Biancone chooses to run two in Oceanport

After reviewing the weather forecasts, trainer Patrick Biancone changed his mind and will now run both Nownownow and Violon Sacre in the Grade 3, $200,000 Oceanport Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

The Oceanport and the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell will be televised on ABC at 5 p.m. Eastern.

Biancone cross entered both horses in the Oceanport and the Fourstardave Handicap that same afternoon at Saratoga.

On Friday, Biancone decided to split the pair, sending Nownownow to Saratoga while keeping Violon Sacre at Monmouth for the Oceanport.

Biancone continued to monitor the weather forecasts which now call for possible showers Sunday afternoon on the JerseyShore. The chance of rain clinched the decision to keep Nownownow at the track where he won the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over a rain-soaked course.

“Nownownow will like some give in the course,” Biancone said. “The showers, if they hit Saratoga, will probably arrive much later.”

The Biancone duo joins Get Serious, Strike a Deal, Roman Tiger, and Tybalt as confirmed Oceanport starters. Whatsthescript and Cherokee Artist were also cross entered in the Oceanport and the Fourstardave.