As Seen On Tv tries to stay unbeaten in Smoke Glacken

Trainer Kelly Breen has had a strong run with 2-year-olds this meet at Monmouth Park and will attempt to continue that trend Saturday when he sends out As Seen On Tv in the $75,000 Smoke Glacken.

The race will be run over six furlongs. The field of seven includes Meru, an impressive debut winner who figures to go favored after earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 81, and Newstome, who moves back to dirt after testing turf last out in a stakes at Colonial Downs.

Breen, who is the third-leading trainer at Monmouth, has gone 4 for 13 with his 2-year-old starters this meet. His debut winners include As Seen On Tv, who captured a six-furlong maiden special weight on Aug. 24 at Monmouth.

“We pride ourselves on doing a good job with younger horses,” Breen said. “We like to try and develop a horse like this horse into a possible stakes horse.”

KEY CONTENDERS

As Seen On Tv, by Lookin At Lucky

Beyer: 76

◗ He is the lone horse in the field to have raced at six furlongs. He broke very sharply, dueled for the lead, and won by a head. As Seen On Tv covered the distance on a fast track in 1:11.94.

“He surprised us with how well he broke,” Breen said.

◗ As Seen On Tv, who is by Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, races for Screen Door Stables.

“We’re hoping he can go further in distance,” Breen said. “This is a springboard into something longer.”

◗ Hector Diaz Jr. has the mount from post 7.

Meru, by Sky Mesa

Beyer: 81

◗ He earned the field’s best career Beyer for his 6 1/4-length debut win July 13 at Monmouth. The maiden special weight was run over five furlongs, and he covered the distance in 57.32 seconds. Meru, who was a $300,000 purchase in April at an Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company auction, makes his second start Saturday.

“We’ve been ready with him for weeks,” trainer Jorge Duarte Jr., told publicity at Monmouth. “We’ve just kind of been in maintenance works with him. He’s ready to go. Everybody in the barn is hoping he can follow up that first start with another one.”

◗ The horse who finished second to Meru, Embolden, has since won a maiden special weight and the $100,000 Jamestown, both for Virgina-breds at Colonial.

◗ Jevian Toledo has the mount on Meru from post 2 for Colts Neck Stables.

Newstome, by Goldencents

Beyers: 50-76

◗ He’s back on the main track after an off-the-board finish in a turf sprint stakes. When last seen on dirt, he led throughout to win his debut in a maiden special weight for Pennsylvania-breds at Parx.

◗ Antonio Gallardo has the mount from the rail for trainer Michael Trombetta.