Mia's Crusade surges in Eleven North; Speaking runs away with New Jersey Breeders Handicap

Mia’s Crusade won the Eleven North Handicap as a surprising odds-on favorite while Speaking captured the New Jersey Breeders Handicap like he should’ve been an odds-on favorite during a day of New Jersey-bred racing Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Speaking ran his competition right off their feet in the $106,000 New Jersey Breeders, setting breakneck splits of 21.85 and 44.84 that wilted the horses chasing him. Speaking was well clear into the homestretch, had a four-length lead at the stretch call, and prevailed by five lengths as the 123-pound highweight. Pogi and No Cents, who raced from midpack, finished second and third, respectively.

Speaking looked like he should be a defined favorite Sunday, but paid $7.40 as the third choice. Jairo Rendon rode the winner, who clocked 1:10.86 going six furlongs on a fast track, for trainer Eddie Owens. A 4-year-old son of Mr Speaker and High Noon Nellie, by Silver Deputy, Speaking is a Holly Crest Farms homebred.

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Mia’s Crusade was a reasonable 7-2 on the morning line for the $106,000 Eleven North, sister race to the New Jersey Breeders, but went off at 4-5 and made all the win money look smart. Stalking a 45.69 half-mile split under Jomar Torres, Mia’s Crusade swept to the lead in upper stretch and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Beach Daze. Beach Daze, the starting highweight, carried 122 pounds, one more than Mia’s Crusade, and was 1 1/4-lengths better than third-place Roselba.

Mia’s Crusade ran faster than Speaking, going 1:10.76, and paid $3.60. By Greenpointcrusader out of Mino Moneigh, by Mo Mon, Mia’s Crusade is trained by Chuck Spina, who owns the filly in partnership with Joseph Ioia and Gayle Ioia.

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