Longshot Just Le Facts wires Red Bank

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Just Le Facts, the longest shot on the board in a four-horse field, held off heavy favorite Saint Verre to win the off-the-turf, Grade 3 Red Bank Handicap on opening day Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Just Le Facts, who paid $18.40 in his first stakes win, led from gate to wire in the one-mile, $100,000 race and opened up in the stretch before holding off hard-charging Saint Verre and Runspastum. Ridden by Joe Bravo, Just Le Facts fought off challenges from Saint Verre on the backstretch and far turn and prevailed by a neck in 1:37.73. Runspastum was three-quarters of a length back in third.

"I knew this horse was fresh and sharp, and I told Joe he's liable to drag you to the lead," said Dennis Manning, trainer of Just Le Facts. "I said if he does, then just go on with him."

Saint Verre, the 1-5 favorite, was driven wide by Just Le Facts going into the first turn, then went wide on his own coming into the stretch. A 5-year-old multiple stakes winner, Saint Verre was coming off an 8 1/2-length romp in the Fort Marcy Handicap at Aqueduct on April 26.

Just Le Facts came into the Red Bank off a nine-month layoff. The victory runs his career record to three wins in seven starts.

The Red Bank drew 15 horses, but constant rain since Wednesday washed off all the turf races Saturday and led to 11 scratches in the race. Sunday's and Monday's races also were taken off the turf.

* Earlier in the card, Buzzy's Gold drew off in the stretch to win the five-furlong, $50,000 Gilded Time Stakes by 2 3/4 lengths in 57.11. Buzzy's Gold, ridden by Joe Bravo and trained by Linda Rice, was the third choice in the five-horse race. The race was taken off the turf.

* Attendance on opening day was 12,367, Monmouth officials said.