With the exception of the combined steeplechase and two mile flat stakes race at Far Hills tomorrow afternoon, thoroughbred racing for 2025 is coming to an end as this is closing night for the Monmouth at the Meadowlands meet. First post this evening is scheduled for 7:00 (EDT).
| Race | Top Pick | A | B | C | Exotics Menu |
| 1 | 3 | 3,6 | 5 | DBL, PK3, PK6 | |
| 2 | 5 | 5 | 10 | DBL, PK3, PK5 | |
| 3 | 6 | 6,7,3 | DBL, PK3, PK4 | ||
| 4 | 4 | 4,2 | DBL, PK3 | ||
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 10,1 | DBL | |
| 6 | 10 | 10,3 | 6 |
Race 1:
Fillies and mares start the night going 1 1/16 miles in this $6K-$5K claiming race. The rails are set at 17 feet, limiting the number of starters to 10 per race this evening. Chez Soleil (#3) has some form that has been muddied up a bit by a few dull efforts. Her first start of the year came in a race taken off the turf and she faced a strong allowance group at Colonial two back where she was completely overmatched. She’s getting class relief after fading late at Delaware last out. That can be a tough course for some horses, and this mare had a strong race on this course last fall. I think the class relief, coupled with her tactical speed, will make her dangerous in that spot. Allons (#6) was a winner at this condition two weeks ago and Jose Gallegos wheels her back for closing night. Her form has been a bit up and down, so the possibility of her being a little less sharp than she was last time is there. However, her down races are still solid efforts that figure to be competitive at this level. On deeper tickets, I’ll backup with Exclusive Champion (#5). I was a little disappointed with her effort in state bred company last out, and seeing how she’s dropping into this claiming level, her connections were probably disappointed as well. She ran very well on this course last year, but she wasn’t as sharp in her last start. She may be trending in the wrong direction, so taking 3-1 (ML) feels unappealing. She’s one to think about using as a deeper saver though in case she does wake up when facing softer competition.
Race 2:
Two year old fillies will dash five furlongs in this $25K-$20K maiden claiming race. Winrooski (#5) wears the target in this race after a strong effort two back on the lawn in Virginia. She faltered when moving up in class and running in a race which was taken off the grass in New York in her last try. Bruce Brown has done well with the runners that he’s brought to this meet, scoring with two and having another finish second. She feels like the one to beat. Life Raft (#10) is a New Jersey bred, so she’s able to run in this spot without being risked for the tag. She ran well here on debut, closing to get into third in a state bred maiden special weight dash. She figures to improve in her second career start, and while I don’t love that she’s running for a much smaller purse ($20K compared to $44K), there’s not a ton of protected spots for her where she’ll have a legitimate chance to win.
Race 3:
New Jersey breds that are either three or older will sprint five furlongs in this maiden special weight test. There are professional maidens like T V Man (#5) and Ranunculus (#8) in this race and while either one could win, I have interest in taking a short price on either of these two runners in this spot. I’ll side with one of the firsters in this race and make Really Quick (#6) the top pick for Joan Milne. She’s sired by Accelerate, who is getting 8% winners with his turf sprinters. The dam foaled a debut winner on the dirt and the works are reasonable. There isn’t a ton of talent in this spot, so I think this spot could be ripe for an upset. U Dirty Dog (#7) tries sprinting on the turf for the second in his career. He tried last summer in open competition where he was well-beaten behind a pair of next out winners. He came back to the turf this summer when going two turns. He was wide throughout and never was a factor that day. The dam has foaled some runners who have had success on the turf, including a winner last year on this course and distance. Milne also sends out Mo Vita (#3), who is gradually improving. His last two darts have been his best, one of which came on the turf at Monmouth. Cutting back to five furlongs could help his cause in this spot.
Race 4:
Fillies and mares will go 1 1/16 miles in this optional $30K claiming/$16K starter allowance. Princess Javonica (#2) is an 11 time winner that makes a lot of sense in this race. This eight year old mare comes to New Jersey after winning in her last two starts at Colonial Downs. She was claimed by a lower percentage barn, so I do wonder if this is a horse that is trending down. She is still good enough to be close with these, so I see her as an A line play, but I’m going to side with the three year old filly, Stillthinkingofyou (#4) in this spot. She was an allowance winner three starts back at Monmouth. She struggled in her last two starts, both of which came in stakes company. Her effort wasn’t terrible in the Boiling Springs, but she struggled on a softer course at Colonial in her last start. She is getting class relief in this spot, whereas many others are moving up in class. I see her as a horse that still has some upside.
Race 5:
New Jersey breds are going to go 1 1/16 miles in this optional $30K/conditioned allowance, which is the featured race this evening. While Giant James (#1) got the best of Leo Monte (#2) last time out, I think Leo Monte is well-positioned to turn the tables today. He got shuffled back to 6th, which was a little farther off than pace that he’d prefer. The pace was hot that day and he came with a late bid, but Giant James was better. Even though there are some sprinters stretching out in this spot, I don’t think the pace is going to be as lively. That would allow Leo Monte, who loves this course, to get the jump on his rival, who is looking for his third straight win. Giant James continues to get better, but after this eight race campaign, I do wonder how high his ceiling is going to be at this point. The other runner I’d cover with in this spot is See the Truth (#10). Outside posts have struggled at this meet, but I do think there could be a chance to Sonny Leon to get this one to tuck in. He was very good three starts back at Monmouth, scoring in state bred N1X company. He faced open company in his last two, one of which came off the turf. I like the move back to a state bred allowance today.
Race 6:
We’ll close up the meet with a $7,500-$6,500 N2L claiming race for fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles. 14 are entered, but only a maximum of 10 will start. Pretty Shy (#10) could have some upside in this race, going from sprints to routes. She ran credible efforts last year when going two turns at Gulfstream. This barn has had success with this move in the past and Martina Rojas has ridden well in limited chances at this meet. From Hello (#3) has a huge class edge on the rest of the field in this spot. She is taking a deep drop, coming in from New York. Her two races earlier in the year were not great, but her last was better than it looks on paper. If she runs back to that effort, she’ll be tough for a barn that has succeeded with these drops at this meet. A deeper tickets play could include Queen Catalina (#6). She ran poorly in her last two turf starts, but her trips were less than ideal as she covered a lot of extra ground as she was wide throughout. She drew the rail and ran a race that would be competitive at this level back on 8/15 at Monmouth. If that race is her ceiling, that could get her close with this group.
Meet Statistics:
Top Pick Winners; 14/48 (29.1%), $162.60, $3.39 ROI
