Air Recruit makes it two in row for Oceanport Stakes
:quality(75))
Air Recruit came out on top of an extremely tight photo to win the Oceanport Stakes last summer at Monmouth Park and on Saturday it happened again, with a favorable head bob earning Air Recruit a second straight win in the $100,000 Oceanport.
Air Recruit, putting to good use all the lessons in rating and relaxing imparted by trainer Arnaud Delacour and his staff, settled sweetly in third behind a moderate pace in the Oceanport, a 1 1/16-mile grass race for older horses. Air Recruit for much of his career has raced – or attempted to race – too aggressively, fighting for his head and compromising his finish. Not this time.
Charlie Marquez rode 5-year-old Air Recruit for the first time since the horse’s 2-year-old season, and his mount easily came back to him as longshot Bonus Move went out to a clear lead around the first turn, longshot There Are No Words his closest pursuer. The half-mile split over “good” going went in 48.04, and as the field rounded the far turn, the action heated up.
Marquez stayed outside, tipping three deep into the homestretch, and Air Recruit quickened with a nice run that propelled him to the lead. Neat had gotten a dream run along the rail, fifth at the quarter pole but nearly on terms with Air Recruit going to the furlong grounds.
The tough-luck horse in all this was Running Bee, who’d stalked the pace while racing along the inside, but found himself stuck behind the tiring leaders entering the homestretch. His jockey, Edwin Gonzalez, tried to split rivals past the three-sixteenths marker, couldn’t find a seam, and steadied off heels to get outside and into the clear. Air Recruit had taken the measure of Neat, but Running Bee quickened well once he was able to lengthen his stride, descending on Air Recruit; one more jump and he’s the winner.
The Chad Brown-trained Running Bee, making his first start since May 2025, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Neat, who had 2 1/2 on favored Cruise the Nile, who went off the 3/2 favorite and came up empty in the stretch run, defeating only the longshot pacemakers. Air Recruit clocked 1:47.44 and paid $7.60 as the third choice.
Delacour trains Air Recruit for owner Mark Grier, and Air Recruit, bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm, now has won half his 10 starts. The gelding is by Air Force Blue out of Werewolf, by Arch, and for now, he is king of the Oceanport Stakes.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
30