Striking Tomisue tough, if she runs

Uncertainty surrounds Sunday's $70,000 Lighthouse Stakes at Monmouth Park as a couple of top contenders consider other options in the Northeast.

The Lighthouse, to be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track, drew a field of nine, but three of the entrants are cross-entered in other races around the region. That includes the classy Striking Tomisue, who also is entered in Sunday's $65,000 Floral Park Heatherten Stakes at Belmont as well as the $125,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday. Striking Tomisue comes off consecutive races against Grade 2 company and she'll be making her second start off a layoff in the Lighthouse if trainer Nick Zito does indeed choose to send her to Monmouth. Eddie Castro has been named to ride.

All Night Labor missed by just a head in the Monmouth Beach Stakes last time out after a forward trip and she'll be involved from the start once again Sunday if she in fact does run. She's also entered in the Obeah at Delaware, along with another Lighthouse entrant, You Asked.

If All Night Labor runs in the Obeah that might leave Devil House as the lone speed in the Lighthouse, the 10th of 11 races on Sunday's card. Joe Bravo is scheduled to ride All Night Labor for trainer Randy Nunley.

Regardless of whether All Night Labor runs, Devil House is the one to catch in the Lighthouse and if she can get away with an unpressured lead, she'll be tough. That's precisely what happened in the 2008 edition of the Lighthouse, which Devil House won by 10 1/4 lengths after shaking loose early on. Chuck Lopez, who rode Devil House to a stakes win at Aqueduct in January 2008, is back aboard for trainer Bruce Levine.

In addition to All Night Labor, four other runners entered for the Lighthouse last raced in the Monmouth Beach Stakes. Annabill and Awesome Ashley were both far back in the Monmouth Beach, but the track that day seemed to favor speed greatly as the day wore on, and both Annabill and Awesome Ashley were well off the pace. Both mares stand to improve Sunday, given a fair racetrack and a contested pace upfront. Elvis Trujillo, leading rider at the meet, will be aboard Annabill, while Chris DeCarlo pilots Awesome Ashley.

* The $60,000 Bernie Dowd Handicap, for New Jersey-bred 3-year-olds and up, is carded as Sunday's ninth race. Cuba hasn't been out since February but he'll be among the favorites for trainer Bob DiBona. Carlos Marquez Jr. rides.