Monmouth Park: Immortal Eyes wires Mr. Prospector Stakes

Immortal Eyes led every step of the way in the $76,500 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday, drawing off down the stretch for a 7 1/4-length victory under jockey Paco Lopez.

Immortal Eyes, trained by Damon Dilodovico, had made his Monmouth Park debut June 22, wiring a $50,000 optional claimer by 2 3/4 lengths. He proved impossible to catch again Sunday, leading the field of six through a quarter-mile in 21.98 seconds and a half-mile in 44.89 while building a one-length advantage.

The 8-year-old Greatness gelding increased his lead to three lengths at the top of the stretch and spurted away from his rivals, stopping the clock for six furlongs on a fast track in 1:09.42. He paid $7.60 as the third choice.

“Last time, I really didn’t ask him at all,” Lopez said. “He’s got so much speed. I knew there was a horse to my inside [Royal Currier], but my horse was just cruising out there. At the quarter pole, I asked him a little bit, and he opened up on his own.”

Mass Destruction rallied to take second, a neck ahead of Diski Dance in third. Royal Currier, the 3-2 favorite, faded to last after chasing the early pace. Royal Currier was making his first start since a pair of runner-up finishes in stakes at Aqueduct over the winter.

Immortal Eyes has won 15 of his 44 career starts and earned $805,051. He’s a 10-time stakes winner, with most of those scores coming at Charles Town and Mountaineer Park for owner Robert Abbo Racing Stable.