Smart Enough sets record

Smart Enough blitzed seven rivals - and broke the course record - in $60,000 Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old gelding, trained by John R.S. Fisher, zipped the 5 1/2 furlongs on a firm turf course in 1:00.81.

Despite being off since November, Smart Enough was well backed on the return to his favorite course, returning $4. He is unbeaten in three grass races here, all stakes, at distances ranging from five furlongs to one mile.

The Wolf Hill was never in doubt. With Chris DeCarlo aboard, Smart Enough broke alertly, cut the corner sharply, and pulled away from the pack. Smart Enough beat Mr. Silver by 2 1/2 lengths with Bingobear third.

"Chris told me as soon as the gates opened it was over," Fisher said. "He trained very well up to this all spring. I haven't picked anything out for him yet, but we'll try and stretch him out again."

Also at Monmouth, Nerve ($3.80) beat three rivals in the $60,000 Spend a Buck Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Eddie Castro guided Nerve to the front entering the first turn of the one-mile race. They fended off backstretch pressure from Ghost Orie and a late bid from runner-up Saratoga Lulaby to win by 3 1/4 lengths. Whiskey Lit was third. The time was 1:35.84 for the one mile on the fast track.

Digger, under consideration for the Belmont Stakes, and Johnny Z. were early scratches.

* Joe Bravo and Castro both had three wins on the card. Bravo posted wins with his first three mounts, starting in the second race with Liberal Bias ($8) and continuing with Tipsy Tune ($4) and Judith Basin ($5.40).

In addition to the Spend a Buck Stakes, the fifth race, Castro added wins in the seventh with Skip Along Jet ($9.60) and Rapsody ($13.80) in the eighth.