Joey P. in fine form for Icecapade

OCEANPORT, N.J. - At 6, Joey P. is in the most consistent form of his career.

The veteran New Jersey-bred star tops the field Monday in the $75,000 Icecapade Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The six-furlong Icecapade and the $60,000 Gilded Time Stakes for 3-year-old grass sprinters are the featured events on the 10-race Labor Day card that starts at 12:50 p.m.

Joey P. posted triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of his last three races.

Most recently, he earned a 103 Beyer in the Teddy Drone Stakes on the Haskell Day undercard, a figure that would normally get the victory.

But in that instance, Joey P. settled for second behind the stunningly good Rockerfeller who rang up a career-best 113 Beyer.

"The last race was a super-fast race," said trainer Ben Perkins, Jr. "He ran his race. The winner just ran a freaky race."

The durable Joey P. heads to the starting gate for the 33rd time. He has 15 wins, 12 coming at Monmouth

"We just keep him going," Perkins said. "He's such a big, strong horse. Physically, he's so powerful."

Regular rider Joe Bravo is out of town Monday, riding Anak Nakal in the Pennsylvania Derby. Eddie Castro picks up the mount.

Maddy's Lion will try to bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the Teddy Drone. In his previous race, Maddy's Lion upset Joey P. here in the Mr. Prospector Stakes.

Vicarino comes east to join the Gary Contessa barn. The colt most recently finished fourth in an overnight stakes at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif.

Vicarino, Stormin Normandy, and Mobo were cross-entered in grass stakes Monday: Vicarino and Stormin Normandy in an overnight stakes at Saratoga and Mobo in the $250,000 Turf Monster at Philadelphia Park.

Chitoz finds his niche

Chitoz goes for a second straight stakes win in the $60,000 Gilded Time at 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass.

It turns out that these turf sprints for 3-year-olds fit the colt perfectly. Cutting back from 1 1/16 miles, Chitoz rocketed right to the front and was never headed in the Anderson Fowler Stakes here in late June.

"He broke on top right out of the gate," said Anthony Sciametta, assistant trainer to Todd Pletcher. "If he steps up like that again, he'll be fine. He was full of run."

Pletcher put the blinkers back on Chitoz for the Anderson Fowler.

Trainer Cam Gambolati hopes a cutback in distance works as well for Run Sully Run, sixth last time out in the 1 1/16-mile Jersey Derby.

"We've been fighting him going two turns," Gambolati said. "You can't get it in his head to relax. He trains like that, too. He's just so headstrong.

"I expect him to run well going 5o1/2 furlongs. He's got enough speed where he won't fall way back. He just needs to settle and make a run.

* Apprentice Segundo Lazo is the newest rider at Monmouth. Doug Hatten will book mounts for the 10-pound bug from Ecuador.