Tenpins holds off challengers in Iselin

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Donald Winfree, returning to Monmouth Park for the first time in 15 years, won the Grade 3, $189,000 with Tenpins on Saturday.

Winfree, who stabled at Monmouth in the mid-1980's, ran Tenpins in the Iselin in part because he thought the horse would like the track.

"I knew this track doesn't favor deep closers," Winfree said. "I knew if this horse got beat, it would be somebody who sneaks by right at the shadow of the wire."

The race was settled well before the final jumps as Tenpins ($4) won by a length over Aeneas, who nosed out Jersey Giant for second.

Tenpins, ridden confidently by Robby Albarado, engaged Private Lap in a battle for early supremacy and put away that rival on the final turn. Tenpins won that battle and braced for the stretch challengers. Jersey Giant launched a strong bid on the final turn and loomed a threat at the top of the lane, but never got past Tenpins.

"When he gets there by himself, he kind of waits," Albarado said. "That's why he never wins by too much."

Julian Pimentel, who rode Jersey Giant, said: "I thought I was going to win at the quarter pole. The other horse was better today, but my horse ran big."

Tenpins, who will next run in the Grade 2, $750,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup on Sept. 28, ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.35.

* Elegant Designer bested Randaroo to give trainer Anthony Dutrow a one-two finish in the $60,000 Miss Woodford Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs.

Mario Pino rode the winning half of the favored entry, which paid $4.20 to win. Catsuit ran third.

Follow Me Home set the early pace in a bid for her fifth straight win. She faded in the lane to finish fifth.

Wild Snitch, last year's Sorority winner, was pulled up on the turn. She left the track in the equine ambulance and was transported to trainer Ben Perkins Jr.'s barn.

* Joe's Son Joey ($4.20) rallied to win the $50,000 Decathlon Stakes at five furlongs on the turf. The 5-year-old, trained by Tim Hills and ridden by Eibar Coa, had captured the Calder Turf Sprint Handicap at Calder in his previous race.