Chez Audra has taken to turf

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer Mike Farro hopes for a cleaner start than last time out for Chez Audra in the $60,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

The 4-year-old filly stepped up to stakes company last time out in Monmouth's Betsy Ross. She made a strong inside run to get third following a bump at the break in the five-furlong turf stakes.

The Betsy Ross was a pleasant surprise, though. Chez Audra had won a turf allowance sprint in her previous outing. Farro was looking for an easier spot, but none materialized, so Chez Audra wound up tangling with tigresses like Melody of Colors and Tangier Sound.

All things considered, third was not a bad outcome.

"We were going to run in an allowance race but it didn't go," Farro said. "She ran a good race last time. She deserves another chance, and she's doing fine."

Chez Audra may have found a home in turf sprints, with a win and a third since shortening up and shifting to the grass.

"She likes it a lot," said Farro. "Until we put her on it, we really didn't know."

Melody of Colors and Tangier Sound are back for the Klassy Briefcase, and both always command respect in these turf dashes.

Melody of Colors, fresh from her two-length win in the Betsy Ross, has the ideal stalking style to be effective in these situations.

"She's a stalker who can really accelerate coming off the turn," said Tim Hills, who trains Melody of Colors. "When she hits the right spot, she can punch in."

Tangier Sound, winner of last year's Klassy Briefcase by 4 1/4 lengths over Melody of Colors, prefers to be on or very close to the lead.

She had the rail, not her ideal spot, in the Betsy Ross as the 9-5 favorite. She set the pace under pressure before fading to fourth.

Post 2 is only a slight improvement this time.

"She's run okay inside, but it makes her one-dimensional," said Tangier Sound's trainer, Jim Ryerson. "You've got to go. We'd like to be more outside."

A possible pair for the Tyro

Ryerson entered two colts in Saturday's $60,000 Tyro Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs. The Tyro is the traditional prep for Monmouth's Grade 3, $100,000 Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds Aug. 28.

Ryerson has Doctor Voodoo and Park Avenue Ball, who each won his last start.

Park Avenue Ball took his debut by five lengths against New Jersey-breds to post a Beyer Figure of 71. Doctor Voodoo won at second asking with a long, determined rally to earn a Beyer of 70.

"I'm definitely looking to run Park Avenue Ball," said Ryerson. "I'm giving it some thought with Voodoo, depending on the size of the field."

Trainer Tim Salzman also entered two: Worray and Mowdow.

Worray has already run at three different tracks - Aqueduct, Pimlico and Colonial Downs - winning his maiden at Pimlico in late April.

- Apprentice jockey Rudy Ignacio was taken to a local hospital Thursday for X-rays of his right leg. Ignacio lost his balance and fell off Princess Krista past the finish line following the fourth race Thursday. The mare ran off and was uninjured. Ignacio has two wins in 52 mounts at the meet.