High Court captures Fort Monmouth

High Court, a Grade 1 winner in Brazil, made her United States debut a winning one as she rallied to win the $60,000 Fort Monmouth Stakes Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park.

High Court ($17.60) had won five of eight races in her native land but failed to generate strong betting support from the crowd of 18,104.

With Chris DeCarlo aboard, High Court came charging through the lane to beat Delta Princess by 1 1-2 lengths with Mrs. M third.

High Court ran the mile over the firm turf in 1:36.10.

Gretchen and Roy Jackson, the Lael Stable of West Grove, Pa., acquired the 4-year-old filly earlier this year on the recommendation of bloodstock agent John Fulton.

"Purchasing South American horses is kind of his specialty," said Gretchen Jackson. "He came across her, loved her and told us about her."

The Jacksons turned the filly over to trainer Michael Matz.

"I was just lucky enough to get her," said Matz. "She had only been running a mile and we think she can go further."

The start of the race was delayed 22 minutes by two separate incidents. Something Ventured and Lady Linda were tacked with the wrong saddles and both returned to the paddock to get the problem corrected.

When they returned to the track, the starting gate malfunctioned and a backup gate was towed into place.

In the other Sunday stakes, Pretty Wild ($5.40) got the win in the $70,000 Frisk Me Now Stakes when Unforgettable Max was disqualified for interference shortly after the start.