Exploring Digs In at Monmouth Park

Love Unlimited Thoroughbreds LLC’s Exploring split rivals at the top of the stretch and held off the late charge of Solemnly Swear to capture the $44,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Friday by a half-length.

Trained by Bobby Dibona, Exploring covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 4/5 and paid $5.40, $3.40 and $2.60 as the 8-5 favorite in the field of eight colts and geldings.  Solemnly Swear completed the $32.60 exacta and returned $6.40 to place and $4 to show.  It was another 2 ½ lengths back to Peri Whan, who paid $4 to show.

“I had plenty of horse under me the entire time,” said winning jockey Gabriel Saez.  “When it was time to run I cut the corner and when I asked him he dug in and never gave up.”

Friday’s victory marked the second consecutive win this season at Monmouth for Exploring, a 4-year-old gelding by Sky Mesa from the Bering mare Ing Ing.