Golden Made to the rescue

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The message on the side of the Red Cross van hit home for Debbie Sones.

"I was sitting in traffic the other day and I spotted the truck with 'Disaster Relief' written on it," the trainer said. "That's what I need."

It has been a tough meet for Sones. She has won only one race from 12 starters at Monmouth Park as the barn has suffered a run of leg injuries.

"It does go in cycles," Sones said. "You start to question yourself, wondering if you're doing something wrong. People tell you, 'No, that's just the way it goes.' It happens to everybody, from the best of them to the worst of them."

Golden Made, one of Sones's convalescents, makes a comeback Saturday in a $50,000 stakes - fittingly named the Red Cross - for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Golden Made last raced in the Safely Kept Stakes at Aqueduct in early March. The 5-year-old has been a consistent producer, with 11 wins and more than $350,000 in the bank.

Golden Made offers a ray of hope for Sones, who also owns the mare.

"I'm trying to ride this out and survive until next year," Sones said. "She's the one that can pull me out of it."

Sones has qualms about the race, especially with such high-quality speed fillies as Boozin' Susan and Mooji Moo in the field.

"She's been off for six months, and I don't want to make it too tough on her," Sones said of Golden Made. "I believe she belongs in the field, but I'm concerned about the way it might set up."

It looks like a tough spot for Golden Made's comeback.

All six wins by Mooji Moo have come at this six-furlong distance. She is unbeaten in two starts at Monmouth this season, including a victory in the Regret Stakes.

Boozin' Susan comes off the grass for the Red Cross. She won the five-furlong Incredible Revenge Stakes over Monmouth's course earlier this month.

Bruanna, Drexel Monorail, Run for Joy, and Belle Artiste round out the field.

Full field for Navajo Princess

The Saturday card also includes the $50,000 Navajo Princess Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The race attracted 14 runners, with 12 drawing into the main body and Starview's Rose and City Fire listed as also eligibles.

Linda Rice, who trains Boozin' Susan, will be represented by the versatile Impolite, who has already won turf stakes at the meet at five furlongs (Joseph Buckelew) and at 1 1/16 miles (Little Silver).

Michael Dickinson sends out an entry of Kosade and Sarie Marais. The rest of the field is Sonn d'Oro, Carolyn Frances, Nault, Chic Joy, U K Trick, Lifting the Veil, Fostress, She's Rosalie Jane, and Feisty Bull.