Mommouth: Rideouts Patton shortens up

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Jockey Jose Velez Jr. kept Rideouts Patton right behind a hot pace, and then guided the 4-year-old gelding three wide in the stretch to wear down Rudirudy for a length-win in the $50,000 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Rideouts Patton ($9.80) covered the five furlongs on firm turf in 56.04 seconds before a crowd of 11,935. Rudirudy was part of the early pace and held on gamely for second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the late-running Red Weasel. Manofglory, the 8-5 favorite, tired from the quick pace and finished fourth.

Rideouts Patton stretched out to routes on the turf at Gulfstream last winter, but could not achieve success similar to his turf sprints last year at Monmouth. He had not won in four starts dating back to a victory in the $50,000 Anderson Fowler Stakes last year. Rideouts Patton is now 2-1-0 in three starts at Monmouth.

"He had a tough time down in Florida. We freshened him up for this race and he has been training really well," trainer Tim Hills said. "We'll take it one race at a time with him, but I think he'll stretch out to a mile."