Stonetastic fresh for Regret Stakes
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Kelly Breen is in an enviable position with his classy filly sprinter Stonetastic, who is on the verge of making the first start of her 4-year-old season.
Stonetastic looks well spotted to begin her campaign in the $75,000 Regret Stakes going six furlongs Saturday at Monmouth Park. Breen also has her nominated to the $100,000 Shine Again next Wednesday at Saratoga. The seven-furlong Shine Again is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes this year.
Breen and owner Jim Stone have not yet chosen between the two races, but both seem like good options for a filly who has shown a lot of potential.
Stonetastic won her career debut at 2, and in her first start at 3, she glided to an easy victory over first-level optional-claiming company on the Haskell Invitational undercard.
“That’s her persona,” Breen said. “She runs well fresh.”
Breen took Stonetastic to Saratoga for her second start last year, and she won the Grade 2 Prioress. Stonetastic didn’t win in her final four starts of the year but showed her quality by finishing fourth of 10 in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita and third in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland.
“She wintered in Kentucky, and it wasn’t the easiest winter there,” Breen said. “We’re starting back a little later than we thought, but she’s ready to go.”
Saturday is the second day of the Pharoah Phan Phestival, and there are several events planned. There will be a Bob Baffert baseball jersey giveaway and T-shirt cannons up and down the stretch between races. It also is Ladies’ Day, with a fashion show at the Lady’s Secret Café, a ladies’ hat contest, and ladies’ drink specials.
Key contenders
Stonetastic (Last 3 Beyers: 51-85-89)
* Breen has worked Stonetastic seven times at Monmouth since June 14, and three of her last four moves have been bullets.
Room for Me (Last 3 Beyers: 78-97-100)
* She is vastly improved since being claimed for $12,500 at Santa Anita in February. Not only has she won 4 of 6 starts since then, but she finished second, beaten a half-length by top sprinter La Verdad, in the Grade 3 Vagrancy. In her most recent start, she was fourth to Dame Dorothy in the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses.
Satan’s Mistress (Last 3 Beyers: 81-91-84)
* She hits hard at this level and was third to the multiple stakes winner Galiana and the sharp Keep Crossing in the Dashing Beauty Stakes at Delaware Park three weeks ago.
Aireofdistinction (Last 3 Beyers: 81-54-80)
* There is a lot of speed in this field, and that she is one of the few who can sit off the pace works in her favor.