Keep Crossing rallies late to win Red Cross

Disco Chick took it to her rivals early in the $68,000 Red Cross Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, but it was Keep Crossing who proved best late, rallying from off the pace to win by three lengths.

Disco Chick, the longest shot on the board at 24-1, shot to the lead in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares, reeling off fractions of 21.61 seconds and 43.92. She held the lead until the final sixteenth before Keep Crossing blew by.

Keep Crossing is a 4-year-old daughter of Istan, who was bred and is owned by Brereton Jones. Istan stands at Jones’s Airdrie Stud and has had remarkable success from a very small number of foals. Istan also is the sire of Albano, Istanford, and Mr. Bowling.

Keep Crossing is trained by Larry Jones and was ridden by Gabriel Saez. Jones and Saez enjoyed great success years ago but have not teamed up much in recent times.

“She did everything I wanted her to do,” Saez said. “Larry did a great job with her, and I am just glad to win for him and be back in the barn.”

Keep Crossing paid $11 as the third choice in the seven-horse field. She was timed in 1:10.13. Keep Crossing now is 4 for 10 in her career with earnings of $143,020. The Red Cross was her first stakes win.

Disco Chick held second by a head over the 5-2 Tea Time, who trailed the field early and closed too late. Legal Laura, who was forwardly placed early, finished evenly to be fourth, three lengths behind Tea Time.

More Than a Party, the even-money favorite, was forwardly placed along the inside early but tired through the stretch run to finish last in the seven-horse field.