Stage Left wins duel in Rumson Stakes
?q=100)
The five furlongs of the $100,000 Rumson Stakes worked just fine for 7-year-old Stage Left, who won the Sunday feature at Monmouth Park despite a tough trip.
Caught inside while dueling with three rivals stacked outside him on the turn, Stage Left burst clear after cutting the corner like a horse half his age and had plenty left to hold off Spun and Run’s late move. Stage Left won by a diminishing length but galloped out far in front of Spun and Run, who capitalized on the speed duel coming from last to get second by 1 1/4 lengths over Twisted Ride.
David Jacobson owns and trains Stage Left, who began his career in April of his 2-year-old season and has been resurgent in 2023. This was Stage Left’s third win of the year and second in a six-figure sprint stakes. Stage Left never had won a stakes race of any sort before this season.
Ridden by Paco Lopez, Stage Left clocked 57.81 seconds over a fast track and paid $5.20 as the favorite. Bred by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Stage Left is a gelding by Congrats out of Diva Delight, by Repent, making him a brother to champion Midnight Bisou and multiple Grade 1-placed 3-year-old Verfifying.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.