War's Prospect out and gone

OCEANPORT, N.J. - War's Prospect took no prisoners Saturday afternoon, as he blasted right to the front and went on to win the $60,000 Rumson Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

War's Prospect ($16.60) ran the six furlongs in 1:08.67 over the fast track on a drizzly afternoon.

Jose C. Ferrer was aboard as War's Prospect gave trainer Bill Anderson his first win of the meet.

"We caught a field where we could make the lead," said Anderson. "I was a little concerned when I saw the half fractions, but he's a decent horse."

War's Prospect, who broke from the rail, zipped the half-mile in 43.57 seconds. Abbondanza made a late run to get second, reducing the winning margin to a half-length.

Abbondanza retained the place spot after surviving an objection from jockey Eddie King, aboard fourth-place finisher Knight of Darkness, who claimed interference on the backstretch.

Gotaghostofachance finished third.

A clean break was a key to victory for War's Prospect. War's Prospect, the lone New Jersey-bred in the race, stumbled at the start of his last race, the Anderson Fowler Stakes, and settled for a rallying third.

War's Prospect will next face New Jersey-breds in the Pappa Riccio Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth on Aug. 29.

Sing Me Back Home flies

Sing Me Back Home, a veteran stakes campaigner for trainer Allen Iwinski, flirted with the track record for five furlongs as he pulled away to a 3 1/2-length victory in the $60,000 Decathlon Stakes, which was taken off the turf and run on the main track.

Sing Me Back Home ($6.20) carried Joe Bravo to his third win of the day. The time of 56.34 seconds came close to the mark of 56.16 set by L.B. on Tour in 1999.

Choctaw Ridge held for second with Mr. Whitestone third.

The surface switch played right to Sing Me Back Home's strength. The 6-year-old gelding has never run on the grass in 48 career starts while running with some very classy sprint company. He had posted Beyer Figures of 101 or better in each of his previous five starts, including a rallying fourth in the Grade 2 True North Breeders' Cup Handicap at Belmont Park.