Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey concludes this evening with the final six race card at Monmouth at the Meadowlands. The rails will be all the way in at 0 feet for all six races tonight.
| Race | Top Pick | A | B | C | Exotics Menu |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 2,4 | 6 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1,6 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | ||
| 4 | 5 | 5,6 | 9 | DBL, $3 Late PK3 | |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 8 | $5 Late DBL | |
| 6 | 7 | 7,2,6 |
Race 1:
Fillies and mares will go 1 1/16 miles in this $10K maiden claimer that will start the card. Paco will be on the heavy favorite, Whiskey Whim (#1). She stepped up and ran well at this level last out when making her first start since re-joining the Juan Avila barn. Stumbling at the break didn’t help her cause, but that was a career top effort regardless. She’s a professional maiden, like many in here, and whether or not she can run back to that kind of effort remains to be seen. However, I prefer Tai Tai Rush (#2), who was 5th in that same race, about four lengths behind Whiskey Whim. There was a runaway leader that was setting a strong pace on the front end in that race. She was in second with the heavy favorite (ridden by Paco Lopez) flanked to her outside. When the longshot leader came back to the field, she was caught behind the faltering horse and was forced to take up with nowhere to run. Once she had a seam to run through, the others had cleared off and she still had to muscle her way through a tight spot. There is n’t much speed signed on for this race and after pairing her last two Beyer figures in her first two career turf routes, I see her as a horse that is eligible to move up tonight.
Race 2:
New Jersey breds will dash five furlongs on the turf in this maiden special weight contest. I’ll try In the Wake (#2) on top in this race. She’ll try a sprint on the turf for first time where she is taking on the boys. Her lone try on the turf was significantly better than her two starts on the dirt. The dam won races between 6 and 8 furlongs, mostly in Italy. Her sire, Astern was a good turf sprinter and his horses have won 13% of the time in turf sprint races. Bourbon Hangover (#4) has early speed and will drop into state bred company on the turf for the first time. He tried this level at Monmouth, but the race was taken off the turf. He was well-beaten when facing open maiden allowance types in his last at Belmont when he was a huge longshot. On deeper tickets, I’ll use Sunnyridge Sunset (#6), who is making his second career start. His debut was the same Monmouth race that was washed off the turf. He finished 5th that day after showing a bit of speed. Horses from the mare Jaime tend to be better on the turf so this could be a better spot for him. The price will almost certainly be lower than fair market value, but he’s still probably worth backing up with.
Race 3:
New Jersey breds will go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in an optional $30K claiming/N2X allowance race. Sir Newtons Laws (#1) tried the turf for the first time in a while and he looked very comfortable, easily dispatching a state bred N1X field on this course two weeks ago. He’s a three year old, so it’s not crazy to expect improvement as he moves up the class ladder. He’s facing a decent field, but I do think some of these runners are trending in the wrong direction. Post Command (#6) has been on my radar since scoring from post 11 in a one mile race at Monmouth this summer. That is not an easy thing to do at that distance and that rail configuration. He was third against some of these at these level a few starts back, but I think his last two tries were stronger when facing open company. He just missed here two weeks ago and I’ll play him back at this level tonight.
Race 4:
This is another $10K maiden claiming race for fillies and mares, but this race will be run at five furlongs over the turf course. The favorite is Miel Et Citron (#8) who takes a steep drop in class. Her best effort came two back at the Spa with $55K maiden claimers. She was 6th that day and that was a figure that was well above any other one she posted. While Paco takes the mount, I’m going look in another direction. Authentic Lady (#5) tries sprinting again on the turf in her fourth career start. She ran okay in her debut which was the only turf sprint race for her. She struggled when going two turns at Monmouth two back and her last try was rained off the turf. She takes a deep dive in class, but more importantly she’s back in turf sprint. Don’t Do It (#6) ran second at this level in her last start. With the exception of her race two back against better at Laurel, she’s had a steady improvement pattern. Another little incremental step and she’ll be right there with this group. On deeper tickets, Gallipoli Girl (#9) tries the turf for the first time tonight. She’s shown little in her three starts, but she does move to a sharp barn and takes the proper drop in class for this race.
Race 5:
The featured race tonight is a money allowance race for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles over the turf course. Lucky Louisa (#2) is the top pick in this race making her second start since being claimed by Michael Simone. He took her to Belmont where she ran in a starter allowance race going a one turn mile on the Widener Course. She tossed her head at the break and cost herself valuable position, which was especially critical as she likes to be in charge on the lead. Her post and her rider, Francisco Martinez, should allow her to find the early lead in this race. I think she can take this group all the way tonight. Native Rose (#8) will be the backup for me in this race. She came back after almost a year off two weeks ago at Delaware. That was a race taken off the turf. She ran, likely just to get the race under her belt. She’s clearly better on the turf and if she improved from her three year old season, she could be sneaky in this one.
Race 6:
We’ll close out the meet with maiden special weight contest for two year olds sprinting five furlongs on the turf course. There’s not a ton of form to go off for horses with racing experience in this race. The two first time starters that are shorter prices don’t have a lot of turf pedigree, despite racing for barns that have had success with firsters. Meanwhile, trainer Robert Werneth, who is 0-6 at this meet, has not had a debut winner in his career. He saddles Christopher Runnin (#7), who I’m going to take a chance with as the top pick. While he’s still looking for that first debut winner, his two runners that hit the board both did so in turf sprint races.Jack Christopher has had three debut winners from eight starters when horses that he’s sired have been entered in a turf sprint. The works are reasonable on the dirt at Delaware. Why not take a shot with this one, who figures to be a longer price in this head scratcher. Barden (#2) is the experienced runner that at least ran a competitive race in his only start in a turf sprint. He’s getting class relief despite racing in a maiden/optional claiming race last time out at Belmont. His turf try at Saratoga two back wasn’t terrible, but it also wasn’t good enough to win a protected race on the NYRA circuit. That feels like a reasonable reason to bring him here. I’ll use Special Mike (#6) as well. He’s one of two runner sin this race trained by Alexis Delgado. She saddled a debut winner here last week that went off at 9-2. I don’t think that’s going to happen here. Liam’s Map is not a great debut sire for turf races, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if this one got the job done.
