Czarina's Girl wants wet going
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Trainer John Forbes has a plan to help Czarina's Girl in the $52,000 second-level allowance feature for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares Thursday at Monmouth Park.
"Maybe we should sneak out there with the water truck at night and just keep going around and around," he said.
, 4, loves a wet track. She caught slop on Aug. 26 and responded with a career-best victory. She drew off to a 3 1/2-length win and earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure, the best last-race number among the seven runners in Thursday's six-furlong race.
Czarina's Girl has two wins at the meet, both in the slop. Her best finish in three tries on a fast track was fifth.
She could face two obstacles in this spot - a dry strip and the possibility of a "bounce," a regression following a peak performance.
"It's hard to say, coming off such a big effort," Forbes said. "She seems to be doing well. It might be a little short rest, but she seems unscathed by the race."
Also in the race is Lulu's Number, who hasn't won at this level in three tries. She started the meet with two overpowering wins - taking her maiden by 12 lengths and then scoring by 10 1/4 lengths in first-level allowance company.
She has finished a close second three straight times since moving up. In her most recent try on Aug. 24, Lulu's Number had a narrow lead going into the lane but lost by three-quarters of a length as the 3-10 choice.
Trainer Tony Wilson is making a rider change, with Alan Garcia replacing Rajiv Maragh, who had been aboard for the last five starts.
Joe Bravo, who won a record-equaling six races in one day at Monmouth for a fourth time on Monday, will be back aboard Lady Carson M D for leading trainer Kelly Breen.
pulled clear to a 3 1/4-length first-level victory on Aug. 12. The 3-year-old is the most lightly raced in the field. This will be only her seventh start.
makes her season debut in a new barn. The filly, previously trained by Jason Servis, will be saddled by Mary Hartmann.
Spirit of Splendor raced competitively here last summer with a record of 1-1-1 in 5 starts.
She is owned by Brennan O'Keefe, who sends her out as an entry with Passion's Destiny, who remains in the Servis barn.
Completing the field are Salta Sapo and Murphy Style.