Lemon Zip steps into stakes company in Unbridled Essence

The $75,000 Unbridled Essence at Monmouth Park on Saturday has attracted a field of six long-winded turf females. Two are trained by Christophe Clement, two by Tom Albertrani, one by Niall Saville, and the other by John Leeson.

Leeson’s mare could be in for a long afternoon and Albertrani won an allowance race with Beau Belle at Saratoga on Thursday. His other runner, Nonsensical, will enjoy the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Unbridled Essence. Clement’s duo will like the softer company.

Saville’s runner, Lemon Zip, should already be pleased with herself, having won three races in a row and 4 of 7 since being claimed for $12,500 in June 2018. The 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper is coming off a second-level optional-claiming victory at Belmont Park in June. Prior to that race, she beat males in a first-level allowance at Pimlico and won a $16,000 starter handicap at Tampa Bay Downs.

Those three wins have all come at distances of 1 3/8 miles or 1 1/2 miles, and since Saville equipped her with blinkers. Tyler Conner, the second-leading rider at Penn National this year with 88 wins, has the mount.

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Clement’s pair has been facing tougher company than Lemon Zip and could wake up following a series of even performances.

Homeland Security finished third to the talented but now retired Ickymasho in the Searching Stakes at Pimlico. She has since been fourth in the River Memories at Belmont Park.

Sky Full of Stars has made two U.S. starts this year, finishing fifth in six-horse fields in both the River Memories and Grade 3 Waya.

Clement has secured the services of Monmouth’s leading rider Nik Juarez on Homeland Security. Paco Lopez, who is second in the standings, is on Sky Full of Stars.

Nonsensical, who is 1 for 6, will be stretching out from 1 1/8 miles and switching back to turf. Joe Bravo rides.