Stand on Top tries stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - At first glance, the Grade 3, $100,000 Sorority Stakes for 2-year-old fillies Saturday at Monmouth Park looks like an ambitious spot for Stand on Top.

She has made one start, a winning effort at Saratoga against New York-breds.

“She ran a very good race up there,” said trainer Terri Pompay. “She dug in all the way down the stretch. I don’t care if it was New York-bred or open. She ran a very good race.”

Pompay has a lot of faith in the filly and does not view the Sorority as an unattainable reach.

“She’s a very nice filly. She’s worked right along with Tabacchi,” said Pompay, who trains Tabacchi, winner of his five-furlong debut at Monmouth in 57.89 seconds.

“She’s got a lot of class. She ran a very good race considering I shipped her to a track she never ran over and the excitement of Saratoga. She deserves a shot.”

Pompay also nominated Stand on Top to the Grade 1 Spinaway at Saratoga on Aug. 29.

“It looks like a lot of horses cross-nominated,” Pompay said. “I’m leaning toward here because Monmouth is home ground and she is training here. Obviously, we’ll try to pick the easiest spot for the filly.”

Other likely Sorority runners include Private Gayla, Standswithafist, and Whirlwind Charlott.

Parisi hopeful patience pays

Paul Parisi Jr. has bided his time, waiting for opportunities to run Nannie’s Sword on the grass during this rain-plagued meet.

As a result, the 4-year-old filly has run only twice this summer, and only once on the turf.

“I just haven’t been able to run,” Parisi said. “I had to scratch twice when races came off the turf.”

The $39,000 feature allowance race on Thursday afternoon could be the payoff for Parisi and Nannie’s Sword. She faces eight rivals in the 1 1/16-mile grass race. Leading rider Joe Bravo has the mount.

“Getting Bravo gives me confidence,” Parisi said.

Bravo will get a leg up on a horse who missed by only a half-length in her last race on Aug. 16.

“This is closer than I’ve ever run her,” Parisi said of the interval between races. “But then, she has only run two times since May.”

Nannie’s Sword shows solid form on the grass, compiling a turf record of 3-4-0 in 13 starts.

“She’s very consistent,” Parisi said. “I’d like to have 10 more just like her.”

The main competition could come from Once Around, the winner of the Revidere Stakes last year at Monmouth.