Fusaichi Red capitalizes on hot pace to take Miss Woodford
There was a lot of speed in the $70,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, and when the pacesetters began to tire in the stretch, it set the table for late-runners Fusaichi Red and Coco’s Wildcat, who finished first and second.
At the start of the six-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, four horses went for the early lead: Bustin Out, Valkyria, Spark, and Get the Sensation. Valkyria was the first to back out and she was joined by Get the Sensation on the far turn.
The quarter went in 21.26 seconds and the half-mile in 43.94.
Spark, the 5-2 favorite, took the lead outside Bustin Out in upper stretch but was almost immediately joined by Coco’s Wildcat, who had made up a lot of ground. Fusaichi Red, who was near the back of the pack early, fired the final shot, taking the lead outside Coco’s Wildcat in midstretch and drawing off to win by 3 3/4 lengths.
Coco’s Wildcat finished two in front of third-place Spark.
Fusaichi Red, who had won a Parx maiden race by 8 1/4 lengths in her prior start for trainer George Weaver, paid $12.20 as the third choice in the 11-horse field. Fusaichi Red was timed in 1:10.22 after getting five furlongs in 57.13. She was ridden by Orlando Bocachica.
“She didn’t break well, but we were in a good spot because of the early speed,” Bocachica said. “Going into the turn, I didn’t want to go too wide, but I wanted to give her room to run.”
The race was marred when jockey Trevor McCarthy was thrown from his mount Calypso Run, entering the stretch. Calypso Run was attempting to come up the rail inside eventual fourth-place finisher Thepartyneverends when she clipped heels. McCarthy came off awkwardly and landed on his back.
McCarthy was complaining of a severe headache, according to Angelo Chinnici, Monmouth Park’s medical director, and was sent to Saint Barnabas/Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch to be evaluated.
“He went for further neurological testing, which will include a CAT scan of the brain and other tests,” Chinnici said.
The stewards conducted an inquiry into the incident but made no change to the order of finish.
Sky Gold, the 7-2 second choice, broke slowly and was outrun throughout, finishing 11th