Pletcher sends out Boston Bull
OCEANPORT, N.J. - Monmouth's Wednesday feature race brings together a field of eight horses that fall into three camps: former claimers showing dramatic improvement for new owners, successful New Jersey-breds stepping out into open company, and 3-year-olds with juvenile stakes experience who have not blossomed this season.
The stakes colts, Boston Bull and Wacky for Love, drew the two inside posts in the $39,000 allowance race at six furlongs.
Boston Bull won the Grade 3 Cowdin Stakes at Belmont Park last October and ran third in the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct.
Joe Bravo has the mount on Boston Bull, who ran last in his only start this year. He is trained by Todd Pletcher.
Wacky for Love, who has post 2, chased Boston Bull home in two of those 2-year-old stakes. He has finished third and fifth in two starts this season.
Michael Gill and Mark Shuman, the leading owner and trainer, entered the pair of Deux Mille and Cahill Kid, who both joined their stable via claim.
They picked up Deux Mille for $20,000 in his last start while Cahill Kid goes for his fourth straight win since a $12,000 claim at Gulfstream Park in January.
Royal Messenger and Prince Consort also changed barns recently via claim.
Quiet Desperation and Calahan's Jet won New Jersey-bred allowance races in their last starts.
Owner Shannon dies
New Jersey Thoroughbred racing lost one of its biggest supporters Friday with the death of Peter H. Shannon after a lengthy illness.
Shannon, 64, was chief executive officer of the Linde-Griffith Construction Company of Newark, N.J., and a prominent owner on the Monmouth Park-Meadowlands circuit for more than 25 years.
In a six-year period, from 1980-85, Shannon led all owners in the state in horses started and races won.
A patron for 22 years of the John Forbes Stable, Shannon was honored by Monmouth in 2000 with the Virgil "Buddy" Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, which recognizes horsemen and owners for the commitment and integrity they bring to the sport. His Monmouth stakes winners included Sovereign Song and Quaker Bonnet.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Cannizzaro/Shannon Scholarship Fund at 152 Passaic Street, Newark, N.J., 07104.