Hogans Holiday by a neck in Miss Liberty Stakes

Hogans Holiday surged late and wide under Hector Diaz Jr. for a narrow victory Sunday in the $75,000 Miss Liberty Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The winner settled well off a swift early pace set by Coffee Crush, who was chased by Quebec through opening splits of 22.33 seconds and 45.06 seconds. Quebec drew alongside her pace rival as they turned for home and entered the stretch with a narrow lead, but a trio of horses closing to her outside – favored Jehozacat, Fools Gold, and Hogans Holiday widest of all – made a race of it in the final furlong. Hogans Holiday prevailed by a neck at the wire, with Jehozacat a neck in front of Fools Gold, and Quebec another neck back in fourth.

The final time for 1 1/16 miles over firm turf was 1:39.53. Hogans Holiday, a 4-year-old daughter of The Factor, returned $25 to win as the sixth choice in the field of eight. She now has won 6 of 16 starts with $198,820 in earnings. Hogans Holiday was a $40,000 claim by trainer Marcus Vitali on behalf of her current owner, John Grossi's Racing Corp., last August at Saratoga.

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