Kelly entry double threat in Sapling

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Evenings End and Haddenfield make an ideal tactical pair for trainer Tim Kelly in the Grade 3, $150,000 Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Evenings End figures to be a pace factor while Haddenfield looks to pick up the pieces in the final stages of the closing-day feature.

The New Jersey Thoroughbred circuit shifts to the Meadowlands Racetrack Monday for a Labor Day card starting at 1:10 p.m.

This is not the end of racing for the year on the Jersey Shore. Monmouth will reopen for a unique four-day meet starting Oct. 24 that culminates with the Breeders' Cup on Oct. 26-27.

The final card of the summer season features Monmouth's top annual events for 2-year-olds, both at six furlongs: the Sapling and the $120,000 Sorority for fillies.

The $80,000 Twin Lights for 3-year-old fillies on the turf completes a trio of closing-day stakes.

The Sapling duo from the Kelly barn, coupled in the wagering, are both homebreds for Daniel J. Ljoka and Sharon Biamonte. Having two horses progress to this point has been doubly rewarding for Kelly.

"Good 2-year-olds get you out of bed in the morning," Kelly said. "We do everything ourselves. We raise them, we break them. They are like your kids. We start from scratch, so it's very exciting that way."

Evenings End has run twice here, finishing second in his debut before drawing off to an eight-length victory on July 20.

Kelly has worked the colt twice since theno- a bullet four-furlong drill in 47.40 seconds from the gate on Aug. 15 and a three-furlong breeze on Thursday in 37.60 seconds.

Chuck Lopez, one of the best speed riders at Monmouth, will be aboard.

"Evenings End will get out there to rock and roll on the front end," Kelly said. "They will have to really run to beat him."

Haddenfield became a closer, quite by accident. After breaking his maiden here on June 29, Haddenfield ran twice at Delaware Park and poor starts in both races forced him into rally mode. He most recently closed for second in the Par Four Stakes.

"He fell on his head out of the one-hole at Delaware and they closed up the gap on him," Kelly said. "He got checked and had to come flying on the outside."

While Evenings End is well rested, Haddenfield faces a quick turnaround.

"He is back a little quick and that is a big concern," Kelly said. "We talked about running here all week. I think he recovered quickly enough that I think we're okay."

Rajiv Maragh will ride.

The Sapling field includes Lantana Mob, winner of the Tyro Stakes, Monmouth's traditional Sapling prep - and Preachin Man, who will be running at a fifth different track in his fifth start.

Sorority: Bold Child still sharp

Bold Child made a bold statement in her debut here, winning by 5 1/4 lengths on July 4.

Trainer Tim Hills kept her sharp for the Sorority with five works in August, including a final three-furlong tune-up in 36.20 Friday with jockey Stewart Elliott aboard.

"He said he didn't realize she was going as fast as she did," Hills said. "I told him good horses go fast, easy."

The field includes a pair of stakes winners - the unbeaten New York City Girl, who took Monmouth's Colleen Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths in the slop, and Elocution, the five-length winner of the Mountaineer Juvenile Filly Stakes on Aug. 5.

Twin Lights: Social Queen vs. 'Quest'

Social Queen beat My Golden Quest by a neck here in the Staybridge Suites Stakes on Aug. 4.

The rematch comes in the Twin Lights at 1 1/8 miles as Social Queen, trained by Alan Goldberg, puts a two-race winning streak on the line.

Trainer Bill Mott entered Queen Joanne in this race and in an allowance race Sunday at Saratoga.