Favorite Tale faces short field in Jersey Shore Stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Favorite Tale has been severely tested since winning the Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park in early May. He ran hard against quality competition in three subsequent stakes, with only a pair of narrow losses to show for the efforts.

The Grade 3, $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park could be his moment to shine.

Favorite Tale looks like the speediest of the six 3-year-olds in the six-furlong contest. A gelding trained at Parx Racing by Guadalupe Preciado, Favorite Tale totes the top weight of 120 pounds. His rivals each carry 116.

Favorite Tale is quick out of the gate, and his recent company lines are impressive. He faced eventual Haskell Invitational winner Bayern in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont following his Gold Fever victory. He then lost by a neck in the Oh Say Stakes at Delaware Park to Coup de Grace, who returned to win the Grade 2 Amsterdam at Saratoga.

Most recently, Favorite Tale headed to Saratoga, where he battled bravely through blazing fractions, only to be nailed on the wire in the Quick Call Stakes, his turf debut.

“He ran great there,” Preciado said. “He had a good shot, but they came and got him. He’s run against some pretty tough horses, and that horse that beat him in Delaware [Coup de Grace] ran unbelievable at Saratoga.”

This is the latest date ever for the Jersey Shore, which has traditionally been run during the Fourth of July weekend.

Jersey Shore Stakes (Race 11)

KEY CONTENDERS

Favorite Tale (Last 3 Beyers: 90-94-60)

Paired up two terrific Beyers in his last two races against top competition.

Favorite Tale owns the best early speed, always a strong Monmouth angle, and the shift from turf to dirt helps.

Debt Ceiling (Last 3 Beyers: 93-61-–)

Finished a close third behind Coup de Grace and Favorite Tale in Delaware’s Oh Say Stakes, Debt Ceiling’s season debut.

Owns the only graded victory in the field, last year’s Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs.

Wonderfella (Last 3 Beyers: 86-71-80)

The Jersey Shore has been a Perkins family affair since the race originated at Atlantic City Race Course. Ben Perkins Jr. trained Surely Six, the inaugural winner in 1992, and captured the last two renewals with Well Spelled (2012) and Rainbow Heir (2013). His dad, Ben Sr., trained Ft. Stockton, the 1995 winner.