Mr. Jordan, Just Call Kenny contenders in Phillip Iselin
Mr. Jordan and Just Call Kenny have both shown an affinity for Monmouth Park, and they are drawn next to each other on the inside in a field of five entered for Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Phillip H. Iselin Stakes. The Iselin is for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles.
Mr. Jordan, coming off a five-length allowance victory at Parx Racing, has missed the board only once in six starts at Monmouth. He owns a victory in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes there in 2015 and three other graded stakes placings at the track, including a runner-up effort in the 2016 edition of the Iselin. Frankie Pennington gets the call on Mr. Jordan, who with his tactical speed is ideally drawn on the rail for trainer Eddie Plesa.
Just Call Kenny, drawn next door in post 2 under Eddie Castro, comes off back-to-back graded stakes placings at Monmouth. He finished second in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and then third in the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup behind Sharp Azteca’s win in track-record time for 1 1/16 miles.
Eagle, in from Kentucky for trainer Neil Howard with jockey James Graham booked to ride, closed to win the Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes last time out at Indiana Grand. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97, the top last-out number in the field.
Giving Mr. Jordan company toward the front end could be Conquest Big E. The colt has won his past two starts in front-running fashion, including the Coast Is Clear Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Discreet Lover, fifth in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes last time out at Saratoga, completes the lineup.