Miesque's Approval: Three straight

Miesque's Approval continued his march towards a potential berth in the Breeders' Cup Mile with a game half-length victory over Hotstufanthensome in Saturday's Grade 3, $150,000 at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Miesque's Approval, a 7-year-old homebred owned by Live Oak Plantation, posted his third straight win and fourth in five starts this season. Trained by Marty Wolfson, Miesque's Approval was coming off victories in the Maker's Mark Mile and Firecracker Breeders' Cup, both Grade 2.

With regular rider Eddie Castro aboard, Miesque's Approval was unhurried early while racing off the early pace contested by Tune of the Spirit and Indy Wind. Hotstufanthensome was first to challenge the leaders, gaining a short advantage once settling into the stretch. Miesque's Approval advanced strongly while kept wide around the second turn, engaged Hotstufanthensome nearing the eighth pole, forged to a short lead a sixteenth of a mile out, then maintained his advantage to the wire. Senor Swinger rallied belatedly to finish third, 2 3/4 lengths behind Hotstufanthensome.

Miesque's Approval ran a mile in 1:33.36 seconds over a firm course and paid $4.20.

"He ran powerful today," said Wolfson, who watched the race from south Florida. "I think he took Eddie up into the race closer than usual because he was so fresh. I felt good about that because he was doing it real easy. He digs in real strong when challenged, and it was a good win, because that other horse [Hotstufanthensome] is very tough over that turf course."

Wolfson said his next objective for Miesque's Approval will be the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland on Oct 7.

"This is one step," said Wolfson. "If he runs well in the Shadwell, chances are we'll go on to the Breeders' Cup."

Bob Harding: Revved Up rebounds

Live Oak and Castro were also successful earlier in the day with Revved Up, who bounced back from an uncharacteristically dull showing in Woodbine's Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf to run down Jungle Fighter in the final strides to win the $65,000 Bob Harding Stakes.

An 8-year-old gelding trained by Christophe Clement, Revved Up ran 1 3/8 miles in 2:12.80 and paid $3.80.

* Spanish Lullaby ($7.40) outfinished the 2-1 favorite, Lucky Valentine, to win the $60,000 Thomas J. Malley Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf. Spanish Lullaby was ridden by C.C. Lopez for trainer Justin Nixon.