Pomeroy strong to the finish

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Pomeroy outdueled Value Plus early and drew away to a four-length victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Patrick Biancone, Pomeroy ($3.60) ran the six furlongs in 1:09.07 over the fast track for his third career win and first in three starts this season.

The Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup, a sprint for 3-year-olds, attracted five runners and figured, on paper, to be a two-horse contest between Pomeroy and Value Plus. Those two had the most extensive stakes experience and strongest backing from the bettors. Pomeroy went off at 4-5; Value Plus was the second choice at 8-5.

The race unfolded true to form in the opening stages. Pomeroy, ridden by Joe Bravo, broke alertly from the rail, and Value Plus immediately took up the chase.

"He broke full of run today, a lot faster than I was expecting," said Bravo.

They raced head-and-head down the backstretch and around the turn until Pomeroy started to pull clear turning for home.

"I pretty much wrapped up on him the whole way down the stretch," said Bravo.

Gotaghostofachance, a winner of three straight at Delaware Park, rallied for second in a nice recovery following a bobble at the break.

Midnight Express, a Jersey-bred, got third, a head better than Value Plus, who has not hit the board in three tries since finishing second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Pomeroy, a son of Boundary, is now unbeaten in two starts at Monmouth, having scored an 11 1/2-length allowance win here last season.

Firecard paying off so far

Firecard, a $25,000 claim by trainer Michael Pino at Keeneland in April, turned into a stakes-winning investment as she rallied for a 2 1/2-length win in the $60,000 Goldfinch Handicap for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares at a mile and 70 yards.

Firecard ($9.20) galloped past longshot Cigno d'Oro to score her second straight win since the claim. Ridden by Chris DeCarlo, Firecard ran the distance in 1:42.88 for her ninth career win.