Way With Words up in time at Monmouth

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Way With Words, the only New Jersey-bred in the field, rallied to beat Saarlight by a neck on Sunday in the for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park.

It was the second straight stakes win here for the 6-year-old trained by Maryland-based Mary Eppler. Way With Words beat statebreds in her previous race, the Open Mind Handicap. The Blue Sparkler, at the same six-furlong distance, was a stiffer test against open company.

Once again, Way With Words was up to the challenge at the track where she is 8-3-0 in 15 races.

Turning for home, Saarlight and Rated Feisty were hooked in a spirited duel and it appeared the outcome would be decided by those two.

Way With Words, with Eddie Castro aboard, kept gaining with every stride.

"I wasn't sure she was actually going to get up," Eppler said. "I know that she's tenacious and that she tries. She just dug in and kept coming."

Way With Words paid $7.20 to win as the second choice. The time was 1:10.39.

Greeley's Rocket wins second straight with blinkers

Greeley's Rocket ($9.60) beat Whoopi Kitten by 4 1/4 lengths in the for 3-year-old fillies at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

Greeley's Rocket made a smooth transition back to grass following a pair of synthetic-track races for trainer Bret Calhoun. Jeremy Rose guided the winner to her fourth win in 10 starts, and second in a row since adding blinkers. The time was 1:01.81 on the firm course.

Bravo, Ortiz weren't in the wrong

The stewards found Joe Bravo and Felix Ortiz both guilty of careless riding which resulted in a double disqualification in Friday's fifth race.

Under a new policy in effect this year, a first-time offender at the meet has the option to accept either a three-day suspension or a $3,000 fine.

Bravo opted to pay the fine. Ortiz filed an appeal.