Just Jenda ready to fire

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Just Jenda should be on her toes in the Grade 3, $200,000 Monmouth Oaks for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Monmouth Park.

She has a history of running to her works.

"Usually with this filly, when she works fast, she runs fast," said trainer Larry Jones. "She usually touts you that she's ready to go."

Just Jenda sent a clear all-systems-go message Monday at Delaware Park with a bullet breeze: five furlongs in 59.80, the fastest of 13 at the distance.

It mirrors her work prior to an 8 1/4-length romp here on July 19 in the Serena's Song Stakes, the Monmouth Oaks prep. Her tuneup prior to that blowout was also a five-furlong bullet at Delaware in 59.40.

"She's doing really good," Jones said.

Just Jenda is 5 for 9, having captured the Grade 3 Honeybee at Oaklawn Park.

Jones will be aiming for a second straight Monmouth Oaks win, having saddled Maren's Meadow to victory last year. Gabriel Saez will ride.

Renda looks to be rounding back into form following a strong closing move to miss by only a neck in Calder's Runaway Marcie Stakes.

She won her previous Monmouth appearance, capturing the off-the-turf Junior Champion Stakes last year. Renda is winless in six tries this season, a campaign compromised by a bad stone bruise.

"With fillies, sometimes you can repair the injury physically but there is still a mental thing," said trainer Juan Arias. "It took a few races here at Calder for her to regain confidence. The last race, she really showed that she is coming back."

Sebastian Madrid comes up from Florida to ride.

The race also includes Hightap and Sweet Relish, the one-two finishers in the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows.

Malibu Prayer finished second in her last two races. One of those runner-up spots was a 19 1/4-length defeat administered by Rachel Alexandra in the Grade 1 Mother Goose at Belmont Park. She is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Stage Trick, Bandora, Oro Blanco, and Sea Wind complete the field.

Missunitednations was also cross-entered in the $250,000 Charles Town Oaks on Saturday night.

* Peace Fire stretches out for trainer

H. Graham Motion in the $60,000 Continental Mile, the supporting stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf. He has run twice at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass at Colonial Downs, winning his debut before finishing fifth in the Chenery Stakes.