El Deal to show the way in Decathlon Stakes

There may be only six horses in the $60,000 Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, but the six-furlong race features a nice three-way battle between the graded-stakes winners Delta Bluesman and Always Sunshine and the very quick El Deal.

Jorge Navarro trains both Delta Bluesman, who won the Grade 2 Smile Sprint last summer at Gulfstream Park, and El Deal, whom he entered and scratched from the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on Friday.

Eddie Castro is named aboard Delta Bluesman, and Jose Ferrer will ride El Deal. The two riders are tied for second in the standings with nine wins apiece.

Always Sunshine, the winner of the Grade 3 Maryland Sprint in 2016 for trainer Ned Allard, returned 13 days ago from a seven-month layoff, scoring a powerful win over a sloppy track in a high-level, off-the-turf optional-claiming race.

“We need another work before we take on the bears, so why not get paid for it?” Allard said. “The race didn’t take anything out of him, so hopefully he can go get them.”

El Deal figures to be winging it on the lead with Always Sunshine, who has the ability to closely stalk. The race could come down to these two in the lane.

Delta Bluesman finished first in the Decathlon a year ago but was disqualified and placed fifth after his rider came inward and crowded horses. He has gone winless in six starts since winning the Hall of Fame Stakes at Parx Racing in September.

Decathlon, Race 11

Key Contenders

Always Sunshine, by West Acre
Last 3 Beyers: 94-91-94

◗ Frankie Pennington, the leading rider at Parx, has ridden Always Sunshine in his last 10 races, which include five wins. He will give up a day of riding at Parx to keep his streak intact.

El Deal, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 101-92-88

◗ In his lone start for Navarro, he scored an easy win in an overnight handicap on Charles Town Classic Day in West Virginia. The 101 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is the highest last-out number in this field.

Still Krz, by Old Forester
Last 3 Beyers: 85-108-96

◗ He comes out of a very tough edition of the Diablo Stakes at Belmont on May 7, when Stallwalkin’ Dude defeated Noholdingback Bear. In his prior start, he was given a 108 Beyer for an optional-claiming romp at Aqueduct.

Delta Bluesman, by Wagon Limit
Last 3 Beyers: 85-76-77

◗ He finished third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Rainbow Heir, in the off-the-turf Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth on May 13. Rainbow Heir came back to finish third, beaten only a neck, in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Governor’s Cup at Penn National on June 3.

◗ The blinkers go back on Sunday.

Ostrolenka, by Musket Man
Last 3 Beyers: 82-78-92

◗ He was entered for a $62,500 claiming tag by David Jacobson in an optional-claiming race at Belmont Park last Saturday.