Monmouth Park: Plesa has live ones in co-features

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. holds strong hands in the $44,000 second-level co-features for filly and mare sprinters on Friday at Monmouth Park.

Plesa sends out Angel Dreams in the main track contest at six furlongs with an optional claiming price for $32,000. One race later, Plesa has Slew’s Exchange in the five-furlong turf dash, an optional event for $40,000 claimers.

Angel Dreams finally broke through for her first Monmouth win on opening day, getting up by a nose in a first-level allowance contest. A 4-year-old, Angel Dreams had run here six times previously on dirt and always hit the board, with three seconds and a trio of thirds.

This is the next logical step following the victory. Gabriel Saez will again be aboard.

Her major competition is Finders Key, a Darley Stable homebred who rolled to a convincing first-level allowance win last month at Delaware Park as the 3-5 favorite.

“She was always consistent here in New York with a lot of seconds and thirds,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “We shipped her to Delaware, where we could be a little bit more competitive. She certainly had a breakthrough race last time out. The race at Monmouth was coming up kind of light and it was a similar spot. We’re hoping to get a repeat performance out of her. Hopefully, later on, we’ll try to get some black type.”

Angel Serpa has the return call on Finders Key.

In the grass co-feature, Slew’s Exchange got on roll here last September, missing by a head in a similar spot.

The 4-year-old retained that form over the winter in Florida, hitting the board three straight times before scoring a win in her latest effort at Gulfstream Park.

Elvis Trujillo will ride from post No. 7 in the eight-horse field.

Andrew Mitchell, off to a fast start in his first season at Monmouth, already has 5 wins from 22 starters. He saddles an uncoupled duo of The Rahy Angel and Susies Gal.

Diamond d’Oro was third in the race won by Slew’s Exchange.

The team of trainer Christophe Clement and jockey Joe Bravo always command respect in a Monmouth grass race. They have It’s Saturday Night, a consistent 4-year-old who ran fourth in her debut and has hit the board in her next seven starts. This will be her Monmouth debut.

Wild Rainbow and Revenue are the only runners with wins over the course.