Monmouth Park Barn Notes - Sept. 14
Sunday’s $38,000 allowance/optional claiming feature has drawn a very competitive group of seven colts and geldings, among them trainer Pat McBurney’s Cheap Red Wine, who returns to six furlongs after trying two turns for the first time last out.
“He didn’t like that at all,” McBurney said. “It’s back to sprinting for him. The race has come up tough, but he’s training good and feeling good, so hopefully he’ll show that on Sunday.”
A 3-year-old colt by Spellbinder from the Belong to Me mare
Our Sophia, Cheap Red Wine debuted on July 7 of this year and trounced
his foes, winning by 10 lengths. He was then third at the same level
he’ll face Sunday, when he closed well to be
third. That was before his two-turn try, which the trainer is drawing a
line through.
“He should fit fine with these, especially going back to six furlongs,” McBurney said. “He has natural speed, so we’ll see what he does with it.”
Cheap Red Wine will have a new jockey in Gabriel Saez as that pair breaks from post four. Their main competition will likely come from Thunder Hole, who’s been named the 5-2 favorite from the far outside post and Evolution Rocks, a gate to wire winner of his last.
Sunday’s feature is set as race nine, with an estimate post of 4:58 p.m.
MONMOUTH/WOODBINE HANDICAPPING CONTEST THIS SUNDAY
Sharp horse players will have the chance to test their skills on Sunday, Sept. 15, and there are two berths in the 2014 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas at stake.
There will be walk-up registration only for the $200 Monmouth Park/Woodbine Racetrack Handicapping contest, with $100 as the non-refundable entry fee and $100 as the tournament bankroll. There will be challenge wagering on the full cards from Monmouth and Woodbine only, with a maximum of two entries per person allowed.
Registration will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at designated tables located inside the Clubhouse and Grandstand entrances on the day of the contest. For more information, contact Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com.