He’spuregold has no problem with dirt, takes Charles Hesse III Handicap

He’spuregold went turf to dirt and straight into the Monmouth Park winner’s circle by capturing the $130,000 Charles Hesse III Memorial Handicap, the last of three New Jersey-bred stakes, by 2 1/2 lengths on Sunday.

He’spuregold had made all 13 of his starts on turf coming into Sunday’s contest, but his domination of New Jersey-breds switched surfaces right along with the horse. Bred by John Bowers and owned by Bowers’ Roseland Farm Stable, He’spuregold pressed a tepid tempo under Paco Lopez, took command at the quarter pole, and was much better than runner-up Golden Brown, who had two lengths on third-place Irish Meadow at the finish.

“He has breezed so well over the Monmouth Park dirt and after finally convincing owner John Bowers that he would run well on the dirt, this was a perfect opportunity to try,” trainer Kelly Breen said. “Paco Lopez still thinks he’s better on the turf. John Bowers thinks he’s better on the turf. He could be better on the turf, but pound for pound against Jersey-breds he is a top-notch horse.”

He’spuregold now is 4 for 4 in statebred-restricted competition. He ran 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.15 and paid $5.60 while carrying 121 pounds, two fewer than Golden Brown. He’spuregold, a five-time winner from 14 starts, is by Vancouver out of Smart N Classy, by Smart Strike.

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Breen’s duo of Pickin’ Time, fifth as the 9-5 favorite, and Royal Urn, who finished last of seven, fared worse in the $102,000 New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap, won in wire-to-wire fashion by Speaking. Under Albin Jimenez, Speaking ripped through a half-mile in 44.67, and recorded a 1 1/2-length win over pacepressing Dr. Doyle, who was a neck better than Pianzi.

Eddie Owens trains Speaking for his breeder, Holly Crest Farm. By Mr Speaker out of High Noon Nellie, by Silver Deputy, 3-year-old Speaking ran six furlongs on dirt in 1:09.57 and paid $5.60 while carrying 119 pounds, getting as much as four pounds from the Breen pair. Owens deemed him a possible runner in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont.

In the $104,000 Eleven North Handicap for older fillies and mares at six furlongs, route-to-sprint I Can Run finished strongly on the outside under Albin Jimenez to beat the race’s defending champion, Alta Velocita, by 1 3/4 lengths. Alta Velocita, favored at 2-1, rallied along the rail but was no match late for the Claudio Gonzalez-trained I Can Run, who was coming out of four route races and had been winless in five previous sprints. I Can Run ($11) clocked 1:10.38 as pacesetting Roselba hung in for third.

Three-year-old I Can Run, who got six pounds (123-117) from the runner-up, is owned by Bob Bone and Magic Stable. Bred by Bright View Farm, she’s by Tourist out of Hana J, by Peaks and Valleys.