Gerrards Cross shows the way in Monmouth County Stakes
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Most of the early speed scratched from the $100,000 Monmouth County Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park, and Gerrards Cross took full advantage in a commanding gate-to-wire victory under Cipriano Gil.
The 3-year-old filly has now earned both of her stakes victories on the turf at Monmouth for trainer Kathleen O’Connell.
“It was my first time riding her, but I was very confident because Kathleen O’Connell told me she has been training great and she expected a big effort from her,” Gil said.
Coming off a runner-up finish in the $100,000 Stormy Blues at Laurel Park last month, Gerrards Cross seemed likely to contend for the early lead at Monmouth alongside Niche and Dancingwithdestiny. Both of those front-running contenders scratched, however, along with Victory Music and Quality of Essence.
With little competition for the early lead in the shortened field of five 3-year-old fillies, Gil took the straightest path aboard the O’Connell-trained filly and never looked back.
“The plan was to go to the front,” Gil said. “It’s easy there with not having to constantly push. She does it naturally. She was relaxed the whole way.”
Fractional times were not provided, but the 2-1 second choice was comfortably in front at the start and kicked clear by 2 1/4 lengths at the wire, completing the five-furlong distance in 1:04.55. She paid $6.40 to win.
Spinelli, a 4 1/2-length first-level allowance winner at Gulfstream Park last month, chased in second all the way for trainer Joe Orseno. She prevailed by a half-length over the Brittany Russell-trained filly Tap Into Grace, who finished just behind Gerrards Cross in the Stormy Blues last time out. She has now struggled to make up late ground on that rival in two races that seemed to favor early speed.
Carolyncaroline, the 3-2 favorite looking for her first victory since last July, failed to fire from a stalking position and finished a neck behind Tap Into Grace.
In six career starts, Gerrards Cross has run in five stakes, failing to contend in two on dirt and proving far more competitive in three tries on the grass.
“It was an awesome performance by her,” O’Connell said. “It was truly what I expected. She’s been training like a monster. Her last race, she shipped and ran well [in the Stormy Blues] and just got beat off a [five-month] layoff. Walking out of the stall, I was a little nervous about the heat and humidity and the possibility of rain, but she ran up to expectations.”
With two victories and a runner-up finish on what seems to be her preferred surface, O’Connell should have a clear direction for the Florida-bred as she continues her 3-year-old campaign up north.
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