Valedictorian fresh for return in Jersey Girl
The Fourth of July is a turning point on the Monmouth calendar, as racing expands to three days a week. There will be live cards this Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Next week, the track will move to a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday schedule.
On Aug. 2, Thursday cards will be added to the menu, and the track will race four days a week through Labor Day. The sports book is open every day.
Last year, Monmouth didn’t race on Tuesday, July 4, but holiday racing has been revived, and a nine-race program will be topped by the $75,000 Jersey Girl, a one-mile handicap on turf for statebred fillies and mares that goes as race 8.
It is worth noting the 20-cent Jersey Shore 6 has not been hit in 18 cards dating back to the May 5 opening of the meet, and the carryover is now up to an attractive $80,081. The jackpot is only paid out when there is a single winning ticket. The wager will be held Wednesday on races 4-9.
The temporary inner rail for the Jersey Girl is placed 36 feet out in the course. There are eight horses in the field and two also eligibles.
Love Came to Town, a seven-time winner who is nearing $400,000 in earnings for trainer Kevin Sleeter, has been assigned high weight of 123 pounds, but faces a difficult task. Now 6, she has not won in 13 starts dating to November 2016. This will be her 37th career race, but only her second on turf.
The horse to beat is Valedictorian, who will carry 119 pounds for trainer Kelly Breen. She is 3 for 9 on the grass and finished second in her final two starts at Gulfstream Park against second-level optional-claiming company.
Valedictorian has not raced since March, but Breen has had her on a steady Monmouth work schedule since early May. Breen is having a very good Monmouth meet and is third in the standings with 14 wins from 50 starts, a win average of 28 percent. He has a positive ROI of $2.12.
Valedictorian, a 4-year-old daughter of Temple City, has the speed to either stalk or set the pace.
Jason Servis, who will send out Cee Bee Gee Bee at 119 pounds, is off to an excellent start at the meet. He is 17 for 31 (54 percent), second to Jorge Navarro in the standings, and has a ROI of $2.50.
Cee Bee Gee Bee returned from an almost year layoff in late May to win a second-level New Jersey-bred allowance sprint by 3 1/2 lengths. A winner of 3 of 8 starts in her career, the distance of this race will equal her longest. She was beaten in her only turf start in 2016.
Diamond Play, who will carry 121, tuned up for this in an open second-level optional-claiming sprint on the main track. Although she finished sixth, expect her to move up markedly against statebreds for trainer Anthony Margotta Jr. She is proven both at the distance and on turf.
◗ Monmouth Park is offering free backstretch and jockey quarters tram tours every Saturday morning – except Haskell Day – to anyone wishing a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation that goes into getting Thoroughbreds ready to compete. The tours begin at 8 a.m. To make a reservation, call (732) 571-5542.