It's a Gamble pays off in Jersey Derby
Trainer Kelly Breen had the $100,000 Jersey Derby covered when rain forced the race to be moved from turf to dirt partway through Monmouth Park’s opening-day card Friday. It’s A Gamble, second last out in the $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes on turf, looked like Breen’s horse for grass, while Pickin’ Time, entered main-track only, held his best hope on dirt.
That was on paper. On the track, Pickin’ Time never came close to contending while It’s a Gamble rallied relentlessly up the fence under Jose Baez to beat Indian Lake by 1 3/4 lengths.
“I would have thought my other horse was better off the grass,” Breen said of Pickin’ Time. It’s a Gamble “had trained well on dirt. It all fell into place today; everything set up for him.”
Huge longshot Spectatorless set a strong pace, 23.33 for the quarter and 47.14 to the half before Indian Lake closed in and assumed command in upper stretch. Saving ground around the far turn and into the stretch, Baez got It’s a Gamble into a good rhythm and he closed steadily to wear down the leader in the last furlong.
Winning time for the mile on a track labeled fast/sealed was 1:40.70 and It’s a Gamble paid $11.20 to win. Spectatorless held a distant third as several apparent contenders failed to produce their baseline race.
Breen trains It’s a Gamble for Mr. Amore Stable. Bred in New York, It’s a Gamble is by English Channel out of Yes It’s Pink, by Yes It’s True.
* Day 1 of Monmouth racing under the New Jersey Racing Commission’s rule forbidding use of the whip for anything other than ensuring the safety of horses and jockeys appeared to unfold uneventfully. Some riders chose not to carry a crop at all, apparently for fear of breaking the rule out of habit. The results proved formful, closers performed fine – contrary to the concerns of some, who felt they would be disadvantaged by the whip restrictions – and the races were cleanly run.