Noisy Feet cuts back for sprint

There are no stakes scheduled Friday at Monmouth Park, but there's plenty of sizzle on the 11-race card, including three optional claimers on the main track with combined purse values of nearly $250,000.

The third race, a third-level $62,500 optional claimer for fillies and mares, carries a purse of $84,000. The six-furlong sprint drew seven entrants, including Noisy Feet, the only runner in the field with a win at Monmouth. Noisy Feet won three races here last summer, including a pair of allowances. This will be her first start since she tired to finish fifth in an April turf route, and trainer Tim Hills is eager to get her back to doing what she does best -- sprinting.

"That two-turn race last time was an experiment," said Hills, who tabbed Joe Bravo to ride Noisy Feet. "She handles the turf, but she's wired for sound -- she's bred to stretch out, but mentally she's a sprinter."

Miss McCall, with Garrett Gomez up, is Noisy Feet's main threat on the lead, while French Dip, who comes off a win in the Hilbys Brite Flite Stakes, is another top contender.

The seventh and the 10th races are second-level $40,000 optional claimers, both worth $82,000 and will be run at one mile and 70 yards. The seventh, for fillies and mares, doesn't boast a lot of pace and that should work to the benefit of Debonair Darling, who makes her first start in nearly a year.

"She came into her own for us last year, but after she won the one-other-than allowance we found that she had a chip in her ankle," trainer Greg Sacco said. "So we gave her plenty of time, and now she's back and training well for her return. She's doing everything right."

Carlos Marquez Jr., who was aboard for that allowance win last year, rides Debonair Darling. Her main foe could be New York shipper Classofsixtythree, who picks up John Velazquez.

In the 10th, Rikman, a three-time winner at Monmouth Park, looms tough. Rikman lacks tactical speed, and that could mean top contenders Brady Baby and Chef will get the jump on him, but jockey Stewart Elliott knows how to time his run and has scored in his last three races when paired with Rikman.

First race post time is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.