Hernandez works out ideal trip for Skeptic in Monmouth Oaks

Skeptic broke sharply from the rail Saturday in the Grade 3, $106,000 Monmouth Oaks but Starcloud, leaving from post 8, was intent on making the lead. Trainer Rusty Arnold had brought Brian Hernandez Jr. in to ride Skeptic, and Hernandez set about showing why.

Taking a light hold on Skeptic, Hernandez let Starcloud go, steering deftly two paths off the fence to get outside the leader. Instead of launching into speed duel, Skeptic fell into a perfect stalking trip from second, and, after taking care of Starcloud past the three-furlong pole, she held off the two favorites, Sassy Sienna and Gio Game, to win the Grade 3, $100,000 Monmouth Oaks.

Starcloud set splits of 23.67 and 47.58 with Skeptic length off the lead, and Hernandez wasted no time going after the pacesetter midway around the far turn. Skeptic was in front through six furlongs in 1:12.12, and when asked the question at the three-sixteenths pole with Sassy Sienna getting untracked, Skeptic had the right answer. She held firm, winning by three-quarters of a length while stopping the timer in 1:43.84 for 1 1/16 miles over a fast track. Gio Game was third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Sassy Sienna.

“Our filly traveled so well around the first turn,” Hernandez said. “She was really relaxed.”

Skeptic had a fair number of believers, going off the 4-1 third choice and paying $10.60 to win.

A daughter of Tiznow and the Awesome Again mare, Clear Thinking, Skeptic has come around nicely this year for owner G. Watts Humphrey, who co-bred her with St. George Farm and co-owns her with Ashbrook Farm. Skeptic was a fourth-start maiden winner in April at Keeneland, came right back to win a Churchill allowance in May, and was a respectable fourth making her stakes debut in the Indiana Oaks on July 14, a race won by the talented Talk Veuve to Me. Saturday, well spotted, well developed, and well ridden, it was Skeptic’s turn.