Private Zone adds intrigue to deep Turf Monster

The presence of Private Zone in the Grade 3 Turf Monster on Monday adds juice to a race that was already filled to the brim.

The East Coast turf division is highly competitive, and the five-furlong, $300,000 Turf Monster has attracted five runners from the tightly run Grade 3 Parx Dash on July 12. The top two in that race, Ben’s Cat and Tightend Touchdown, were separated by a nose, while fourth-place finisher Bold Thunder, who opened a clear lead in the stretch, was beaten only 1 1/2 lengths.

Adding fuel to the rematch is that Tightend Touchdown and Bold Thunder had significant trouble in the Dash. For that matter, Ben’s Cat was farther back in the field than usual and looked an unlikely winner with a furlong remaining.

The California-based Private Zone will be making his first start in nine months and his turf debut. Trainer Doug O’Neill has put an eye-catching series of nine works into him, and four of his last six are bullets. The black-letter works include one on dirt at Santa Anita, two on Polytrack at Del Mar, and one on turf at Del Mar. O’Neill called the horse’s five-furlong turf work in 1:00.80 last Sunday “fantastic.”

Turf Monster Handicap, Race 11

Key Contenders

Private Zone (Last 3 Beyers: 100-81-109)

◗ Private Zone won his 2013 debut off a six-month layoff in the six-furlong, restricted Pirate’s Bounty Stakes at Del Mar on Polytrack.

◗ Martin Pedroza has ridden Panamanian import Private Zone in 11 of his 12 starts and will be in for the mount. Pedroza was aboard for Private Zone’s Grade 1 Vosburgh win last September.

Ben’s Cat (Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-95)

◗ The 8-year-old winner of 27 of 41 starts and $2.1 million was bred and is owned by trainer King Leatherbury. He won this race in 2011 and 2012 and was third last year behind Stormofthecentury, who also is in this field.

◗ Ben’s Cat comes into the race with only one slow three-furlong work since the July 12 Parx Dash. The King said not to worry.

“He’s been fine,” he said. “We’re following the same path as last year.”

Bold Thunder (Last 3 Beyers: 93-92-92)

◗ Bold Thunder broke slowly in the Parx Dash and then made a sustained middle move to challenge for the lead. He drew clear in midstretch but was outfinished.

“He broke bad in the Parx Dash. He had his head turned,” said assistant trainer Mike Farro. “If he had broke, he would have been two or three in front. Nobody has ever been able to run with him early. The five-eighths is to my advantage.”

Tightend Touchdown (Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-82)

◗ He was on the early pace in the Parx Dash, eased back on the turn, steadied, then rallied inside third-place finisher Marchman in the stretch. Ben’s Cat nailed him in the final jump.

“He had to steady on the turn when that outside horse came down on us,” trainer Jason Servis said. “I’d like him to either settle and make a run or, if he comes out of there good, to just go. He kind of got stuck in between last time.”