Elusive Cowgirl Hopes to Crank It Up

Elusive Cowgirl is set to make her second start since moving to the Sacco barn in Saturday’s $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes. In her first outing for trainer Gregg Sacco, after being privately purchased by Elliot Mavorah and Jay F. Young, Elusive Cowgirl bested the field by nearly two lengths in a claiming race at Monmouth on May 24. 

“She’s a nicely bred filly,” said Sacco. “She has some back class on the turf. We shipped her into Monmouth because we wanted to get a race into her, and even though it was a claiming race she was impressive winning that day.”

A 3-year-old daughter of Broken Vow, out of Ride Em Cowgirl, Elusive Cowgirl will try turf for the first time in 2014 as she sprints 5 1/2 furlongs in search of her first stakes win. Elusive Cowgirl broke her maiden going the same distance on the turf at Ellis Park back in August of last year.

“We’re taking a shot back on the grass,” Sacco said. “This will be a competitive race but she’s won at this distance and on the turf. There are a few nice fillies in the race that have good dirt form but have yet to prove themselves on turf, which is always a big question mark, so we’re going to take a shot.”

Elusive Cowgirl will face tough competition in the Crank It Up stakes, including Puddifoot, the undefeated morning line favorite at 3-1, and Sweet Emma Rose, who is second choice on the line at 9-2. Sacco believes that Elusive Cowgirl will have her best shot at winning if one of the nine other 3-year-old fillies goes to the lead on Saturday.

“I think she’ll be forwardly placed in the race,” Sacco said. “She breaks well and puts herself in the race. When she broke her maiden she went wire-to-wire. It would be ideal if we had something to run at. We could just sit a little bit off rather than being pressed from the beginning, and when the running starts we’ll see if she’s good enough.” 

Jockey Abel Castellano Jr. gets the call aboard Elusive Cowgirl in the Crank It Up, which will go as the last race on Monmouth’s 12-race card.

FRIDAY RACING RETURNS JUNE 6/BELMONT SIMO SATURDAY

Monmouth Park returns to a three-day racing schedule this Friday, June 6. From June through August Monmouth will host live racing on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as a special Monday card on Labor Day, September 1.

On the first Friday of the meet, patrons will be able to place advanced wagers on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, where California Chrome will try for his place in history as he searches for the third and final jewel of the Triple Crown. Gates at Monmouth open early at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday as the first race at Belmont is set for 11:35 a.m.

44TH ANNUAL IRISH FESTIVAL SUNDAY AT MONMOUTH

The 44th annual Irish Festival will return to Monmouth Park this Sunday. The festivities will begin at 11 a.m. with a traditional Irish mass on the paddock side of the Grandstand, and continue all day until 7 p.m. There will be live music throughout the day as musicians compete in the Irish band and dance competitions, as well as the bagpipe and drum competition.

Patrons will also be able to purchase Irish food and merchandise from vendors throughout the park, as well as watch the Human Horse Race, where 12 runners will face off in a showdown on Monmouth’s main track for charity, each in his or her own saddle cloth.

The festival will also feature a special beer garden, as authentic Irish beers Guinness, Harp, and Smithwicks will be on tap. 

There will be plenty of opportunities for family fun as patrons with children can bring them to the Thorofan Kid’s Club for arts, crafts, and activities in the Breeders’ Cup Garden, and to Monmouth Park’s Family Fun Day for face painting, pony rides, and a bounce house in the picnic area. 

Gates open early at 10 a.m. for the festival, with all patrons wearing kilts receiving free Grandstand admission.