Farro feeling lucky

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Mike Farro moves slowly, and his head, knee, and side still ache. Yet he considers himself himself lucky.

The trainer hit his head on the windshield in a car crash Friday night near Monmouth Park and took some hard knocks. The car might be totaled, but Farro was able to walk away.

He gets three opportunities Wednesday at Monmouth Park to see if his luck holds.

Farro and his wife, Patricia, train 40 horses evenly divided between Monmouth and Philadelphia Park, racing in Patricia's name. They had a big day Saturday at Monmouth, as Navajo Code ($5.40) won the second race and Rosetide ran second in the ninth.

They did not run Sunday, but look poised to start the new racing week strongly with Pick's Prospect in the Wednesday's fourth race, at a mile and 70 yards for claimers valued at $20,000 to $25,000.

A 9-year-old gelding, Pick's Prospect debuts for Farro and owners Robert Deckert Jr. and Sr. following a claim for $22,000.

"He's a hard-knocking horse," Farro said. "The owners liked him. I really didn't want to claim a 9-year-old, but every time he runs, he's one-two-three. So why not?"

Pick's Prospect has hit the board in 4 of 6 starts this year.

Farro has an entry of Amongtheprivileged and Who's This in the seventh race, a $45,500 allowance for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares going six furlongs.

"Amongtheprivileged has a lot of speed," Farro said. "She should run good. The other one finished second last time. If it rains, we might run her too. She runs her best races on an off track."

Farro's day concludes with Katie Kreitz in the eighth race, an optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

The race continues a pattern for the 4-year-old filly of alternating grass and dirt races that dates back to Gulfstream Park in March. Her best efforts have come on the main track. She was a tiring sixth on the grass last time out.

"We're hoping for rain for her, too but we'll run her either way," Farro said. "The owners told me she's more of a turf horse, but for me, she's only run good on the dirt."

Katie Kreitz faces six rivals: She Is Raging, Mythical Brownie, Miss Splash, Dancing in Puddles, Drawing a Blank and Festive Lady.