Meadowlands Barn Notes - Oct. 18
Sea Gull Associates’ Shock Leader will look to make it two in a row when he heads postward in Saturday’s Meadowlands feature, a $30,000 allowance/optional claimer at a mile and 70 yards on the turf.
“He ran well two back at Monmouth,” said trainer Tim Hills, “but really exploded last out.”
That last event was a dominating four length score in a maiden special weight at Delaware with jockey Victor Santiago, who has the return call on Saturday.
Prior to his maiden win, Shock Leader was a good fifth on Monmouth turf after more than eight months on the shelf.
“He had an issue and we decided to just give him the time off,” Hills said. “We always thought he’d be a nice horse, so we let him come back when he was ready. He got carried out in that first race back, but ran on real well in the stretch.”
A 3-year-old gelding by Bernstein from the Dehere mare Got a Glow, Shock Leader made his career debut as a 2-year-old on Meadowlands turf last October. He then ran twice at Gulfstream prior to his return to the track this summer at Monmouth.
Saturday’s feature appears to be a wide open event as 14 horses have entered, with 12 able to go. Oddsmaker Brad Thomas made Cantonic the 90-2 favorite in the full field with Shock Leader listed at 8-1 from the 12-post.
“I don’t think the post will matter at all,” Hills said. “He’ll look to tuck in from out there and come with his run as they turn for home.”
Scheduled as race five on the six-race program, the Saturday feature has an estimated post of 4:22 p.m. Live racing gets underway at 2:15, with gates opening at 11:30 a.m. The all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet runs through Nov. 2.
BREEDERS’ CUP PARTY SET FOR NOV. 2 IN TURF CLUB
Monmouth Park will host a Breeders’ Cup Party on Saturday, Nov. 2 coinciding with Day 2 of the 30th Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita.
The event will take place in Monmouth Park’s luxurious Turf Club and for $40 will include valet parking, Breeders’ Cup program, lunch buffet, and an exclusive Breeders’ Cup tip sheet from Monmouth Park’s own Brad Thomas.
Nine Breeders’ Cup races are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 capped by the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. All championship races – along with all undercard races plus a variety of simulcast signals – will be shown in the Turf Club from 12pm to 9pm. The event will house large-screen TVs in addition to the room’s numerous flat screens, private betting windows and a cash bar.
Beginning at 6 p.m., and courtesy of the Breeders’ Cup, the entire racetrack will celebrate “Happy Hour” with drink specials running right up to the Classic.
For more information on the Breeders’ Cup Viewing Party, log-on to www.monmouthpark.com or email Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.