Stiffed surprises as longest shot in Monmouth Beach

Plan A for Stiffed was a second-level allowance. When that race didn’t fill, trainer John Mazza went to Plan B, the $75,000 Monmouth Beach Stakes, which Stiffed won as the longest shot on the board.

Stiffed, a 4-year-old New Jersey-bred daughter of Stephen Got Even, trailed the field by about four lengths on the backstretch. She commenced her bid on the far turn when asked by jockey Gabriel Saez, split horses nearing the stretch, and then finished full of run to overtake 9-5 Got Lucky in deep stretch and win by a half-length.

Stiffed paid $71.60. She is now 4 for 10 with earnings of $146,225 for Holly Crest Farm, her owner-breeders.

Stiffed was making her first start since winning a first-level optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park in February. Mazza, who has been training at Monmouth Park for more than 40 years, said he gave Stiffed a pep talk on the way to the paddock.

“I told her on the way over, “You’ve got to step up your game today girl,’ ” Mazza said. “She likes to do her best running late.”

Early in the Monmouth Beach, 12-1 Natalie Victoria pressed the early pace outside 14-1 Mary N’ Eileen, with Got Lucky stalking. Natalie Victoria took the lead on the far turn but was soon joined by Got Lucky, who took a clear lead in upper stretch. She looked home free until Stiffed put in her unrelenting run.

Got Lucky finished 6 3/4 lengths in front of third-place Amblin Easy, who broke a bit slowly. Natalie Victoria was fourth, a length farther back.

Stiffed was timed in 1:41.25 after fractions of 23.05 seconds, 46.24, 1:10.80, and 1:37.26.

Catch My Drift, the 3-2 favorite who was making her first start since November, finished fifth.