Parx shippers upset in two Monmouth turf sprints

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Harlan’s Honor and Joya Real, both based at Parx Racing, pulled upsets Sunday in the distaff turf sprint stakes at Monmouth Park.

Harlan’s Honor paid $17.80 for her pacesetting victory in the $61,200 Colleen for 2-year-olds.

After dueling with Flamingo Dancer and pulling clear on the turn, Harlan’s Honor rolled to a four-length victory over Perpetual Novena, the 2-1 favorite.
It was the second win in three starts for the filly trained by Cathal Lynch and her first race on grass.

“We have been thinking turf all along with her, being by Harlan’s Holiday,” Lynch said. “She’s been working really well, and we thought she’d run well today. I didn’t really expect her to be on the lead, but she’s quick.”

The time was 56.03 seconds for the five furlongs.

The win capped a long and productive day for Frankie Pennington. He won the first at Parx, where he is the leading jockey, and rode in the third race before driving to Monmouth for the Colleen.

Joya Real paid $13.20 for her one-length win over Allaboutcaroline in the $58,800 Fort Monmouth. A 5-year-old trained by Kate Demasi, Joya Real won for the fourth time in her last five races. This was her stakes debut.

Sixth in the early stages, Joya Real made an inside run on the turn before angling outside with Kendrick Carmouche aboard.

“After her last race at Parx, we figured it was time to take a chance at some black type,” Demasi said. “I was confident about mid-stretch. When she started making her run, I knew we’d get a piece. It was just a matter of how big a piece.”

While Joya Real launched her bid, Ju Ju Eyeballs was starting to fade. The 7-10 favorite dueled World Gone Wright for the lead before running last in the seven-horse field.

The time was 1:01.68 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.