Park Avenue Ball zips bullet work

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Park Avenue Ball had his final work for Sunday's Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on Tuesday, working a bullet five furlongs in company with a stablemate at Monmouth Park.

Park Avenue Ball was timed in 1:00 over a fast track. He worked with Bad Rep, a 3-year-old allowance runner. Both horses are trained by Jim Ryerson.

Park Avenue Ball "went a minute and out in 1:13," said Ryerson. "He'll gallop up to the race now. He's ready for Sunday."

Other runners considered definite for the Haskell are expected favorite Roman Ruler and Joey P., a New Jersey-bred who is 5 for 6 lifetime. Among the possibles are Indy Storm, Chekhov, and Papi Chullo. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. is weighing his options with Golden Man, who finished third behind Park Avenue Ball in the Grade 3 Long Branch Breeders' Cup on July 16.

'Phoenix' on surface he's bred for

Trainer Jason Servis said the "jury is still out" regarding Rises the Phoenix's ability on the turf.

The 4-year-old colt gets another chance on grass in Thursday's feature, a $41,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles at Monmouth Park.

Rises the Phoenix has had three races on the turf, and two were encouraging enough to hold out the prospect of success.

He was a rallying third at The Meadowlands Racetrack last fall. He then pressed the pace in June in his season debut at Monmouth and held well for fourth behind Network, who is on a three-race win streak.

Rises the Phoenix, a New York-bred, has been solid on the dirt. He is 3 for 7 on the main track and lost by only a head last time out in an off-the-turf effort in the slop at Monmouth.

Rises the Phoenix put a streak together over Aqueduct's inner track in the winter and spring. He reeled off three straight wins in statebred company.

"He's been a good horse for these guys, who bred him for the turf," Servis said of owners Bruce Grossman and Keith Dickstein.

While Rises the Phoenix normally races on or close to the pace, Lightning Power is a stone-cold closer, trained by Colin Sherwood.

There is no doubt Lightning Power likes the turf, with his 2-1-0 record in three grass races.

He ran out of course last time, closing from 10th to lose by 2 3/4 lengths at a mile. Lightning Power gets an additional sixteenth of a mile in this spot, which could provide a substantial advantage for his rallying style.

Meanwhile, Peace Emblem should appreciate a return to grass. He was third in Rises the Phoenix's last outing in the slop. Peace Emblem got off to an awkward, jostled start and was never a major threat.

His previous race was a turf win at Monmouth for Richard Dutrow.

The English-bred Hatch is an unknown quantity, making his second U.S. start. The 4-year-old had a 2-3-2 record in 14 European starts before making a trouble-filled American debut last November at Calder for trainer Phil Oliver.