Pletcher pair merit respect in Lamplighter
Todd Pletcher brings a hot hand into the $60,000 Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday.
Pletcher won with three of his four starters at Monmouth last weekend, and since June 28, he has won with seven of his last 13 Monmouth runners. His winners include Stanford in last Saturday’s Long Branch Stakes and Got Lucky in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher on July 3.
Pletcher, who starts the race week second to Jorge Navarro in the Monmouth trainer standings, has entered Nonna’s Boy and Dontbetwithbruno – both owned by Mike Repole – in the Lamplighter, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-olds. On Thursday, Pletcher said he “probably” will run both horses.
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Nonna’s Boy likely will go favored. He set the pace and then held well while last of three to Japan and Stanford in the Easy Goer Stakes last out. Japan is being pointed to the Jim Dandy at Saratoga.
Two starts back, Nonna’s Boy was second-best to El Deal in the six-furlong Gold Fever Stakes at Belmont Park. El Deal is undefeated in four career starts.
Nonna’s Boy has been given two recent works over the turf at Belmont in preparation for his grass debut.
Lamplighter, Race 11
Key contenders
Nonna’s Boy (Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-85)
◗ While the Easy Goer showed that he should be okay at the distance of the Lamplighter, this will be his two-turn debut.
Weekend Express (Last 3 Beyers: 78-87-67)
◗ Exits a stout turf allowance at Belmont. The winner and runner-up, Syntax and All I Karabout, are both entered in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday.
◗ His two wins have come in a 1 1/8-mile maiden race on turf at Gulfstream Park and in a $50,000 starter at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Belmont.
West Village (Last 3 Beyers: 72-80-72)
◗ Closed nicely from last in a 12-horse field to win a Derby Day maiden race at Churchill Downs while making his turf debut.
◗ Was just beginning his bid when he had to steady to avoid a broken-down horse nearing the far turn of the Plate Trial at Woodbine when eighth in his last start.
Dontbetwithbruno (Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-80)
◗ Based with Pletcher’s Monmouth string, this will be his turf debut.
◗ His last six races and both of his career wins have come at two turns.
Black Martino (Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-78)
◗ Missed by a neck last out in the $60,000 King Cugat at Gulfstream Park on June 20. The winner, My Point Exactly, finished fifth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the $500,000 Penn Mile in his prior start.
◗ Trainer Jose Garoffalo has sent him north for this race following a Florida workout last Sunday. Garoffalo trains Wildcat Red, who is scheduled to run in the six-furlong Teddy Drone on the Haskell undercard on Aug. 2.
My Team (Last 3 Beyers: 76-56-57)
◗ Showed marked improvement when switched to grass for his maiden win last time out.
◗ Might show the way on the lead in the eight-horse Lamplighter field.