Longer distance to Dr Post's liking as he takes Monmouth Cup
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Dr Post benefited from sizzling fractions, the addition of blinkers, and the stretch back out to nine furlongs when he rallied from off the pace to grab Saturday's Grade 3, $300,000 Monmouth Cup, one of the featured races on the Haskell undercard at Monmouth Park.
As rail-breaking Bal Harbour and Justinthenickoftime rattled off splits of 23.11, 46.97 and 1:10.34, Dr Post settled into a rhythmic beat near the tail end of the field.
Entering the second turn, millionaire Bankit commenced a four-wide sweep to take over from the tiring leaders. Bankit held the lead at the three-sixteenths pole, but Dr Post and jockey Joel Rosario rode his cover and tipped outside Bankit with a furlong remaining.
Dr Post then wore Bankit down while fending off Night Ops' late surge. Dr Post completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.53 while 1 1/4 lengths better than Night Ops. Dr Post got a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to Bankit in third. Favored Ny Traffic, Bal Harbour, and Justinthenickoftime completed the order of finish. American Dubai scratched. Dr Post paid $7.20 as the second betting choice.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Vincent Viola's St Elias Stable, Dr Post had a successful 3-year-old season in 2020. The Quality Road colt finished second in the Belmont Stakes and third in the Haskell before going to the sidelines following a fourth-place finish as the favorite in Saratoga's Jim Dandy.
Pletcher believes the time off helped Dr Post. "He's a horse that we always thought highly of, even as a young horse. It took a little while to put everything together. He had a couple of gaps where we had to give him a little bit of time off, but he's one we've always felt like had the potential to step up."
Dr Post won his seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Westchester before finishing fifth of six in the Metropolitan Handicap. Pletcher added blinkers for the Monmouth Cup.
"We had contemplated putting blinkers on him for a little while," Pletcher said. "He ran so well in the Westchester off the layoff that we didn't, but we worked him in it and thought it made a difference and I think it made a difference today."
Pletcher also credited the stretch-out to nine furlongs for the win. "He had a tricky trip in the Met, so it was kind of a 'draw a line through it' kind of race. I do think the 1 1/8 miles, he appreciates it and will probably run a little farther than that."
Night Ops continued his string of good races for trainer Brad Cox. The 6-year-old son of Warrior's Reward has hit the board in all five starts this year, all in stakes or graded events.
"Great trip," Night Ops' jockey Florent Geroux said. "I was right behind the winner. I decided to tip in when he tipped out. I saved a lot of ground, especially in the first turn and I honesty thought I was the winner, but the winner kept on going and I couldn't get by him."
Ny Traffic, beaten a nose in last year's Haskell, tracked the leaders from third before coming up empty. He was keyed up in the paddock and saddled on the walk by trainer Saffie Joseph.
"He acted up in the barn area before he came over," Joseph said. "He got a good enough trip, but he didn't behave too good back in the barn, so I think you got to cross it out."
Pletcher mentioned two Breeders' Cup Challenge races at 1 1/4 miles, the Grade 1, $750,000 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 23, and the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga on Sept. 4 as possible next starts for Dr Post.