Just Jenda going longer

OCEANPORT, N. J. - A little extra ground could make a big difference for Just Jenda in the Serena's Song Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday.

Just Jenda was a game second in the Grade 3, 7 1/2-furlong Eight Belles Stakes when last seen, and while she ran well in that elongated sprint, she should appreciate the move back to two turns in the $70,000 Serena's Song, which will be run at a mile and 70 yards on the main track.

The Serena's Song is the ninth of 10 races on the Sunday card, which will share top billing with the Vans Warped Tour, a concert featuring six stages and upwards of 30 bands to be held in the track's media parking lot. Track officials expect about 15,000 fans for the concert alone.

If any music fans make it over to the track, they will catch a competitive race in the Serena's Song, though Just Jenda could be tough as the favorite. Trainer Larry Jones said the filly is "doing well," and he is confident that she will work out a trip despite an uncertain race flow in the Serena's Song. Just Jenda, a daughter of Menifee, has two wins at six furlongs and two wins in stakes races going two turns.

"She'll do whatever you need her to do," said Jones, who has won with 3 of 6 starters at the current Monmouth meet. "She can stay close up if she needs to, and with speed being so important at Monmouth I think she'll be in a good spot. She's not super fast coming out of there, but she's quick enough."

Eddie Castro will ride Just Jenda for the first time.

Despite inexperience going two turns, Bandora looms one of the main contenders in the Serena's Song. She comes off a decent try in the Jostle Stakes at Philadelphia Park, finishing third after racing behind a quick pace. She might find herself alone on the front end, and a clear early lead could be all the advantage she needs to handle the extra distance.

Elvis Trujillo, the leading rider at the meet, will ride Bandora, who is trained by Ronny Werner.

Sapphire Sky's last dirt appearance came against New York-breds in the Bouwerie Stakes, a seven-furlong race in the slop two back, where she took full advantage of a quick early pace. She doesn't figure to get that kind of setup in the Serena's Song, but she has shown that she can stay close when the fractions are slower and the distance is longer. Sapphire Sky was cross-entered in the Dam Hill Stakes on the turf at Belmont on Friday, but she scratched out of that race, presumably to run in the Serena's Song.

Chuck Lopez is scheduled to ride Sapphire Sky for trainer David Donk.

River Blades, Key Lime Baby, Subprime, Missunitednations, and Oro Blanco comprise the rest of the field for the Serena's Song.

Also on the card is the $60,000 Klassy Briefcase Stakes, which drew a field of 10 runners as well as main-track-only entrant Shananies Song. The speedy Libor Lady, who has never been off the board in nine starts on the turf, looms the one to catch and beat in the 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for trainer Michael Pino. Mario Pino, brother of the trainer, rides.

The main competition for Libor Lady is likely to come from Twiceasbeautiful, recent winner of the Buckland Stakes at Colonial. Eddie Castro picks up the mount for trainer Michelle Sharp.