Turf debut a breeze for 'Frisky'

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Frisky Spider made two important points with his victory Saturday in the $60,000 Restoration Stakes at Monmouth Park.

A son of Frisk Me Now, Frisky Spider proved he could handle the turf in his grass debut and showed he was more than a headstrong sprinter by winning the one-mile contest for 3-year-olds.

Frisky Spider ($11.40) also showed the ability to cover ground very quickly, making all the pace to finish in 1:33.95 over the firm course.

He threw down the challenge early with a half-mile in 45.23 seconds and a three-quarter mile clocking in 1:09.18.

Nooligan, second all the way around, was three-quarters of a length behind Frisky Spider. Musical Native finished third.

Frisky Spider posted his fifth win in eight career starts and opened up a range of options for trainer Bob Durso.

"I'll have to sit and think a little about what's next," said Durso.

With his speed honed by a three-furlong turf drill in 34.40 seconds Wednesday, Frisky Spider jumped right to the lead under Eddie King. Both Durso and King said they had hoped another horse would set the pace. When that didn't happen, Frisky Spider was on his own.

"We were hoping that someone would be in front of him and I was a little worried about those early fractions," said Durso.

For the first time, Frisky Spider showed poise under pressure.

"I didn't get into his mouth," said King. "It's one of those things where the harder you pull, the harder they pull. He was just floating out there. That's what I've been waiting for him to do - relax and let me do my job."

* Trainer Bruce Levine bagged another winner here, this time with Our Royal Dancer ($10.40) in the $65,000 West Long Branch Stakes for fillies and mares.

Our Royal Dancer ran the six furlongs in 1:10.86. Levine improved his record to 5-3-1 in 12 starts on the Jersey Shore.

Our Royal Dancer rated behind the pace set by Whoop's Ah Daisy and collared that rival in the lane to win by a half length.