Memories of Winter tries for Pegasus Upset
Memories of Winter tries to make it a career two-for-two over the Monmouth Park main track as he faces six other 3-year-olds in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 betfair.com Pegasus Stakes, going a mile and a sixteenth on the main track.
“We’re taking a shot in here,” said Anthony Margotta Jr., who conditions the horse for Thoroughbred Investment Funds LLC. “He’s been training so well and this is a $150,000 and a Grade 3, so we’ll give him a try.”
The colt by Hard Spun out of the Street Cry mare Memories for Us is coming off a sixth place effort in his turf debut in the Select Stakes on June 12.
“He had a troubled trip last out,” Margotta said. “It just wasn’t his day. He came back fine and has been doing great since.”
Memories of Winter is making his second career start in a graded stakes event Sunday with the first coming in the 2015 Delta Downs Jackpot, finishing eighth behind Preakness winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Exaggerator.
He broke his maiden in his first try over the Monmouth Park main track last season in a six furlong maiden special weight event, winning by a half-length.
Memories of Winter last worked on May 15 when he went six furlongs in 1:14 4/5 over the Monmouth dirt, one of only two horses to go the distance on that day.
To pull off the upset, Memories of Winter will have to get by three stakes winners including Jimmy Jerkens trained Unified, who is three-for-three to start his career and has won the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct and the Grade 2 Peter Pan at Belmont.
Abiding Star comes in off a start in this year’s Preakness and has won a pair of stakes events, Parx Derby and the Private Terms at Laurel Park.
Awesome Slew for Eddie Plesa Jr. puts his perfect Monmouth Park record on the line in his second start off a 10 month layoff. He snagged a three-length victory in a $50,000 allowance optional claiming event going six furlongs at Monmouth on May 21. He finished fourth by only two lengths in last year’s Grade 3 Sanford at Saratoga.
Jose Ferrer will get the call once again aboard Memories of Winter. He has ridden him in four of his six career starts.
The betfair.com Pegasus goes as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race program. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m., with first post set for 12:50 p.m.
PADRE GRAZ TRIES THE TURF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SATURDAY’S DAN HORN
Padre Graz takes to the turf for the first time and stretches back out to two turns against 11 other New Jersey breds inSaturday’s $60,000 Dan Horn Handicap at one mile.
“He will have no problem with the distance, but the turf is the unknown factor,” said trainer Pat McBurney, who conditions the horse for Fleming Thoroughbreds LLC. “This race could really open some new doors for him.”
The 5-year-old horse by Posse out of the Gold Token mare Amanda’s Antik hasn’t worked in a month when he went four furlongs over the Monmouth main track in :49 1/5 on May 14.
“I don’t see too much speed in the race so he will probably be closer up or on the lead,” said McBurney. “It seems to be where he likes to sit going around two turns.”
Last time out, Padre Graz found the winner’s circle in the opposite fashion, closing from off the pace to take a $51,000 allowance event going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on June 4.
“Orlando (Bocachica) will be back aboard Saturday and he has started to get familiar with him,” said McBurney.
Padre Graz’s most recent run around two turns came in last year’s edition of the Charles Hesse III Handicap on dirt, where he sat close to the lead throughout, but faded to finish fourth behind fellow Dan Horn rival Fuzzy Muzzle.
Padre Graz comes in as just one of two horses in the Dan Horn coming off a winning effort, with the Joe Mazza trained Chunnel taking home a $50,000 allowance race by a half-length on May 29.
Oak Bluffs has won three of his four career starts on the Monmouth turf including last year’s My Frenchman Stakes. All three wins came at the five and a half furlongs distance.
The Dan Horn goes as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race program. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. First post at 12:50 p.m.
FAN FAVORITE FATHER’S DAY SUNDAY, JUNE 19 AT MONMOUTH
One of the most anticipated days of the summer season, Father’s Day, will be celebrated at Monmouth Park Sunday, June 19 with a whole host of activities and giveaways to entertain Dads and the whole family.
All gentlemen will receive a $2 betting voucher with paid admission as well as an entry blank to win tickets to local sporting events, including baseball, football, basketball and a package for Monmouth Park’s signature event, the $1 millionbetfair.com Haskell Invitational on Sunday, July 31. Entries can be brought to either of the two Welcome Centers, located at the finish line or in the Picnic Area, before race 5 (no purchase necessary). Winners must pick up tickets by July 24.
The Turf Club will offer a special Father’s Day Brunch. The cost is $52 for adults with half price for children under 12-years-old. To make reservations, call 732-229-2100.
Also on tap will be Bud and Bud Light beer specials at select portable bars. And on Sunday, and every Sunday, it’s Family Fun Day, with clowns, pony rides, face painters and a bounce house to entertain the kids.
Gates open on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. first post 12:50 p.m.
Source: Monmouth Park