Decathlon Stakes draws a crowd

It appears that horsemen have been looking forward to the opening of Monmouth Park as eagerly as local racing fans.

Saturday’s 12-race card – not counting six also-eligibles and a main-track-only runner – drew 119 entries, just a hair less than 10 runners per race. The $75,000 Decathlon Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, drew a competitive field of 14.

“It’s always nice to open with a good betting card,” said Michael Dempsey, Monmouth’s director of racing. “It’s very competitive between tracks right now, and I’m pretty happy with opening day.”

Dempsey said purses will average about $320,000 per day, including overnight stakes but not the major stakes program. That figure is down 5 percent from the beginning of last year’s meet but higher than after purses were cut last August.

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“We’ve opened at a level I think we can maintain throughout the meet,” he said. “A lot of it has to do with what races are used. If you use higher-level races, you go through your purse account quicker.”

There are about 1,250 horses on the grounds, according to Dempsey. He expects another 250 to arrive in the next two weeks, which will put the barn area very close to full capacity.

The principal players in the Decathlon appear to be Favorite Tale, Oliver Zip, and Prudhoe Bay, all of whom had successful seasons last year at age 3.

Decathlon Stakes, race 11

Key contenders

Favorite Tale (Last 3 Beyers: 92-104-88)

◗ He capped off last season for Parx-based trainer Lupe Preciado by winning the $300,000 Gallant Bob at his home track on Pennsylvania Derby Day.

◗ In all, Favorite Tale won 5 of 11 starts last year while earning $380,000. This will be his 4-year-old debut.

Oliver Zip (Last 3 Beyers: 80-29-78)

◗ Oliver Zip had a very good Aqueduct winter/spring campaign last year for trainer Kelly Breen and owners George and Lori Hall, winning the Fred Capossela and finishing a close second in both the Bay Shore and Jimmy Winkfield stakes.

◗ He overcame adversity to win a second-level optional-claiming race by a nose in his most recent start at Laurel Park. He was returned to the paddock for a new rider during the warm-up and then broke though the gate before the start.

Prudhoe Bay (Last 3 Beyers: 75-83-81)

◗ Prudhoe Bay won the Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth last summer for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. He has made 10 of his last 11 starts in stakes company.

Javerre (Last 3 Beyers: 89-92-90)

◗ A 6-year-old trained by Cathal Lynch, he finished second to his talented stablemate Calamondin last out in a no-conditions allowance race at Parx.