Heading Home makes first start off the claim in Jersey Girl Handicap

New owner Mike Napoli has been on a roll and on Sunday he will be chasing after stakes success at Monmouth Park when he is represented by Heading Home in the $75,000 Jersey Girl Handicap.

The race, at a mile on turf, is for fillies and mares bred in New Jersey.

Napoli, the World Series champion who retired from baseball in December, recently wrapped up the spring-meet owner title at Gulfstream Park. Heading Home is one of four horses he has with trainer Kelly Breen at Monmouth Park. Breen said Napoli brings a lot of passion to racing.

“He’s young and energetic,” Breen said. “He comes to the races often. It’s part of his life right now. It’s really exciting to see new blood come into the industry.”

Heading Home is the second highweight in the Jersey Girl, at 121 pounds. She is part of a field of seven that includes Diamond Play, the 122-pound highweight who was third in last year’s Jersey Girl, and Crazy Daisy, who moves back to turf after running second to New Jersey-bred standout Horologist in last month’s $75,000 Smart N Classy at Monmouth.

Heading Home is making her first start for Napoli and Breen after being claimed for $22,000 on May 18 at Monmouth. Breen said part of her appeal was a particular company line.

“She ran second in this race last year against a quality filly that turned out to be a very nice horse for me in Valedictorian,” Breen said. “So, when she was available for a claim, it looked like something we would be interested in.”

Valedictorian has since won four open-company stakes, including a pair of Grade 3 races, for Breen and owner Epic Racing. As for Heading Home, who was beaten a head in last year’s Jersey Girl, she shows a strong series of works for Sunday.

“She’s a very attractive filly,” Breen said. “She’s tall. She’s muscular. We’re just trying to keep her going. She won the day we claimed her. If we keep her going in a positive direction, she has a good chance of winning.”

Heading Home owns one of the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figures, a 73 for her 2 3/4-length victory over open company at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Monmouth.

Joe Bravo has the mount from the rail Sunday for Breen, who is winning races at a strong 34 percent clip this meet at Monmouth.

Diamond Play comes off a runner-up finish in an optional $30,000 claiming race at 1 1/16 miles on turf for which she earned a Beyer of 78. She tends to make her case in the later stages, while Heading Home has tactical speed. Paco Lopez has the mount on Diamond Play for trainer Anthony Margotta.