Meru shows he's the real deal in Smoke Glakcen

Meru backed up his impressive debut performance with a sharp stakes victory Saturday at Monmouth Park, where he won the $75,000 Smoke Glacken by 3 1/4 lengths over As Seen On Tv. It was another length and a half back in third to All Eyes West.

The Smoke Glacken was a six-furlong race for 2-year-olds.

Meru ($3.20) was a 6 1/4-length winner of a maiden special weight July 13 at Monmouth and the Beyer Speed Figure of 81 that he earned was the best career number in the Smoke Glacken. He broke well, and proceeded to take the field through fractions of 22.20 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.91 for the half-mile. As Seen On Tv tracked the leader three wide and made a run at him in the stretch, but Meru had more and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in a quick 1:08.93.

“He was impressive again,” trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. said. “Our hopes are high.”

Jevian Toledo was aboard Saturday and for the horse’s other start in July.

“He’s more mature,” he said on the simulcast. “Today he was more focused.”

Meru is a son of Sky Mesa. He was a $300,000 purchase in April at an auction put on by the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company. He races for Colts Neck Stables.

Duarte said plans are to be determined for Meru. The horse, who is now 2 for 2, has earnings of $72,000.

Newstome was scratched from the Smoke Glacken.