Mary n’ Eileen, Lucky Rag Doll Ready for Monday
Monmouth Park will offer a special 11-race Labor Day card this Monday, with a pair of stakes races highlighting the racing action and trainer Pat McBurney will be represented in both events as he sends out Mary n’ Eileen in the Grade 3 Boiling Springs and Lucky Rag Doll in the Lady’s Secret.
“Both horses are doing great, training real good,” said McBurney from his headquarters on the Monmouth Park backstretch. “We were looking for a race for Mary n’ Eileen and we figured maybe we would try her on turf. If it rains and comes off, she’ll definitely go, though.”
Mary n’ Eileen rides a three-race win streak into Monday’s $100,000 Boiling Springs, including a restricted stakes victory for Indiana breds last out on Aug. 6, at Indiana Grand Racecourse.
“She’s obviously a talented filly,” McBurney said. “There’s another Indiana-bred stakes on Oct. 4 for her, so this race fits perfectly for that.”
A daughter of Indy King from the Pleasant Tap mare Apleasantnight, Mary n’ Eileen was a $25,000 yearling purchase. She’s among nine entered in the mile and an eighth Boiling Springs, which includes My Merry Way, a main track only entrant, and one of three for trainer H. Graham Motion. The morning line favorite is Little Journey, 2-1, for trainer Chad Brown.
One race prior to the Boiling Springs, McBurney will saddle Lucky Rag Doll in the $75,000 Lady’s Secret Stakes.
“She’s doing really well,” McBurney said. “She’s graded stakes placed already and we’d love to get her a stakes win. It’s up in the air whether she’ll be back for a 5-year-old campaign, but either way we’d really like to see her get that stakes victory.”
A 4-year-old daughter of Silver Train from the Dehere mare Here Comes Chelsie, Lucky Rag Doll was third in last year’s Monmouth Oaks (G3) and earlier this year finished third in the Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2). Lucky Rag Doll, who won an allowance race here last out when breaking from the rail, has once again drawn the fence in Monday’s mile and a sixteenth race. Jockey Angel Serpa has the return call.
My Miss Sophia, at 6-5, is the heavy favorite on Brad Thomas’s morning line. Earlier this year she won the Gazelle (G2) before a runner-up effort to Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). The Lady’s Secret will mark her first start since the Acorn (G1) on June 7. The Todd Pletcher-trainee will be ridden by Eddie Castro.
Monmouth’s racing action gets underway at 12:50 p.m., with gates opening 11:30 a.m.
LABOR DAY FESTIVITIES SET FOR MONDAY AT MONMOUTH
For Monday’s 11-race Labor Day Card, all paid admissions to Monmouth Park will leave with a little something extra, a Miller Lite pass good for Grandstand admission throughout the month of September. In addition, patrons can enjoy the Miller Lite VIP Hangout featuring relaxed seating, $3 Miller Lite specials, giveaways, cornhole, and live entertainment from DJ Gotts of 95.9 the WRAT.
Family Fun Day will be in full force on Monday with clowns, pony rides, face painters, a bounce house and more to entertain the kids as Pez Head performs live “On the Green.”
Gates open at Monmouth at 11:30 a.m. with first post slated for 12:50 p.m. Following the Labor Day Card Monmouth will shift to live racing on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the meet on Sept. 28.
Source: Monmouth Park