Monmouth Park: Gilded Time Stakes draws plenty of contenders

OCEANPORT, N.J. – The $65,000 Gilded Time Stakes for 3-year-old grass sprinters is a very contentious supporting feature Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Five of the eight runners in the 5 1/2-furlong race posted wins last time out. Three horses – Freud’s Honor, Royal Currier, and Tiger Cat Lilly – have already scored stakes wins at the meet.

This dash is loaded with live contenders.

Freud’s Honor missed by a neck last month going one mile in the New York Stallion Stakes at Saratoga. The colt, trained by Greg Sacco, won Monmouth’s Choice Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Independence Day.

Sacco was planning to run last weekend in the Restoration Stakes, also at 1 1/8 miles. The race did not fill, leaving the Gilded Time as one of the few options remaining at this meet.

“The Restoration was the first choice,” Sacco said. “I don’t really like to cut a horse back after stretching him out so successfully. He’s thriving right now, and it looks like we’ll give it a whirl.”

It’s a whirl into a tough spot for Freud’s Honor, who was a rallying third behind Royal Currier earlier in the meet in the 5 1/2-furlong Anderson Fowler Stakes.

“It’s very competitive against crack sprinters,” Sacco said. “It looks like there is some pace to run with Royal Currier, which could set up for a closer. That would be right up Freud’s Honor’s alley.”

The Anderson Fowler was the second victory this season for Royal Currier, and it came in his grass debut. From there, Royal Currier headed up to Saratoga to finish last in the Quick Call Stakes. He then returned to the main track to run third in Monmouth’s Select Stakes.

Royal Currier has won five times since trainer Patricia Farro claimed him for $20,000 last September.

Tiger Cat Lilly is a filly tackling the boys. She has won three in a row for Maryland-based trainer Michael Pino, including Monmouth’s Crank It Up Stakes last time out.

Deputy Fling won a statebred stakes most recently at Colonial Downs, while Moonbie, Elidefeatspeyton, and Christiesborntorun were allowance winners last time out.

Dr Disco completes the field.

Junior Champion draws 3 winners

The $65,000 Junior Champion for 2-year-old turf fillies lands in this spot after being washed out last weekend by Hurricane Irene.

The one-mile race attracted 10, including Long Face and Tizfirst who will debut in the stakes.

Only three own wins: Tippy Toes, Luna Storm, and Slip Along Band.

Tippy Toes won her second of three starts for trainer Todd Pletcher at Churchill Downs. She then stepped up to run fifth in the Grade 3 Debutante in late June. This will be her first start since that race.

Luna Storm won last time out for trainer Patrick Marrotta, her first effort around two turns.

Slip Along Band was a debut winner at five furlongs on the synthetic track at Presque Isle Downs.

Morethanvictorious, Mystic Mama, Idle Dice, Golden Rock, and Marquet Heiress complete the field.