Hi Holiday wins stakes debut in Sorority

Four of the seven 2-year-old fillies Sunday in the $75,000 Sorority Stakes at Monmouth Park came in off debut wins. Island Saint, who had won an off-the-turf maiden race at Saratoga for Todd Pletcher was made the 2-5 favorite with the odds on everyone else ranging from 7-1 to 39-1.

In the end, first-out winners finished first, second, and third – just not in the order the public predicted. Island Saint was third, the 39-1 shot Crystal Rosario was second, and the winner was Hi Holiday, who is owned by the DJ Stable of Leonard, Lois, and Jonathan Green and trained by Joe Orseno.

Crystal Rosario went to the front in the six-furlong Sorority under Samuel Camacho Jr., while Island Saint was hard held off her in second by Paco Lopez. Hi Holiday was unhurried early while biding her time near the rear of the compact field by Trevor McCarthy.

In upper stretch, Crystal Rosario spurted away from Island Saint, who lacked a rally when asked. At this point, McCarthy had gotten Hi Holiday in the clear, and she came running to get up outside Crystal Roasrio in deep stretch and score by a neck.

Hi Holiday, a $110,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales April 2-year-old purchase, paid $28.60. The $23 exacta with Crystal Rosario returned $420. Hi Holiday was timed in 1:12.40.

“The Greens are from New Jersey, and I’m from New Jersey, so this means a lot to us,” Orseno said.

Hi Holiday had won her maiden at Monmouth by 7 1/2 lengths Aug. 22 and now is 2 for 2. Crystal Rosario had won a $20,000 maiden-claiming race Aug. 21 at Monmouth. She was claimed out of that race by Ron and Pat Scorese and trainer Tony Wilson.

Tight Weave stumbled badly at the start. Miss Prudence broke slowly.