Love Appeals' steady rally pays off in Incredible Revenge Stakes

Something about the Jersey Shore appeals to Love Appeals. The New York-based mare in 2023 just missed landing a Monmouth Park turf-sprint stakes, won two races last summer over the Monmouth grass course, and on Sunday scored a one-length repeat victory in the $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes.

Stalking the pace from third under Samy Camacho, Love Appeals commenced a steady rally at about the three-sixteenths pole, hit the front while about four paths off the rail at the sixteenth pole, and had plenty in the tank to hold clear a final wide move from favored Great Venezuela.

Great Venezuela had three-quarters of a length on third-place Drifaros, with second choice Quiet Confidence last of five after five horses in the field’s main body were scratched. The winner ran 5 1/2 furlongs over a firm course in 1:02.62 and paid a generous $8.80.

:: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now.

Love Appeals had run below her best form when last seen May 4, finishing fourth in the License Fee at Aqueduct. The 5-year-old mare remained in steady training and was set to race well before Sunday’s contest, but was unable to do so, trainer Miguel Clement said, because of New York quarantines imposed to contain the spread of the equine bacterial infection known as strangles.

A homebred who races for Moyglare Stud Farm, Love Appeals is by Speightstown out of Gioia Stella, by Medaglia d’Oro. Clement took over her training when his father, Christophe Clement, died in early July.

“I might have lost my voice trying to get her home,” Clement told Monmouth publicity. “This is a very rewarding win for many reasons, foremost being that Moyglare Stud Farm was one of my dad’s most prominent owners for many years. They’re very loyal and great supporters and ambassadors for the sport. So, it’s quite meaningful.”

The lone disappointment: There are no more open filly-and-mare turf sprint stakes in New Jersey this year.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.