Colony Club looks tough in Monmouth turf sprint

OCEANPORT, N. J. – No stakes, and little sizzle.

That might describe Sunday’s card at at Monmouth Park, where the only race that’s not for claimers or maidens is the 10th, an allowance turf sprint for fillies and mares 3 years old and upward that serves as the day’s feature. There were two added-money events scheduled, but the racing office was unable to fill either the $100,000 Dearly Precious or the $50,000 Malouf Starter Handicap.

The second-level allowance, to be run at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass, carries a purse of $82,000. The race drew a field of 11 but that includes three runners entered for the main track only – Offlee Blessed, Myakka City, and Five Grand Girl. If the race stays on the turf, the filly to beat may well be Colony Club, who was second under similar circumstances here last time out. A daughter of Lion Hearted, she has been first or second in six of her seven career starts, and she earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 83 for that most recent effort. Trained by Alexandra White, who has won 3 races from only 12 starters in 2010, Colony Club will break from post 8 under seven-pound apprentice rider Forest Boyce.

Out Post, just a neck behind Colony Club when third in her last race, drew the far outside in Sunday’s feature, but she has high speed. She won a six-furlong grass sprint at Belmont two back but she weakened late, finishing third, in her latest try at Monmouth Park. A race-long duel cost her her best chance in that one, when she was a neck behind Colony Club in the battle for the place, but if she can shake loose on Sunday she could turn the tables.

Elvis Trujillo will ride Out Post for trainer Alan Goldberg.

Darjeeling, a four-length winner in her only turf try in 11 career starts, will look to prove that effort was no fluke. She rated off the pace in that six-furlong sprint at Belmont before making a strong run into the lane and drawing off. Sunday will mark her first start since an off-the-turf score at the Meadowlands in November but she has won off layoffs in the past. Steve Asmussen trains Darjeeling, who drew post six; Alan Garcia, who was aboard for her first try on the grass, will ride.