Willie's Luv repeats in Santo Lalomia

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Willie's Luv, showing the maturity that comes with experience, scored a repeat victory in the $50,000 Santo Lalomia Handicap Sunday afternoon at Monmouth Park.

Willie's Luv won last year's edition with a brazen display of front-running speed in the stakes for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares at one mile. Now 4, Willie's Luv rated kindly for Joe Bravo to sit third behind Firecard and Picnic Theme and relentlessly wore down those rivals.

"I think she's grown up a lot," said trainer Jamie Woodington. "She settles a lot better than she used to. She's got the ability and she's more mentally mature than she was last year."

Willie's Luv ($3.20 as part of an entry with Proud and Free) stopped the clock in 1:38.04. She beat Firecard by 1 1/2 lengths with Cigno d'Oro third.

The New Jersey-bred stakes opportunities for fillies and mares going long are limited. Woodington will now shop for a stakes opportunity against open company.

The victory capped a stakes sweep for Bravo who guided It's a Monster to a 1 1/4 length victory in the $60,000 Longfellow Stakes.

It's a Monster ($3.40 in an entry with Alex's Pal) blazed the six furlongs in 1:09.66 over the drying-out track rated good.

It's a Monster split rivals to win going away.

"This horse is a monster," Bravo said. "Around the turn, he was going so fast he was just flying. He picked them up in the stretch pretty easy and just rolled by the leaders."

Fetch Dinner ran second with Pioneer Boy third.