Blame Jim enters Jersey Shore off sharp performance

Blame Jim comes into the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday off a sharp Belmont Park sprint try and will rule a solid favorite in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds.

Blame Jim earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure for his runner-up effort in a second-level optional-claiming race last out at Belmont. That figure dwarfs the recent figures of his six rivals in the $100,000 Jersey Shore.

Owned and bred by Mike Repole and trained by Todd Pletcher, Blame Jim raced along the inside in a four-horse pace battle in his June 26 race. He drew clear in upper stretch but could not handle the late run of Noble Cornerstone, who won by a length. It was 2 1/2 lengths back from Blame Jim to the third-place finisher.

Blame Jim’s three early rivals tired to finish sixth, eighth, and last in the nine-horse field.

Noble Cornerstone was returning from a lengthy layoff but has won four of his last six starts dating back to June 2014. His losses during that time span came to The Big Beast in the King’s Bishop and to the older Moonlight Song in the Hudson Handicap last fall.

KEY CONTENDERS

Blame Jim (Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-98)

Two starts back, Blame Jim finished fourth in the Chick Lang at Pimlico. The Lang was the third straight win for Holy Boss. The runner-up, Victory Is Sweet, came back to win a Belmont allowance race. The third-place finisher, Gimme Da Lute, has since won the Grade 3 Affirmed and the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Derby.

Blame Jim added blinkers for his most recent start.

Jackson P (Last 3 Beyers: 72-65-69)

He has the ability to stalk, which could come in handy in this field.

He returned from a three-month layoff to win an off-the-turf allowance at Parx last time out.

Bluegrass Singer (Last 3 Beyers: 44-74-79)

Has made eight straight stakes starts this year, winning the Parx Derby in May and the Mucho Macho Man in January.

He can be expected to challenge Blame Jim for the lead.

Joe Franklin (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-83)

Will make his first start for David Jacobson after being claimed for $50,000 out of a first-level optional-claiming win.

Forge Ahead Franki (Last 3 Beyers: 66-86-5)

Broke slowly in his last race, then was bottled up behind horses early.

Hebbronville (Last 3 Beyers: 78-82-75)

Got back on track with a hard-earned optional-claiming win at Ellis Park last time out. Battled from start to finish with a rival who was looking for his third straight win.

W V Jetsetter (Last 3 Beyers: 56-69-84)

Texas-bred will be making the third start of his form cycle and may not be as overmatched as it seems in paper.