Well-traveled Stylish coming in for Eatontown

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The well-traveled Stylish, who has run at six different tracks in her last six outings, will ship once again for her her next start, which comes in Saturday's Grade 3, $100,000 Eatontown Handicap at Monmouth Park.

Owned by The Thoroughbred Corporation and trained by Bill Mott, Stylish rallied for a three-length win in her most recent outing, the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeders' Cup stakes over a firm turf course at Canterbury Downs.

She is the likely starting highweight at 118 pounds for the Eatontown, a 1 1/16-mile grass race.

Other expected runners include: Southern Fiction, winner of the Politely Stakes at Monmouth; Win's Fair Lady, up from Florida for trainer Steve Standridge; Sweet Deimos, with a win and two narrow losses in her last three races, all allowance races at Churchill Downs; Cocktailsandreams; Love n' Kiss S; and Maresha.

Calahan's Jet to try 'em on the fly

Mighty Oak, an impressive winner on the United Nations Handicap undercard July 5, left an imprint on Friday's Monmouth feature, a $48,000 allowance race for New Jersey-breds.

Four of the runners who chased Mighty Oak in vain return for the six-furlong statebred race.

Calahan's Jet, the pacesetter that afternoon, will again try to stretch his speed. Calahan's Jet reunites with leading rider Joe Bravo, who last rode the gelding when he won his maiden last year.

Make Mike's Day, Trefinity, and Cherokee Honor also return from the Mighty Oak race.

The Friday card also includes a leg of the Amateur Jockey Association National Championship Series. The amateurs will carry between 130 and 139 pounds in the one-mile grass race for maiden claimers.

Handicapping contest approved

The New Jersey Racing Commission approved the state's first Thoroughbred handicapping contest Wednesday morning at its meeting at Monmouth.

The top two finishers in the Monmouth contest on Aug. 30 qualify for the Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship on Jan. 23-24, 2004, at Bally's in Las Vegas.

The entry fee for Monmouth's contest is $200 with another $200 cash stake required for tournament wagers. The contest will be limited to 150 entries; total prize money will be $30,000 with $15,000 to the winner. The contest tracks will be Monmouth, Saratoga, and Delaware Park.

Wagers are restricted to win, place, and show.

The commission also approved a unique cross-breed daily-double wager linking a pair of $1 million 3-year-old races: the Hambletonian for trotters Aug. 2 at The Meadowlands and the Haskell at Monmouth the following day. As an added incentive for bettors, the double will be subject to only a 12 percent takeout.

The commission also began the lengthy rules amendment process to change the workout requirements for first-time starters. The new rules, which probably won't take effect until next year, call for at least two published works within 45 days of the initial start. The current regulations permit just a single workout.

"This would provide more information to the wagering public and is consistent with the surrounding jurisdictions at present," said Frank Zanzuccki, the commission's executive director.

- Racing secretary Mike Dempsey extended an invitation to the $1 million Haskell on Aug. 3 to During after the Bob Baffert trainee won the Swaps Stakes Sunday at Hollywood Park.

- Monmouth hosts its annual classic car show Sunday afternoon. More than 130 vintage autos will be on display. Sunday, Aug. 24, has been reserved as the rain date.

Fundraisers on tap

The Monmouth Park Charity Ball Committee has two major fundraisers scheduled.

"An Afternoon at Monmouth Park" takes place July 23 and includes a fashion show. The program includes a luncheon for a $50 donation to the Charity Ball.

The annual Monmouth Park Charity Ball takes place Aug. 9 at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. Tickets for the evening of dining and dancing are $150.

The Charity Ball committee raises money for local Monmouth County charities. Call (732) 571-5325 for information or tickets to either event.

- Only a dozen picnic tables remain for Haskell Day. The tables go for $125 which includes eight passes, programs, and pens. Bring your own sandwiches. The group sales office at (732) 571-5544 handles table sales.