Pharoah’s presence helps Monmouth set business records
American Pharoah’s tour de force in the Haskell Invitational on Sunday resulted in a record-breaking day business-wise for Monmouth Park.
Jim DunleavyAug 03, 2015
American Pharoah’s tour de force in the Haskell Invitational on Sunday resulted in a record-breaking day business-wise for Monmouth Park.
Trip Notes by Michael Hammersly for stakes races run on August 1-2, including the Haskell Invitational and Jim Dandy Stakes.
Coming into this past Saturday, there was an “A” list of horses guaranteed to be in the box on Monday morning for the draw for the 90th edition of the Hambletonian. Jacksons Minion was not among those worthy of consideration heading into last Saturday afternoon’s races at The Meadows.
Central Heat continued her excellent form, winning for the seventh time in her last eight starts as she captured Sunday’s $61,505 Luther Burbank Handicap at Santa Rosa.
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Monday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
Gimme Da Lute led by five lengths with a furlong remaining and won by 12 1/4 lengths over 10-1 Rocko’s Wheel in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.
About 25 minutes after he watched Triple Crown winner American Pharoah glide by his Competitive Edge - who ended up fourth - in the $1.75 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, Todd Pletcher stood in the Saratoga winner’s circle after Stopchargingmaria persevered by Untapable to win the Grade 3, $200,000 Shuvee Handicap by a length
Is it possible for a horse to win the Triple Crown and keep getting better? It certainly looked that way Sunday at Monmouth Park as American Pharoah, in his first start since becoming the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner, embarrassed a field of accomplished stakes horses with an overpowering victory in the Grade 1, $1.75 million Haskell Invitational.
Prospect Park, second by a nose in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby on July 4, is set for his turf debut in the $150,000 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar on Aug. 9 after a five-furlong workout on the surface Sunday.
Tara’s Tango, second in three consecutive stakes at Santa Anita through the spring, will be a heavy favorite in Wednesday’s seventh race, an optional claimer for fillies and mares at a mile.