Awesome Drama makes first start for new connections in Colleen

Awesome Drama makes her first start for a new barn and turf debut in Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going five and a half furlongs at Monmouth Park.

“She came to us right after she broke her maiden,” said Gregg Sacco, who conditions the horse for Jim Ballinger. “She was very impressive for a first time starter. In that first race, she broke really well which is going to be important in sprint races on the turf.”

The 2-year-old filly by Big Drama out of the Awesome Again mare Awesome Thrill graduated from the maiden ranks on July 14 in a $27,000 maiden special weight event going five and a half furlongs at Presque Isle Downs where she went to the front right out of the gate and had to fight for the nose victory after losing the lead in the middle of the stretch.

Awesome Drama has worked twice since moving to her new home on the Monmouth Park backstretch. The latest came on Aug. 3 when she went three furlongs in :37 4/5 on the Monmouth turf course with the dogs out.

“We got a chance to get her on the grass and she handled it really well,” said Sacco about her last work. “We tried to get her on last week but the turf workouts were cancelled. It was just an easy three-eighths. Jose Ferrer, who will ride her on Saturday, was aboard and was very pleased with her. I asked him how it went and he said she handled it great.”

To grab the Colleen title, Awesome Drama will have to beat two stakes placed horses on Saturday. China Grove, who will break from the rail for Ben Colebrook, finished second in the Astoria Stakes on the main track at Belmont Park on June 9 and Harlands Thunder, who finished third in the Grade 3 Schuylerville in her latest start at Saratoga on July 22.

The Colleen Stakes is set as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

 

 

The first-ever Italian Festival brings a taste of Italy to the Jersey Shore for the two-day event this weekend at Monmouth Park.

The festival will include authentic music, games for all ages including two bocce courts, and delicious food from Luzzo’s La Pizza Napoletina, Mangia Mangia Catering, Four Boys, The Little Sicilian, Enzo’s Pizza, The Tasty Trolley and so much more.

Live music will be playing “On the Green” all weekend long with the Metropolitan Festival Band on Saturday as well as the Rory Daniels Band on Sunday, which is also Family Fun Day featuring pony rides, face painters and bounce house.

Saturday’s 11-race, live thoroughbred racing card will be headlined by the $60,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on the turf.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. for both days with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

 

This Sunday, Monmouth Park will once again host Kortney’s Challenge, a two mile fun run/walk. Proceeds from the event will go to the Kortney Rose Foundation, an organization devoted to raising money to support research related to the treatment and cure of pediatric brain tumors.

The race will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the track’s entrance and will end two miles later in the Grandstand. Runners will also receive free Grandstand parking and admission to the park with registration to Kortney’s Challenge. Participants can register on race day in person starting at 8:30 a.m., or online at www.thekortneyrosefoundation.org.

Nonparticipants can also receive free admission by participating in Food Bank Day and donating a canned food or a non-perishable item. All food donations will go to the Monmouth/Ocean County Food Bank.

Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with the first race set for 12:50 p.m.