LAW OK'S DIME SUPERS

By MIKE FARRELL, DRF.com
 

New Jersey racetracks could soon offer 10-cent superfectas as a result of legislation signed Thursday by acting Gov. Joseph Roberts.

With Gov. Jon Corzine on a tour of East Asia and former state Senate president Richard Codey out of state, the role of chief executive fell to Roberts for a one-day term.

The most significant change is lowering the current $1 wagering minimum to a dime.

"A 10-cent superfecta is one of the options we will look to implement," said Chris McErlean, the vice president of racing operations for Monmouth Park and The Meadowlands.

Some of the new legislation must be reconciled with current New Jersey Racing Commission regulations, a process that can take six months.

Other provisions of the bill:

* Allows future wagers on races like the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth and the Hambletonian at The Meadowlands.

* Divides uncashed-ticket revenue 50-50 between racetracks and the horsemen's purse accounts.

* Permits simulcast wagering on races that start after tracks and simulcast parlors have closed. In the past, a live video transmission was required.

* Pays bettors who lost winning tickets, if they can prove through account or player-tracking systems that they made the wager.

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May 14, 2006
SLAM BAMMY TAKES DECATHLON; BRAVO WINS FIVE INCLUDING 5TH RACE ABOARD PRAYING FOR CASH; LIVE RACING BACK ON SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Peter Congelosi's Slam Bammy forged to the lead around the far turn before holding off the late charge of Terrific Challenge in the lane to win the $60,000 Decathlon Stakes by three-quarters of a length on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Slam Bammy covered the five furlongs in :58 seconds and returned $7.60, $3.20 and $2.80 as the third choice in the field of five.  Terrific Challenge completed an $18.80 exacta and paid $2.60 and $2.60.  Lively Up Yourself rallied for third and paid $5.  More Smoke, sent off as the odds-on choice, faded to fourth.

"He broke well," said winning rider Jorge Chavez.  "I was just deciding if he was going to go to the lead or rate today.  At the 1/2 mile pole he was running easy outside that other horse (More Smoke).  When we hit the front, I knew we'd be tough to catch and we were."

Winning trainer Joe Orseno said, "At this distance he's pretty dangerous.  I tried stretching him out but we have him figured out now.  I'll try to keep him at this distance - turf or dirt."

Sunday's win was the fifth in 13 starts for Slam Bammy, a 5-year-old gelding by Grand Slam from the Nureyev mare Miss Heidi.  He has now banked $158,765 for his connections.

Earlier on the card Praying For Cash returned to winner's circle, taking the fifth race by a convincing three and three-quarter lengths for owners Hurley, Gallo and Scire LLC.  Trained by Kelly John Breen, last year's leading trainer, Praying For Cash covered the six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 and came from off the pace for the first time in his four-start career.

"He did everything right today," Breen said.  "The goal is still to get to the Jersey Shore (Breeders' Cup Stakes on July 1).  The race next weekend (Select Stakes, Sat., May 20) is still a possibility.  We'll wait and see how he came out of this and then make a decision."

Joe Bravo was aboard Praying For Cash, a 3-year-old colt by Songandaprayer from the West by West mare Cash No Credit.  He returned $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10 as the heavy favorite in a field of five.

The victory aboard Praying For Cash was the fourth of the day for Bravo, who piloted five winners on Sunday's card.  Bravo won the opener with Casablanca Babe ($4.60), the second atop Lady Carson M D ($3.20), the third aboard Capital Crime ($6.60), and the seventh with Tellmesecrets ($6.20).

Live racing returns to Monmouth Park this Saturday, May 20, with gates opening at 10 a.m. and full-card simulcasting of the Preakness card from Pimlico getting underway at 10:30 a.m.  Post time for live Monmouth racing is 12:50 p.m.  The first 5,000 fans on Saturday will receive a commemorative photograph of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.

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May 13, 2006
CONTRAST, EVEN-MONEY CHOICE, RALLIES TO CAPTURE RED CROSS AS MONMOUTH PARK OPENS 2006 RACING SEASON BEFORE 13,434
Monmouth Park.com

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Despite breaking slowly, Jayeff B Stables' Contrast zoomed to command in the stretch and drew off to score by nearly two lengths in the $60,000 Red Cross Stakes Saturday, opening day feature of Monmouth Park's 2006 season.

A crowd of 13,434 was on hand in sunny spring weather for the first of 91 Thoroughbred programs this season."Not only did the weather exceed our expectations," said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, "so did the crowd. It was a solid start to what we think will be a wonderful season of racing at Monmouth Park. With the purses we are offering and the quality of horses we have stabled here, the racing should continue to get better."
 

Contrast, trained by Alan Goldberg and ridden by Eddie Castro, held off the late charge of Summer Sting for the victory, stopping the timer in 1:04 2/5 for five and a half furlongs over the fast track. Career Oriented made a belated move to get third, four and a quarter lengths behind Summer Sting.

Contrast is a 4-year-old daughter of two champions - by Kentucky Derby winner and top colt of 1990 Unbridled out of 1989 Eclipse Award sprinter Safely Kept. Castro, who rode her for the first time today, was the champion apprentice rider of 2003. Goldberg was the trainer of Safely Kept.

Contrast paid $4, $3.20 and $2.10 across the board as the favorite in the field of six fillies and mares. She topped a $12.20 exacta with Summer Sting, who was part of a Gerry Sleeter-owned entry.

"She didn't get out of the gate well, but she rated off horses and when the jockey called on her, she ran," Goldberg said. "She's the first one out of the mare (Safely Kept) who looks like the mare. This was a good spot to get started with her. She's bigger and stronger than she was last year. Hopefully she'll have a good year."

Castro, who came up from Florida to ride at Monmouth for the first time this year, said, "She relaxed well for me down the backstretch. She ran a really big race today. When I called on her in the stretch, she just pushed away from them easy."

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May 13, 2006
PRAYING FOR CASH RETURNS TO THE SCENE OF HIS SUCCESS
Monmouth Park.com

Praying for Cash, a colt from the first crop of Monmouth sensation Songandaprayer, made his eagerly awaited debut here last June 3. He didn't disappoint the people who made him even-money as he overcame a poor start to win going away by four and a half lengths.

Another Monmouth superstar in the making, it seemed. But then, silence.

Praying for Cash, owned by Bobby Hurley, Ricky Gallo and Scire LLC, was gone for the year. He did not make it back to the racetrack until Feb. 11 at Gulfstream Park, when he ran third in an allowance. His most recent start was a sixth-place finish behind Sharp Humor in the Hutcheson Stakes on March 4.

Now he returns to the scene of his only success when he tops a field of six in a six-furlong allowance race Sunday. The event for non-winners of a race other than maiden or claiming goes as the fifth on Monmouth's 11-race card.

"He had some baby issues, nothing that serious," trainer Kelly Breen said about the colt's eight-month absence after his debut. "We planned on bringing him out in Florida for his 3-year-old season. He ran okay, but I don't think he liked the heat down there.

"But he's been doing well since he got to Monmouth. He's eating good, and he's training good here."

Breen, who celebrated his 37th birthday Saturday, hesitates to make plans for the colt's summer.

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May 12, 2006
CARVAJAL'S TRAINING CAREER BEGINS WITH THREE IN SATURDAY
Monmouth Park.com

Luis Carvajal Jr., who stayed in the background as Bobby Durso's assistant for nine years, will saddle horses in his own name for the first time Saturday as Monmouth's 61st season of racing begins.
 
The 33-year-old native of Santiago, Chile, will tighten the girth on three runners, including Cigno d'Oro in the $60,000 Red Cross Stakes, the filly-mare sprint that headlines the first of 91 Monmouth cards. He also saddles The Truth Detector in the third race, and Fagedaboudit Sal in the eighth. All three raced in Durso's name here last year.
 
But Durso, who's been on the racetrack for 50 years, is recuperating in Florida from triple bypass surgery he underwent in April, and doesn't expect to make it back to his beloved Monmouth (where he saddled horses for 47 seasons) until the end of May. He has no doubt Carvajal will carry on the stable's winning tradition in New Jersey.
 
"They don't come any better than Luis," Durso said. "I trust him completely, and the owners do, too. He's an intelligent horseman and I hope he gets off to a quick start Saturday."
 
Carvajal, whose father was a leading jockey in Chile, came to the United States in 1988, where he finished high school. He worked at New York tracks for trainer Angel Penna Jr. before joining Durso's outfit in 1996.
 
"I came just before Frisk Me Now," Carvajal said, referring to the horse that put Durso on the map with victories in such races as the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream, the Suburban Handicap at Belmont, and the Iselin Handicap at Monmouth.
 
Carvajal was a quick student and learned his training lessons well. He worked for Durso with the understanding that one day he would take over the horses. However, three years ago he embarked on a second career that might have become his first career had not everything gone down in the right sequence this winter.
 
"I started taking flying lessons three years ago, and I got a pilot's license," Carvajal said. "I really loved it. This winter, I had an offer from a firm in Miami to become a flight instructor, and then move on to be a commercial pilot. I was seriously considering it, and then Bobby got really sick in April."
 
Carvajal turned down the flying offer to take over Durso's string, bringing 13 horses to Monmouth.
 
"My father was paralyzed from the waist down after a riding accident about five years ago," Carvajal said, "so my mother was very happy I was going to change careers and become a pilot.
 
"Then when I decided to become a trainer, my father called to say he was thrilled I was going to stay in racing. Bobby's very happy about it, too. I told my mom that I always had flying as another option."
 
Carvajal said he's comfortable with his decision to stay on the racetrack.
 
"I put my flying career on hold because I want to train," he said. "All of Bobby's owners have put their trust in me, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to repay their trust.
 
"We have 13 horses now, and people have asked me to claim a few during the meeting, so we'll have what Bobby usually had, like 16 horses here."
 
One of the horses in the string is Carvajal, a son of Frisk Me Now who broke his maiden at the Meadowlands and won an allowance at Gulfstream this winter. The 3-year-old was named for the young trainer by owner Carol Dender, Durso's wife. He is eligible for stakes races at Monmouth, and the trainer has high hopes for his namesake.

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May 11, 2006
102 ENTERED FOR SATURDAY'S 11-RACE CARD AT MONMOUTH
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth kicks off its 61st season of Thoroughbred sport Saturday with 102 horses entered in 11 races, topped by the $60,000 Red Cross Stakes for fillies and mares.

Monmouth will run 91 days during the 2006 meeting, including three Monday cards on the Meadowlands turf. Monmouth's brand new grass course is expected to be ready for action by the end of June.

First post time will be 12:50 p.m. during the meet at Monmouth, except on Haskell Day, Aug. 6, when the card will start at 12:30 p.m. Post time for the three programs at the Meadowlands (June 5, 12 and 19) will be 1:10 p.m.

The Red Cross, a five and a half-furlong test for fillies and mares, drew a field of seven, including the entry of Whoop's Ah Daisy and Summer Sting, both owned by Gerry Sleeter and trained by Kevin Sleeter. Whoop's Ah Daisy, with Felix Ortiz up, returns after an absence of nearly two years. Summer Sting, Eddie King Jr. in the boot, won four races at Monmouth last year, but is looking for her first stakes score.

Career Oriented, who drew the rail for trainer Joe Orseno, won the Miss Woodford Stakes last season. Joe Bravo rides.

Cigno d'Oro, trained by Luis Carvajal, long-time assistant to Bob Durso, won the Spruce Fir Handicap her last season and will have Jorge Chavez up for the first time.

The others entered are Vibrant, Chuck C. Lopez aboard; Slew Motion, Chris DeCarlo, and Contrast, Eddie Castro.

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May 9, 2006
PROSPECTS ARE BRIGHT FOR MONMOUTH PARK’S 61ST SEASON OPENING SATURDAY, MAY 13
Monmouth Park.com

Monmouth Park comes into its 61^st summer in 2006 all dressed up for what promises to be an exciting season, and a perfect preview of the 2007 Breeders’ Cup year.

The feature attraction this year is the brand new turf course, a capital improvement that sets the tone for Monmouth’s immediate future. The grass course, built at a cost of $4.5 million, replaces the 1950-vintage turf and kicks off Monmouth’s race to the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships next year.

“The turf course is just the beginning of a long line of improvements that will be in place prior to the Breeders’ Cup,” said Dennis Dowd, senior vice president of racing for the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority.

“And it continues the positive direction Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey has taken the past three years since purses and racing dates were stabilized.”

Monmouth kicks off a 91-day season on Saturday, May 13, with a record daily purse distribution of $330,000, and a full slate of stakes races – 14 of them graded – topped by two Grade 1 events, the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 6, and the $750,000 United Nations on July 8.

This will be the third season based upon the landmark 2004 agreement between the casino industry and New Jersey racetracks. The agreement guaranteed purses and stabilized the dates picture in the state, providing a sound basis for pari-mutuel growth.

The on-line and phone account wagering system has been in place for more than a year now, and off-track betting facilities are getting closer to reality, adding to the prospect of increased wagering.

Dowd feels continued growth is the only answer to the growing competition in the region.

“Guaranteed dates and purses, and improvements like the new turf course allow us to provide racing that’s constantly improving,” Dowd said. “Top quality turf racing always attracts top runners and bigger fields, which translates to more competitive racing and larger wagering pools. And the expanded wagering possibilities on-line and off-track allow us to capitalize on that improved racing. It’s a positive cycle.”

New Jersey’s breeders have shared in the fruits of the agreement, with some $2 million added to state-bred purses last year and a similar amount earmarked for this season. In addition, New Jersey-breds who finish first, second or third in open races will again receive a 30 percent bonus this year.

Monmouth will hold the fourth annual festival for New Jersey-breds on Sept. 16 this year, with an entire card composed of state-bred races. Topping the program are four stakes, one with a $125,000 purse and three with $100,000 purses.

Monmouth will offer 91 days of racing this year, three of them run at the Meadowlands. The East Rutherford oval will host three days (June 5, 12 and19) of turf racing because Monmouth’s new grass oval will not be opened until June 24. Closing day for the 2006 meet is Sunday, Sept. 24.

“Everything points to a banner season,” Dowd said. “Given the recent growth and improvements, it’s hard not to be optimistic about this meeting and beyond.”

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May 9, 2006
NEW TURF COURSE, STABLE AREA RENOVATIONS TOP LIST OF MONMOUTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2006 MEET
Monmouth Park.com

Horses, horsemen and fans will all find joy in the improvements made to Monmouth Park for the 2006 season.

First and foremost is the new turf course, engineered by agricultural experts from Rutgers University, which promises to be the centerpiece of an exciting racing meet when the new course debuts on June 24.

The one-mile dirt track also was refurbished, with a new base and remixed cushion.

The stable area received its share of attention for this 61^st season of sport at the “Resort of Racing,” as dormitory rooms were remodeled with new shower and bathroom facilities; barns were renovated and repaired with new awnings and fire suppression systems, and the track kitchen underwent renovation.

On the front side, the Trophy Room, trackside dining room and first floor of the grandstand all received design improvements.

“The new turf course was the biggest project this year,” said Horace (Smitty) Smith, assistant vice president of operations. “But we also wanted to continue improvements in the stable area. We actually never stop working on the physical plant,” he said. “Maintenance and renovation are on-going all year round.”

Smith, who has been working at Monmouth in various capacities for 26 years, said the turf course was by far the most major undertaking at Monmouth since the old grass course was built in 1950.

“Over the years, we worked on the old course every season, replacing sod in different areas. We probably resodded the entire course over the years,” Smith said. “But there was a big problem. The old course was built on clay, so it never drained properly and the grass never rooted as well as it should.”

The new course - a seven-furlong oval with two chutes for mile and an eighth and five and a half-furlong races - was designed by Australian turf specialist Ian Chivers, working under the direction of Rutgers University’s Dr. Jim Murphy. Chivers has designed turf courses all over the world.

“Everything was engineered to promote drainage and plant growth and racing safety,” Smith said. “The subsoil and topsoil were scientifically designed and the course drains extremely well now. The turns are banked so the horses can negotiate them safely.”

The turf course is scheduled to open on June 24, and the first stakes to be run on the new sod is the $150,000 Boiling Springs (G3) on Tuesday, July 4.

“Dr. Murphy and Ian Chivers will have the last word on when the course opens,” Smith said. “But if the weather cooperates, we look forward to seeing the first race on June 24.”

The infield plantings, which were removed while the new course was being constructed, will not be replaced until after this meeting is over.  Monmouth Park, in conjunction with the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA), will showcase an entire new infield scheme, which will be in bloom prior to the 2007 season.

“We’ll get started in late September – early October,” said Carl Nordstrom, executive director for NJNLA.  “We’ve done plantings at Drumthwacket and Rutgers University in the past and we’re looking forward to adding Monmouth Park to that list.”

Much of the work that was completed or still is still in the planning stage is in anticipation of Monmouth hosting the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in October of 2007. But many of the projects – cleaning, painting, landscaping -- are all part of on-going maintenance.

Anything at Monmouth that doesn’t move or grow gets a fresh coat of paint each spring, and almost everything that grows gets replaced or refreshed. Green has always been the primary color at Monmouth Park.

“The last two months before opening, especially this year, I just keep walking around the entire plant every day,” Smith said, “making notes on what has been done and what has to be done.

“Two days before we open, I swear it won’t all be done in time. But then it always comes together on opening day. “I’ll tell you,” Smith said with a smile, “it takes years off my life every season.”

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May 9, 2006
PLESA, NIXON AMONG NEW FACES AT MONMOUTH MEET
Monmouth Park.com

As the “Resort of Racing,” Monmouth Park has many steadfast fans among horsemen, and the air of genial hospitality on the Jersey Shore keeps them coming back season after season.

That reputation of generous purses, quality racing and scenic beauty is also what attracts new stables, and Monmouth’s 61^st season of summer sport – complete with a brand new turf course – will host several outfits stationed in New Jersey for the first time.

Eddie Plesa Jr., one of the leading trainers at Calder Race Course the last 20 years, will bring in a major string for the first time, and Justin Nixon, a Canadian who has been making his mark in New York this winter, is settling in with a group of horses from Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Stable.

Cam Gambolatti, who won the 1985 Kentucky Derby with Spend a Buck, is coming back after an absence of several years. Bobby DiBona, a New England trainer who was among the percentage leaders at the recent Gulfstream meet; Gary Lee, a former assistant to Allen Iwinski, and Peter Wasliuk, shipping in from Tampa Bay, are gearing up for their first Monmouth season.

The 2005 leaders will all be back, chief among them Kelly John Breen, who took the training title last year with 38 winners, and those who chased him home – Bruce Levine, Joe Orseno, Todd Pletcher, J. Willard Thompson, Ben Perkins Jr., Jason Servis, Tim Hills, Eddie Broome, Mark Hennig, Jim Ryerson, Peter Walder and Rick Dutrow.

And all the Monmouth regulars will be on hand, including Jimmy and Billy Croll, Bobby Durso, Kevin and Gerry Sleeter, Alan Seewald, Phil and Vicki Oliver, Terri Pompay, Mary Hartmann, John Tammaro 3^rd, Dennis Manning, Joe Pierce Jr., Tim J. Kelly, Amy Tarrant, and Ed Barney.

A big part of Monmouth’s attraction for trainers and their clients will be a daily purse distribution of $330,000 per day - a record for Monmouth Park. There will also be a full roster of stakes races, including 14 graded events, topped by Monmouth’s two Grade 1 tests - the $1 million Haskell Invitational on August 6, and the $750,000 United Nations on July 8. The United Nations will be the second graded stakes event to be run on Monmouth’s new turf course. The Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes is slated to be the first added money event on the grass on July 4.

Before the just-built turf course opens on June 24, Monmouth will offer three days of grass racing at the Meadowlands, on three consecutive Mondays – June 5, June 12 and June 19.

But summer racing on the Jersey Shore has always held a special cachet, and Eddie Plesa Jr. says he’s excited about bringing a string to Monmouth for the first time.

“I started out in the northeast over 20 years ago,” Plesa said from his Calder headquarters, “and I always thought my perfect world would be to spend half the year in Florida and half the year at Monmouth Park.

“Now that my kids are getting older, my perfect world is coming closer to reality. I’ll keep 40 horses at Calder, but I’m bringing my better stock to Monmouth. I’ll have 20 or so in New Jersey, including my stakes horses Mister Silver and Stolen Prayer.”

Plesa said he’ll be a coastal commuter the next five months, shuttling between Miami and Oceanport. He’ll always have a place to stay near Monmouth, because his wife Laurie is the sister of trainers Jason and John Servis.

“I’m really looking forward to having a string at Monmouth for the first time,” Plesa said. “It’s what racing is supposed to be.”

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May 9, 2006
ECLIPSE WINNERS JOIN MONMOUTH STALWARTS IN RIDING COLONY THAT’S OVERFLOWED WITH TALENT
Monmouth Park.com

A pair of Eclipse Award winning jockeys will make Monmouth Park their home this summer as they join a very long list of accomplished riders that are set to return for the 61^st season of racing that gets underway on Saturday, May 13.

Topping the list of “new” riders to the Monmouth colony is Jorge Chavez, who won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey in 1999 and the following year captured the Kentucky Derby atop Monarchos.

“I’m excited to be at Monmouth Park,” said Chavez.  “I’m looking forward to a great meet.  There are a lot of good trainers and jockeys here and the racing is always top quality.”

Chavez rode full-time at Monmouth back in 1989, finishing second in the overall standings to Julie Krone, winning 103 races.

“I had success riding here in the past and I’m just looking forward to a good meet and hopefully riding a bunch of winners.”

Eddie Castro, Eclipse winner for outstanding apprentice rider in 2003, has moved his tack north from Calder.

“It’s a great opportunity and a good next step,” said Castro, a 21-year-old native of Panama. “I’ve been fortunate to accomplish a lot in Florida and I hope to continue that here and in the future.”

Ready to greet the new riders are all the Monmouth regulars, including 11-time champion Joe Bravo, who has just returned from a back injury that has sidelined him for the past four months.

“I’m glad to be back in the saddle and especially glad to be back at Monmouth Park,” said Bravo, a 34-year-old native of Monmouth County.  “I just hope all the injuries are in the past and I’m looking forward to a great season of racing and having a good time here at home.”

Another New Jersey native who is back this summer is Chris DeCarlo, who finished third in last year’s overall standings and captured the 1986 Haskell aboard Wise Times at the age of 17.

“We had a great meet last summer and hope to build on that for this year,” said DeCarlo, who was born in Edison, NJ.  “I’ve been very fortunate to get on some very nice horses and win some big races and I just hope that can continue.”

In addition to Bravo and DeCarlo, Monmouth regulars who are back include Dale Beckner (Eclipse winner for outstanding apprentice in 1994), C.C. Lopez (riding champion at Monmouth and The Meadowlands), Eddie King (Big M champion in 2002), Tommy Turner (top Meadowlands rider in 1997), Jose Velez Jr. (Grade 1 winner of the United Nations and last year’s Iselin victor) and Nick Santagata (top Big M rider in 1981).

Set to spend his second summer at Monmouth is Jose Lezcano, who captured the riding title at the recently concluded Tampa Bay Downs meet, and was fifth in the overall standings last summer.  Lezcano just returned from riding in his first Kentucky Derby, having piloted Deputy Glitters in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Adding to the mix of riders this summer are Channing Hill, who has enjoyed great success in New York; Andry Blanco, fresh off a solid meet at Tampa Bay Downs; and Isaac Barahona, a bug-boy who wintered at Aqueduct this year.

Also set to return to Monmouth are regulars Felix Ortiz, Luis Rivera Jr., Marland Suckie and Stacy Podobinski all ready for overnight purses in excess of $330,000 and 91 days of racing this year at Monmouth Park – all getting underway this Saturday.

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May 9, 2006
SUMMER OF FAMILY FUN & FAST HORSES ON TAP FOR MONMOUTH PARK ‘06
Monmouth Park.com

Top Thoroughbreds will take center stage this summer at Monmouth Park, complemented by a season filled with activities for the entire family, as the Oceanport racetrack celebrates its 61^st season of racing and entertainment starting on Saturday, May 13.

A total of 61 events and promotions are slated for the 91-day race meet, including the familiar free family fun days every Sunday. Special events are geared toward a wide variety of Shore visitors and locals alike including moms, dads, cigar and wine connoisseurs, handicappers and NASCAR and classic car enthusiasts.

“We’re building on our traditional events and expanding in new areas to offer our fans even more entertainment at the Shore this summer,” said Pete Verdee, vice president of event marketing/racing.  “The promotions cover a vast array of interests and offers everyone even more reasons to enjoy racing at its best at Monmouth Park.”

The activities start when the gates open on May 13, with free grandstand and half-price clubhouse admission as well as the Mike Dalton Band performing live “On the Green.” Family Fun Day kicks off the season with clowns, pony rides, face painters, bounce houses and more on Saturdays and Sundays in May and every Sunday throughout the meet.

Watch and wager on the second jewel of the Triple Crown on Saturday, May 20, as the Preakness Stakes is simulcast to Monmouth Park. The first 5,000 fans at Monmouth will receive a free commemorative photograph of the 132^nd Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro.

Memorial Day weekend kicks off on Saturday, May 27, with a handicapping contest, sending the winner home with a trip to the 2007 NTRA/DRF National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas and $10,000 purse. For Sunday, May 28, and Monday, May 29, renowned author and handicapper Jim Mazur comes to town with seminars and analysis into the day’s racing card. Attendees will receive a free copy of the Monmouth Park Handicapper, a $29.95 value, offering insight and analysis into betting on Monmouth Park all season long. The seminars will start promptly at 11 a.m. on the Clubhouse Track Apron.

On Monday, May 29, all paid admissions will receive a “Month of June Grandstand Pass” courtesy of Miller Lite. Cats on a Smooth Surface band will perform live “On the Green.”

Saturday, June 10, is Belmont Stakes Day and Monmouth Park is celebrating with ticket giveaways to Broadway shows. Watch and wager on the final leg of the Triple Crown and enjoy Family Fun Day activities.

On June 18, it’s “Father’s Day Sports Ticket Giveaway.” All dads and moms accompanied by a child receive free grandstand admission and their entry blank to win tickets to see their favorite professional sports teams.

On Monday, July 3, all paid admissions will receive a “Month of July Grandstand Pass” courtesy of Miller Lite. To celebrate Fourth of July, Monmouth Park will offer live racing on Tuesday as well as a Miller Lite Beach Towel giveaway with each paid admission.

Saturday, July 8, the Grade 1, $750,000 United Nations Handicap will be run over the newly completed turf course with a $100,00 guaranteed Pick 4 pool.

Break out the green on July 16, as the 17^th annual St. Patrick’s Day in July returns to the Shore racetrack. All these “wearin’ ‘o the green” will receive free grandstand or half-price clubhouse admission. One lucky fan will win a trip for two to Ireland courtesy of Guinness. The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipe and Drum Band will perform live throughout the day as will the Bobby Byrne Band.

Monday, July 24, is the Haskell Invitational Golf outing at Eagle Oaks Country in Farmingdale. Tickets are $325 per person and include green fees, driving range, cart, lunch, dinner buffet and awards. For details and tickets, call 732-571-5638.

The classic car show rolls into town on Sunday, July 23, with over 150 cars from days gone by. Big Joe Henry will do a live remote broadcast of his NJ 101.5’s Oldies Show from the track. (Rain date is Sunday, August 27).

Strap on the feedbag Sunday, July 30, for the third annual Jersey Food Festival at Monmouth Park. Experience specialties of New Jersey’s best restaurants from 11:30-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 5, it’s the Heineken Cigar Luncheon in the Clubhouse Pavilion and the Grove, located “On the Track.” The day includes deluxe luncheon buffet, top-shelf bar, door prized, a gift bag and five premium cigars. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling 732-571-5547.

Also on Saturday, August 5, it’s the free Miller Lite “Month of August and September Grandstand Pass,” with paid admissions valid through the end of the meet on Sunday, September 24.

The main event, the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Haskell Invitational is set for Sunday, August 6, as the top 3-year-olds compete for the richest invitational prize in the nation. All paid admissions receive a free Haskell hat. Gates open 10:30 a.m. with the race prize set to go at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 13, is Budweiser NASCAR Giveaway. Win NASCAR memorabilia and tickets to an official race.

“Around the World’ wine tasting returns on Saturday, August 20. The event will be held in the Turf Club and features wines from around the globe. Tickets are $75 and include lunch, door prizes and  gift bags. For tickets and information call 732-571-5547.

Monmouth Park is holding the first annual Bridal and Party Planning Expo. Experts will be on hand to help personalize your dream wedding or turn any special affair into an unforgettable event. Entertainment includes a bridal fashion show and music.

On Sunday, September 3, celebrate the Labor Day weekend with a T-Shirt giveaway courtesy of Bud Light.

For the special Labor Day card on Monday, September 4, enjoy Budweiser’s Football Party at the Park. Get ready for the upcoming football season with your chance to win tickets and memorabilia to your favorite New York football teams.

Riverfest comes to Monmouth Park for the first time, Thursday, September 7 through Sunday, September 10. The festival begins at noon and hosts some of the best Jazz and Blues the shore has to offer.

The fourth annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival presented by Malouf Auto Group is back on Saturday, September 16. Celebrate the New Jersey breeding industry by honoring the best Garden State born runners. A free Fall blanket giveaway to all paid admissions.

The 61^th season of Thoroughbred racing at Monmouth Park comes to a close on Sunday, September 24 and the track will celebrate Fan Appreciation Day, including free grandstand and half-price clubhouse admission.

All promotions are with paid admission and while supplies last. All bands play “On the Green” from 12:00 noon through 4:00 pm.

Post time for the meet is 12:50 with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. There’s more to see and do as fast Thoroughbreds and family entertainment return to the Shore’s Greatest Stretch, Monmouth Park, opening its season of sport on Saturday, May 13.    

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May 9, 2006
CHOOSE SIX WAGERING LAUNCHES AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth Park.com

The new Choose Six wager will launch at Monmouth Park when its 61^st season of sport opens on Saturday, May 13.

The Choose Six is a variation of the traditional Pick 6 that requires the bettor to choose the winner of six races on the racing program, but with two fundamental differences:  First, the bettor – not the track – chooses the six races, which can be any six on the card and do not have to be consecutive; Second, the bettor has the option of buying back into the pool as long as there are at least six races remaining on the card.  The minimum wager for the daily bet is $1.

Monmouth Park becomes the third racetrack to host the Choose Six, joining The Meadowlands and Delaware Park.  The Meadowlands launched the bet on April 21, on its live harness racing.

With the advent of the Choose Six, Monmouth Park will discontinue the traditional Pick 6 wager, which had been offered on weekends and holiday cards only.

The Choose Six wager is unique because its pool continues to grow while there are at least six races remaining on the card.  It offers a “same day carryover” concept in that any money wagered on “dead” tickets remains in the pool.

All Choose Six wagers on a card are combined into a single mutuel pool.  The net pool is then divided evenly among all winning tickets after the last race.  All tickets with six winners pay the same amount, regardless of which races comprise each winning ticket.

When there are no tickets correctly choosing six winners, 25 percent of the pool will be paid out on tickets with the most winners and 75 percent of the pool will be carried over.  If there is a late scratch after wagering has started, the scratched entrant will be replaced by the post-time favorite on the affected tickets.

Initially, the bet will be offered exclusively on-track at Monmouth Park, The Meadowlands and Freehold Raceway.

The Choose Six was developed by Cantor Index LLC, a subsidiary of the global financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald LP.  It is offered in partnership with Scientific Games Racing LLC.

“After successfully launching the Choose Six last month at The Meadowlands, we are excited to debut the bet at Monmouth Park,” said Joe Asher, managing director of Cantor Index.  “We expect this bet to be popular with the fans at this premier summer race meet and look forward to its continued growth.”

For more information on the Choose Six, visit www.choosesix.com. 

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April 10, 2006
HORSES BACK AT MONMOUTH PARK, STABLE AREA OPEN FOR 2006 SEASON
Monmouth Park.com

Oceanport, N.J. - Horses returned to Monmouth Park Racetrack this morning, a sure sign that the summer months are fast approaching with the racing season at the Oceanport oval set to get underway on Saturday, May 13.

The first of the arrivals came from the barn of Chuck Spina, who shipped in four horses at 8:30 this morning and is expecting another six from Ocala, Fla. before the meet opens.

"It's great to be back at Monmouth," said Spina, who's spending his 37th year training at Monmouth Park.  "I live right here in Oceanport and it's always good to be home."

As for the improvements that are underway at Monmouth, "It's awesome," Spina said.  "The Breeders' Cup may very well be the best thing that has ever happened to New Jersey racing.  I went on a tour with Mike Dempsey (Monmouth Park Racing Secretary) last week and it was really impressive.  The new groom's dorms look great, the track appears to be awesome, the turf course is looking really good - the whole thing is just impressive."

Monmouth Park will play host to the Breeders' Cup for the first time in 2007 and many of the improvements, including a new turf course, are among the projects that are underway to prepare for racing's biggest day.

Joining Spina for the opening of the stable area was Frank Costa, who last season sent out Joey P. to four wins, including a victory in the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes.  Some new faces expected to join the familiar ranks of the Monmouth trainers are:  Justin Nixon, Eddie Plesa Jr. and Kentucky Derby winners John Ward and Cam Gambolati.

The turf course will be used for the first time in late June as Monmouth readies for its 61st season of sport.  Saturday, May 13, will kick off the race meet, which runs 91 days through Sept. 24.  Post time for the 2006 season will be 12:50 p.m.

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