Monticello: Horses to watch from Feb. 10 - Feb. 11
Horses to watch from Monticello Raceway.
Joe FalsettaFeb 15, 2015
Horses to watch from Monticello Raceway.
Garnet Barnsdale's analysis of the Moday 2/16 card at Woodbine Harness.
Brewster Smith's analysis of the Monday 2/16 card at Yonkers Raceway.
Bench Warrant closed from last of eight to win his first stakes in exciting fashion in Sunday’s $81,250 Baffle Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters at Santa Anita.
Mufajaah closed from last to win her second straight stakes of the Oaklawn Park meet Sunday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Bayakoa. The neck victory over Flashy American came following Mufajaah’s last-to-first score in the $100,000 Pippin on Jan. 17.
Pablo Morales posted a riding triple on Saturday’s program to give the 26-year-old rider 17 wins on the meeting. He currently ranks seventh in the standings at Tampa this season and is starting to pick up steam after a slow start, but according to his agent, Mike Moran, the rider’s work ethic still is strong, and he has business with some solid stables such as John Terranova’s. The agent thinks Morales’ stats will improve even more as the meet progresses.
Trainer Todd Pletcher put together a couple of potent teams of 3-year-olds to work Sunday morning at Palm Beach Downs, Itsaknockout with Khozan and Daredevil in company with Competitive Edge, saying afterward he was very pleased with the performances of all four horses.
American Pharoah, the champion 2-year-old male of 2014, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 Sunday at Santa Anita, moving closer to an expected comeback in Arkansas next month.
With racing luck, Warren’s Veneda would be unbeaten in her last four starts, trainer Craig Lewis argues. Instead, Warren’s Veneda is unbeaten in two starts this year and expected to be favored in the $400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles March 14.
She’s a Big Winner won her stakes debut in the $79,800 Sweet Life Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course Saturday but will not be limited to that surface in coming months.