Monmouth Park: Laughing sprints clear in Matchmaker Stakes

Nikki Sherman

Laughing wins the Grade 3 Matchmaker Stakes by a length over Shimmering Moment.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Laughing, the 6-5 favorite, beat Shimmering Moment by one length Sunday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Matchmaker for fillies and mares on the turf at Monmouth Park.

Freshened by trainer Alan Goldberg after running third to Zagora in the Grade 3 Gallorette on the Preakness undercard, Laughing was eager for the challenge.

After Silver Screamer grabbed the early lead, Rafael Bejarano guided Laughing to the front midway around the first turn. Silver Screamer kept pace until the top of the lane at which point Laughing sprinted clear.

Only Shimmering Moment, the early trailer in the six-horse field, took up the chase in the stretch. It was to no avail as Laughing was solidly in command to the wire.

A 4-year-old bred in Ireland, Laughing won twice in her native land before heading to North America. She is now 4 for 8 overall.

“She never had a real chance in the Gallorette, with the heat and the shipping,” Goldberg said. “She’s been doing great since then, and I thought she would run well today.”

The time was 1:48.93 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Island School was third, followed by Island Time, Silver Screamer, and Unbridled Humor.

The first three finishers receive a stallion season from Taylor Made Stallion Inc.

Majestic Light: Gourmet Dinner rallies on dirt

Gourmet Dinner came off the turf to edge Ponzi Scheme by a neck in the $100,000 Majestic Light Stakes.

After three straight races on grass, including the Grade 3 Poker at Belmont Park, Gourmet Dinner perked up with the switch back to dirt to score his first win since the 2010 Delta Downs Jackpot.

After laying sixth, Gourmet Dinner and jockey Javier Castellano rallied four wide on the final turn to engage a stubborn Ponzi Scheme. Gourmet Dinner appeared to have momentum on his side, but Ponzi Scheme fought back to make it a battle to the wire.

Trained by Bruce Brown, Gourmet Dinner ($16.20) ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.20.

Small Town Talk was third, followed by Brujo De Olleros, a Grade 1 winner in Uruguay making his U.S. debut.

Teddy Drone: Royal Currier holds off Travelin Man

Royal Currier got his third win in four starts – all stakes races – as he held off Travelin Man by a nose to capture the $100,000 Teddy Drone. The former claimer picked up his 12th career win with a typically gutsy effort.

After stalking the pace set by Secret Commander, Royal Currier took charge in the lane and was all out to preserve the win.

Joe Bravo rode for trainer Patricia Farro as the 4-year-old gelding ran the six furlongs in 1:09.63, paying $6.80 to win.

“He doesn’t care who he’s running against,” Bravo said. “He’s a battler.”

Raging Six closed to get third.