Redaspen ready for her graded stakes debut

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Redaspen usually flies under the parimutuel radar screen - and that's just fine with trainer Tim Woolley.

The 5-year-old mare sprung a 7-1 surprise last time out on the turf in Monmouth's Politely Stakes on May 27.

"She never gets a lot of respect when she runs," Woolley said. "That's fine with us. That way, we've made a good bit of money at the windows with her. When you run against the likes of Todd Pletcher, Michael Matz, and Graham Motion, Tim Woolley is going to be way down the list on the pecking order."

The price might be tempting again Saturday. Woolley is giving strong consideration to running Redaspen in Monmouth's first graded stakes of the season: the Grade 3, $150,000 Eatontown for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

The lineup for the race could remain in flux right up to race day, as the Eatontown faces direct competition from Colonial Downs, which offers the Grade 3, $200,000 All Along Breeders' Cup Stakes for fillies and mares at 1o1/8 miles on the grass.

All things considered, Woolley is leaning toward the Eatontown.

"We're in position to shop around for a spot," Woolley said. "I'd sooner go to Monmouth at this point. She likes that turf, and it's easier to go to Monmouth than Colonial."

Other likely Eatontown runners - according to Monmouth stakes coordinator Mike Melendez - include Karen's Caper, Pommes Frites, Prop Me Up, and Somethinaboutbetty. Melendez listed Delicate Dynamite, It's True Love, and Masseuse as possibilities.

For Redaspen, the Eatontown would be her first graded stakes. She has won seven times in a combination of allowance races, restricted contests, and overnight stakes.

"This will be a big challenge," Woolley said from the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. "I've kind of protected her in spotting her races. I think she's really good coming into the race. If all goes well, she'll give a good account of herself. We'll see if she's good enough."

A major contributor to her best efforts is regular rider Victor Molina.

"He knows this filly extremely well," Woolley said. "That's the key. She's not a straightforward filly to ride. She gives a lot of mixed signals to jockeys. That's why her form as been a little bit spotty."

Joey P. staying in New Jersey

Joey P. will stay close to home in the future after running sixth in the Grade 2 True North Handicap on Saturday's Belmont Stakes undercard.

In the oddly run contest, Keyed Entry carried even-money Bordonaro extremely wide. That unexpected development tossed the race up for grabs. Rounding the turn, Joey P. looked poised to take advantage, but he ran out of steam in the stretch.

"It looked like he had no real excuse," trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said. "He was in good position and had a good run at them straightening away. He kind of flattened out a little bit. He came back no worse for wear."

The race was a disappointment as Joey P. was coming off one of his best efforts in some time, a two-length victory in Monmouth's Decathlon Stakes in which the 5-year-old gelding earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

The True North continued Joey P.'s pattern of saving his best efforts for Monmouth and the Meadowlands. That's where Perkins plans to keep the New Jersey-bred.

"There'll be overnight stakes at Monmouth, either statebred or open," he said. "He fits well in those spots, so his next race will probably be here at home."

Four Shore tops statebred allowance

Perkins sends out Four Shore, another New Jersey-bred, in Wednesday's feature, a $50,000 second-level allowance.

The mile-and-70-yard race for statebreds attracted a field of eight, and Four Shore should be a solid favorite in this spot.

Four Shore, the only 3-year-old in the field, has already demonstrated the ability to go long, winning his maiden at this same distance at the Meadowlands in November. The homebred for the Jersey Shore Racing Stable posted a solid win in his season debut on opening day in a first-level statebred sprint.

"He ran well going long last year, so we weren't afraid to put him in a distance race," Perkins said. "He's really big. He was a giant 2-year-old, so big I didn't think he'd be really useful until his 3-year-old year.

"He wound up having a solid year and we were looking for good things from him coming back."

F Sixteen launches his comeback in this spot for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. The 5-year-old had a solid run last season against New Jersey-breds, with two wins and two seconds. However, F Sixteen was eased in his final start, a two-mile marathon at Aqueduct. He shows a string of strong and steady workouts.