Knight Tripp a Colleen Longshot

Saturday’s Colleen Stakes will feature some fast 2-year-old fillies, including Knight Tripp, who will look to keep owner/breeder “A Womans Thing” on a roll.

Bred in New Jersey, Knight Tripp is the ninth foal out of Knightsridge, who raced for A Womans Thing in 1997.  Of those nine foals, Knight Tripp is the ninth to race and seventh winner.  She’s kin to Knightsound, K. R.’s Regent and Magic Skier, all winners over the Monmouth racetrack.

“This is one of the better ones out of that mare,” said trainer Mary Hartmann, who also conditioned Knightsridge.  “We’re not happy about the one hole, but it is what it is.  She showed good speed coming out of the gate when she broke her maiden, so hopefully she’ll show some speed again.”

That maiden win came in start number two for Knight Tripp.  She was well-backed first out on June 25 when sent off at 3-1.  She trailed throughout the race and was never a factor.

Fast-forward three weeks to July 16.  Dismissed in the wagering at 12-1, Knight Tripp broke first, was headed around the far turn and dug in gamely to post almost a one-length victory in the five-furlong maiden special weight race restricted to New Jersey-breds.

“She’s a competitive J-bred,” Hartmann said.  “We’ll see how she breaks on Sunday and let Pablo (jockey Fragoso) take it from there.  I imagine she’ll be close to the front and hopefully we’ll get lucky.”

A May foal by the stallion Trippi, Knight Tripp will face nine rivals in the 5 ½-furlong Colleen Stakes, Monmouth Park’s traditional prep for the $100,000 Sorority Stakes, to be run on Sept. 5.