Noisy Feet gets test in sprint
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Tim Hills contemplated jumping Noisy Feet to a stakes after she won her season debut. However, the trainer decided that 3-year-old filly, now 2 for 3, would benefit from more seasoning. Noisy Feet will add to her experience Wednesday in a six-furlong second-level optional $32,000 claimer for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.
She drew the rail against five rivals, two of which have extensive stakes experience. That makes this a good test for Noisy Feet, who is from the first crop of Tapit.
In her first race of the year, Noisy Feet beat a first-level allowance field here June 14, earning a 76 Beyer Speed Figure. She followed up with two breezes, including a bullet five-furlong work in 1:00.40 on July 4.
"I think she's a really good horse," Hills said. "Her numbers weren't real good in her first race back, but she breezed well the other day. I'm really excited about her."
The inside post is always a concern in a sprint, but Noisy Feet overcame it to win last time with Elvis Trujillo aboard.
"It makes you change your tactics a little bit," Hills said. "I'm just going to have Elvis ride her with confidence and see how it plays. She had a bit of a slow start last time, and we've done some work on her. I think she'll break better this time."
Hills is a fan of up-and-coming sire Tapit, snaring Noisy Feet for $55,000 as a yearling.
"We were in on the ground floor of the Tapits," Hills said. "We always look for first-year studs, and I bought two of them. I had several owners breed to him after that first crop."
Sumptuous and Exe both drop from stakes races into this spot.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Sumptuous makes her season debut. The 4-year-old was a close second here last year in the Just Smashing Stakes. Chris DeCarlo will be aboard.
Exe has been running long on the grass for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. Last time out, Exe was sixth here in the Little Silver Stakes at one mile. Chuckie Lopez will ride.
* Mary's Follies, winner of the Grade 3 Boiling Springs Stakes here on June 27, has been sold by James Dinan, BDL Stables, and Phantom House Farms to Paul Pompa Jr. for an undisclosed amount. The 3-year-old filly was transferred from the John Forbes barn to Rick Dutrow.