Monmouth: Salvator Mile stern test for Lucy's Bob Boy

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Lucy’s Bob Boy steps outside his comfort zone for the first time on Saturday in the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park.

The Salvator is the supporting event on the 12-race card, topped by the Grade 1 United Nations.

Lucy’s Bob Boy will be making his first start away from Charles Town, where he is a local legend. A 4-year-old gelding, Lucy’s Bob Boy has chalked up a remarkable record at the home track: 13 wins from 16 starts with 3 seconds.

Granted, many of those wins came against statebreds. But any horse who wins 11 of his last 12 commands respect.

Lucy’s Bob Boy is the unknown quantity in his graded stakes debut against seven rivals.

Trainer Sandra Dono and owner Michael Furr figured it was time for the homebred Lucy’s Bob Boy to spread his wings and try a different stage. A mile around two turns looked like the spot.

“We love running him at Charles Town,” Dono said from West Virginia. “Everyone has been great here and he’s run so well here. The owners would just like to try him against other horses in a graded stakes to see what they have.”

And he will have a big rooting section, both at Monmouth and back home in West Virginia.

“There are a lot of people who follow him and have been asking when he’ll run out of town,” Dono said. “There’ll be a lot of excitement Saturday. I’m sure most of the racetrack at Charles Town will be watching.”

[MONMOUTH PARK: Get PPs, watch Saturday's card live]

He had one workout here, a six furlong breeze in 1:11.20 on June 10. Lucy’s Bob Boy returned to Charles Town after the get-acquainted-with-the-track drill.

“It was just a little road trip,” Dono said. “It was his first time shipping that far away.”

Regular rider Gustavo Larrosa will be aboard.

This will be an interesting challenge for Lucy’s Bob Boy against a solid lineup.

Csaba, winner of two Grade 3 stakes over the winter, ships up from Florida for trainer Phil Gleaves. Joe Bravo picks up the mount.

Bowman’s Beast is another horse leaving home for the first time. He has won four straight, all at Parx Racing for trainer Cal Lynch.

Discreet Dancer looks to regroup after a last-place finish in the Grade 1 Met Mile for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Prior to that, Discreet Dancer won the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap and ran third in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.