Ambidextrous Alex Stretches Out in Pegasus
Angel Serpa is back aboard Ambidextrous Alex as he stretches to two turns at a mile and a sixteenth on the main track for the first time for trainer Joan Scott in Sunday’s Grade 3 $150,000 Pegasus Stakes.
In his latest outing, a $50,000 allowance/optional claimer going six furlongs over the Monmouth dirt on May 31, Ambidextrous Alex sat comfortably off the quick early pace of :21 2/5 and :44 1/5 and closed hard to finish second by less than a length.
“He ran great last time out,” said Serpa. “He did a good job of just sitting off the pace and when he found a spot to run he had a great kick. He just missed in the end, but he galloped out and had plenty left after the wire. The distance shouldn’t be a problem.”
The 3-year-old gelding by Broken Vow out of the Mr. Greeley mare Bekagi, who is owned by Roger McDaniel, has worked just once since his last race. He went five furlongs on June 12 over a fast Monmouth main track in 1:02 2/5.
“I’m just looking for a clean break and get into good position before the first turn,” said Serpa. “We will probably sit right off the pace and hopefully get space to get one good run.”
Ambidextrous Alex will have to get by two stakes winners in order to grab his first: Bodhisattva, who won the Federico Tesio at Pimlico in April and was an entrant in this year’s Preakness, and Mr. Jordan, who won both the Smooth Air and Juvenile Sprint last November at Gulfstream.
The Grade 3 Pegasus will be race 11 in Sunday’s 12-race card, which includes the Dan Horn Handicap. Gates open11:30 a.m. First post 12:50 p.m.
LEGAL LAURA TRIES TO KEEP MONMOUTH FORM IN RED CROSS
Legal Laura looks to make it back-to-back wins sprinting over the Monmouth main track, this time being in stakes company in Saturday’s $70,000 Red Cross Stakes going six furlongs.
“She seems to really like running at Monmouth Park,” said trainer Kathleen O’Connell, who conditions the horse for Gilbert Campbell. “She’s a nice filly and has been training well. She should be ready to go for tomorrow.”
The 4-year-old filly by Wildcat Heir out of the Untutterable mare Arealhotlover has worked since her last start on May 16, going four furlongs over a fast Monmouth main track in :49 1/5 on June 11.
In her last outing, a $30,000 allowance/optional claimer, Legal Laura sprung right to the lead and never looked back, going wire-to-wire in the six furlong event, winning by five lengths. Her only other previous race at Monmouth was in last year’s edition of the Little Silver, finishing second by a half- length behind Monmouth Oaks runner-up Saintly Joan.
“We had her go to the front last time out because there really wasn’t any speed in the race,” said O’Connell. “She seems to run her best races up near the lead so we will look for a clean break and be up on the pace from the start.”
To take home the Red Cross title, Legal Laura will have to get by another horse that is quite familiar with MonmouthPark, More Than a Party. The Eddie Broome trained mare is coming off a two length score in the Open Mind Handicap and sports a 3-2-1 record in seven career starts in Oceanport.
Jose Ferrer is back aboard Legal Laura and the duo will be breaking from post 7. The Red Cross will be race 11 on Saturday’s 12-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post at 12:50 p.m.
Source: Monmouth Park