Freestyler Takes Monmouth Sunday Feature
Michael Rosen’s Freestyler fought back gamely to capture Sunday’s $41,000 allowance optional claimer feature from Marriage Fever in the closing strides by a nose before a Mother’s Day crowd of 14,121 at Monmouth Park.
Trained by Bruce Alexander, Freestyler took the lead from Bama Bound at the top of the stretch as late-charging Marriage Fever came flying to wrest command with just over 100 yards to run. Freestyler found an extra gear and rallied to poke his nose back in front at the wire.
“I’ve ridden him before and I know he’s a fighter,” said winning jockey Daniel Centeno. “When the other horse came to his outside, he just continued to fight bravely.” Freestyler covered the mile oval in 1:38 1/5 and returned $9.20, $5.20 and $3.40. Marriage Fever completed the $64.40 exacta and paid $6.60 and $3.80. Bama Bound held for show paying $3.80.
A 5-year-old gelding by Street Cry (IRE) out of Dance Swiftly, Freestyler has now won two of his six starts in 2015 and is now one-for-one at Monmouth Park.
Vinceremos, an entry in the 2014 Kentucky Derby, sat off the pace on the backstretch, but faded to finish last in the six horse field as the 4-5 favorite.
Live racing continues at Monmouth Park next Saturday, May 16. Gates open at 10a.m. with live racing set for 12:50 p.m. Monmouth will beam-in all the simulcast action from Pimlico on Saturday, including the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes and American Pharoah’s bid to continue on the Triple Crown trail. First simulcast race from Pimlico is slated for 10:45 a.m.
Source: Monmouth Park