'Rings' needs best run yet

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The combination of trainer Patrick Biancone and jockey Joe Bravo looks to continue its hot streak at Monmouth Park on Sunday, when Rings and Things runs in the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks.

Rings and Things faces five rivals in the 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Biancone and Bravo have been on a roll, with six wins and a third in eight starts at the meet. They reached the Monmouth pinnacle last weekend, when they won the $1 million Haskell Invitational with Lion Heart.

Rings and Things ended her 2-year-old season with a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet Stakes at Hollywood Park. She returned in July at Monmouth with an off-the-turf allowance win as the odds-on favorite.

"She's a very nice filly," said Biancone. "This will be more difficult. She is in very good form so we'll take a shot."

Rings and Things will need to move forward in this spot. She ran a career-best 80 Beyer in winning her maiden at Hollywood Park and posted a 77 for her win last time out.

Several fillies in the field have registered significantly higher Beyers, including Capeside Lady, who scored a 13 1/2-length win in the slop in Monmouth's off-the-turf Little Silver Stakes, earning a 103 Beyer.

With scattered thunderstorms forecast for the weekend, Capeside Lady might catch another wet track, and she has three wins in four wet-track starts. Chris DeCarlo has the return call aboard Capeside Lady.

Ender's Sister has the most extensive open stakes experience in the field. She has finished in the money in five starts this season, all stakes, and opened the year with a pair of victories at Tampa Bay Downs in the Suncoast Stakes and the Florida Oaks.

Ender's Sister tackled graded company in her next three starts and improved her Beyer Figures in the process. She posted career-best Beyers of 97 for her second-place finishes in the Grade 3 La Troienne Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks at Delaware Park. Cornelio Velasquez rides for trainer Rusty Arnold.

Habiboo came into her own here in her last two starts, with an 18-length maiden win followed by a 7 1/2-length allowance victory. John Soto Jr. will ride.

Pilfer, fifth last time out in the Delaware Oaks, adds blinkers for trainer John Servis. Stewart Elliott will be aboard.

Hopelessly Devoted, with Mark Guidry riding, completes the field.