Monmouth Park: Perkins horses key to Mr. Prospector

Benny Perkins Jr. won the Jersey Shore Stakes here Thursday with his unbeaten 3-year-old sprinter Rainbow Heir.

Perkins entered Well Spelled and The Hunk, two of his veteran sprint stars, in the $75,000 Mr Prospector, the supporting feature Sunday.

Both are coming off lengthy layoffs, and Perkins was planning on running only one. He was sitting squarely on the fence when it came to making a decision.

Well Spelled has been on the sidelines since winning the Gallant Bob at Parx Racing last September. The Hunk, front-running winner of the John J. Reilly Handicap for New Jersey-breds last season, has not raced since late October.

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Royal Currier, now trained by Linda Rice, makes his first start since a second-place finish in an overnight stakes at Aqueduct in January.

He is 3-2-1 in 6 races at Monmouth, including a victory in last year’s Mr Prospector.

J J’s Lucky Train, the 2011 Grade 3 Bay Shore winner, was claimed here for $60,000 last August. He’s been on the bench ever since. This will be his first outing for new trainer John Servis.

Reload, a winner of two of his last three, ships down from Belmont Park for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.