Request for Parole gets back in the game

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The last two seasons have not been kind to Request for Parole. The Grade 1 winner has only one victory in his last 11 races.

The 7-year-old, making his first start since June, gets back in the game Friday night in the $60,000 John Henry Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The John Henry at 1 3-8 miles and the $55,000 P.G. Johnson for 3-year-old fillies at five furlongs are the supporting turf stakes on the Meadowlands Breeders' Cup Stakes undercard.

Request for Parole suffered a foot bruise in his last race at Belmont Park which accounts for the layoff.

"It took quiet a while for that to work its way out," said trainer Stanley Hough. "He's trained well. Hopefully, he's tight enough to go a mile-and-three eighths. He's coming into it pretty good."

Request for Parole has won 10 races, including the 2004 Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park, and earned over $1.3 million.

Hough isn't sure how much longer Request for Parole will remain on the track.

"I guess he has some stud value, but they don't knock your door down for a horse that has done his best running on grass at a distance," Hough said. "Whether he races another year or not, I don't know. It's very hard to come back. We'll keep punching and hope that he comes back and regains some of the old form."

Jungle Fighter was in fine form all season at Monmouth with two solid efforts in third-level allowance races and, most recently, a neck loss as the pacesetter in the Bob Harding Stakes on Sept. 9.

Jungle Fighter, making only his 10th career start in the Bob Harding, lost to the seasoned turfer Revved Up who followed up with a victory in the Grade 3 Sycamore Breeders' Cup Stakes at Keeneland.

"It was a nice frame of reference to have Revved Up win the Sycamore," said Justin Nixon, who trains the Stronach Stables New Jersey division. "He's earned over $1 million and we made him work for the win."

Nixon points out that Revved Up has more career wins, 16, than Jungle Fighter has starts.

Jungle Fighter, 5, is a late developer slowed by early issues. "He had some problems, mostly baby stuff," Nixon said. "The Stronachs preach patience. If he had been pressed when younger, he wouldn't be the horse that he is today."

As usual, Jungle Fighter will be on or close to the pace.

"He's going to be right there," Nixon said. "They're not going to walk a half mile in 50 seconds."

Silver Whistle will be hoping for a firm course. His two worst efforts this year came on yielding courses, including a sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine.

In the race before that, the 4-year-old colt was a rallying second in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on firm footing.

* The always dangerous New Jersey turf combination of trainer Christophe Clement and jockey Joe Bravo team up with Zaynab in the P.G. Johnson. Most recently, Zaynab was a rallying third in a seven-furlong overnight stakes at Belmont.

* The $60,000 Eillo Stakes for sprinters did not fill with only four entrants. The race office will offer it again for Saturday.