Name Changer outlasts Zanotti in Monmouth Cup

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Name Changer made only two starts during 2017, but got off to a fast start at 5 by winning optional-claiming races at Parx Racing and Delaware Park. In his last start, the Carl Hanford Memorial at Delaware, he was in a contending position in upper stretch but flattened out to finish third.

Trainer Alan Goldberg was surprised by Name Changer’s last race and decided to bring him back on 15 days’ rest in the Grade 3, $150,000 Monmouth Cup on Sunday.

“I don’t know what happened in his last race, He ran into too fast of fractions early, but it was a real clinker,” Goldberg said. “He came back fine and it was kind of a head-scratcher, so we said let’s bring him back and try it.”

Phat Man set the pace on a short lead inside Remembering Rita through realistic fractions of 23.48 and 47.86. Nearing the stretch, Name Changer moved up from third to challenge three wide and Zanotti bid four wide.

Name Changer and Zanotti battled through the stretch with Name Changer proving a half-length the best under Jose Ortiz.

Name Changer paid $10.40. He was timed for the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.56.

“This horse has been breaking better than he has in the past,” Goldberg said of Name Changer, a son of Uncle Mo who improved his record to 7 for 15.

Zanotti, who has now finished second in five of his last six starts, was clearly second-best. It was five lengths back to Page McKenney in third.

Remembering Rita tired to finish fourth. Phat trailed in the six-horse field.