Ocean Drive rallies in Eatontown

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Ocean Drive blew past the pacesetting Honorable Cat to win the Grade 3, $100,000 by 2 3/4 lengths Saturday afternoon at Monmouth Park.

Honorable Cat, with Eddie King aboard, almost stole the handicap for fillies and mares by setting a very slow pace over the firm turf course.

Ocean Drive ($4.40), kept under restraint by Eibar Coa in prime stalking position, surged past Honorable Cat in the final furlong.

"I knew I had the best horse in the race," said Coa. "That's the way I rode her today. I decided to sit just behind the leader the whole way. When we got to the three-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse."

Ocean Drive, the most experienced stakes filly in the field, has two wins and two seconds in her last four outings - all Grade 3's.

She carried top weight of 120 pounds to her seventh career victory, and is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Ocean Drive ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.79.

Honorable Cat, the longest shot in the race at 27-1, held on for second. Fast Cookie was third.

High Court, winner of the Fort Monmouth Stakes on the opening weekend, never kicked in. She ran fourth as the 8-5 second choice.

* War Trace swooped past the rest of the field to take the $60,000 Choice Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Trained by Jim Toner, War Trace ($7.80) scored his first stakes victory and third win in seven career starts.

Speed has been effective on Monmouth's very firm course, but War Trace beat the bias to get the win.

"I know speed is good here on the turf," said jockey Chris DeCarlo. "But a good horse can overcome anything."

War Trace stopped the clock in 1:40.27.

Mosman Bay saved ground most of the way before shifting off the rail for a late run to get second. Grand Heritage, the 2.40-1 favorite, was third.

Frisky Spider, the Restoration Stakes winner, set a quick pace before fading to fourth.