Perilous Pursuit aiming high

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Grade 3, $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes is the main attraction on the Independence Day card at Monmouth Park. The 1 1/16-mile Boiling Springs, on the turf, drew nine 3-year-old fillies, each in search of her first graded stakes victory.

Perilous Pursuit could be ready to take that step. She has won two straight starts, including the Late Bloomer Stakes at Belmont Park.

"She's doing very well so we're going to take a chance," said trainer Sal Russo.

Russo considered other stakes options for Perilous Pursuit, including some in California, but decided to stay close to home base.

"She's a very feminine filly, all girl," Russo said. "She's lightly raced, so we decided we didn't want to ship too far."

Perilous Pursuit is 3 for 5 lifetime.

Three is also a key number for Quite a Bride, who is unbeaten in a trio of races since trainer Bill Mott switched her to the turf.

Quite a Bride most recently won the Trenton Stakes at The Meadowlands in her stakes debut.

Trainer Todd Pletcher entered three: Ebony Rose, Mama Nadine, and Somethinaboutbetty.

Both Ebony Rose and Somethinaboutbetty were also entered in Monday's Castle Royale Stakes at Belmont. Mama Nadine will run only if the race is moved to the main track.

Stadore found herself in a main-track switch last time and clearly did not enjoy the experience. Stadore was beaten 30 1/4 lengths in the slop in the off-the-turf Sands Point Stakes at Belmont.

Her turf form makes her a contender. Stadore got up to win a money-allowance race on May 4 at Churchill Downs in her U.S. debut. She is trained by Patrick Biancone.

Last year in France, Stadore had 3 wins and 3 seconds in 6 starts at turf distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to one mile and 40 yards.

Completing the field are No Reason, For Kisses, Stolen Prayer, and Robyns Anthem.

Monmouth offers two supporting stakes Tuesday for fillies and mares going six furlongs: the $65,000 Candy Eclair and the $60,000 Goldfinch Handicap for New Jersey breds.

The Candy Eclair was originally scheduled for Sunday but failed to fill. The shift to Tuesday produced a six-horse field, including Spirited Game, second last time out in the Skipat Stakes at Pimlico.

Pure Disco looks tough in the Goldfinch. The winner of the New Jersey Futurity last November at The Meadowlands, Pure Disco cruised to a commanding second-level allowance win here last time out.

The 10-race program gets under way at 12:50 p.m.