Monmouth: Glass Art looks to continue Sacco's early success in turf feature

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Glass Art is another runner trainer Greg Sacco hopes will turn a disappointing winter for the stable into a productive summer at Monmouth Park.

A 5-year-old gelding, Glass Art makes his season debut Friday in the $44,000 feature, a second-level optional $32,000 claimer on the turf at 1 1/16 miles.

This is the first Friday card of the meet as Monmouth shifts to a Friday through Sunday schedule from now until the Labor Day weekend. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.

Glass Art was a perfect 2 for 2 here last summer after a freshening. Some patterns do repeat.

“He’s a horse that has a lot of physical issues,” Sacco said. “When he’s right, he really runs hard for us and then we have to put him on the sidelines. He requires a lot of work and I have a lot of respect for our crew who work with him. He’s coming into the race in good order.”

Of the nine runners in the field, seven – including Glass Art – are in for the $32,000 tag.

Andrew Mitchell sends out an uncoupled duo of Learn, an Irish-bred making his U.S. debut, and Midnite Silver, who captured his last two races, both at Gulfstream Park.

Completing the field are Rustler Hustler, Mister Pippit, Livingston Street, Charlemagne Wood, Lots of Love Mom, and Julius Geezer.

Sacco has been firing early and often to start the meet, and has frequently hit the target. He has already sent out 22 starters, only one behind Jane Cibelli, the training champion here the last two years. Sacco’s four wins are only one off the pace set by Ramon Moya, the current leader.

Sacco made Monmouth a priority after a tough winter when nothing seemed to work out. He split the barn into three camps. One group, including Glass Art, spent the season at the Red Oak Stable’s farm in Ocala, Fla.

Sacco took a division to Aqueduct, where many of his productive runners were claimed away. The remaining horses at Gulfstream Park were hard hit by the injury bug.

“It took the wind out of our sails,” Sacco said. “We took a step back and geared up for Monmouth, which is our main meet. It wasn’t by design but things just didn’t materialize for us this winter. Everything has, knock on wood, come together for us here at Monmouth.”