Forever Partners romps in Colleen

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Forever Partners stamped herself as a 2-year-old filly to be reckoned with down the road in the $50,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Saturday, winning by 11.

Forever Partners, a New Jersey-bred trained by Anthony Dutrow, broke well under Chuck Lopez and raced four wide through the early part of the 5 1/2-furlong race before taking the lead at the half-mile pole. She raced four lengths clear of the field turning for home and cruised home.

Lopez never showed her the whip as he hand rode her to the wire in 1:03.12, just off the track record of 1:02.80, set by American Royale in 1991. Grand Natalie Rose took second by a nose over Skipper's Mate.

Forever Partners ($7.20), the favorite, won the Colleen in her second career start. In her other start, she won by a nose at Delaware Park on May 19. Purchased for $50,000 as a yearling, Forever Partners earned $30,000 for Skeedattle Stable.

"I don't think that I've ever been on a horse that nice," Lopez said. "She was almost majestic. I never moved on her the whole time."

Dutrow said Forever Partners would start next in the Grade 3 Sorority here Aug. 25 or the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga Aug. 30.