Classy Tugger captures Klassy Briefcase

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Anstu Stables' Tugger bolted to the lead from post one and then accelerated in the stretch under jockey Jose Velez Jr. to register a 5 3/4-length victory in the $50,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Originally carded for the turf, the five-furlong stakes for fillies and mares was contested on a sloppy main track as Tugger, trained by Todd Pletcher, covered the distance in 57.61 seconds before a crowd of 11,919.

Tugger, the 7-5 favorite paid $4.80 to win, and topped an $11.80 exacta over Cedar Knolls. Curious Treasures was third.

The graded-stakes placed Tugger, a 4-year-old daughter of Twining, recorded her second win of the meet. She is 5-2-1 in 13 career starts.

The field was reduced from 11 to six when the race was switched to the main track.

"As well as she has run here, it looks like we'll point to some of the filly and mare stakes here down the road," assistant trainer George Weaver said. "The Regret (July 4) might be a little too soon. We'll keep our options open."

*U.S. Gold ($4.40), the 6-5 favorite, cruised by the frontrunners turning for home, and fended off a challenge from second-place finisher Sea Soul to win the $30,000 Malouf Auto Group Starter Series #1 by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:38.94 on a sloppy track.