Monmouth Park: Tune Me In pulls a shocker in Oceanport Stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Tune Me In, the longest price in the race, pulled off a 25-1 upset in the Grade 3, $152,500 Oceanport Stakes on the turf Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Bruce Alexander, Tune Me In got his first stakes victory by taking the race right to Get Serious, a two-time Oceanport winner and the 2-1 second choice.

In his usual fashion, Get Serious went right to the front, only to find the gray Tune Me In his constant companion.

The pace was painfully slow, 25.85 seconds and 50.12 as they raced as a team.

“I knew no one wanted to go with Get Serious, so we did,” Alexander said. “The whole race was won when they went in 25 and 50.”

They were still inseparable throughout the stretch run, with Tune Me In finally gaining a narrow advantage in the final sixteenth of a mile on his way to a half-length win. Queen’splatekitten, the 13-10 favorite, rallied up the rail to edge Get Serious by a neck for the place spot.

The victory snapped a six-race losing streak dating back to a second-level allowance race here last September. Tune Me In was seventh in his prior effort in a Belmont allowance race.

The time was 1:43.39 for the 1 1/16 miles on the course rated firm. Tune Me In, a 5-year-old gelding ridden by Paco Lopez, paid $53.60 to win.

Admiral Perry was fourth, followed by Magnifi Cat, Roman Tiger, and Crepuscolo.