Monmouth Park handles $1.52 million on opening day

Monmouth Park had a total handle of $1,528,236 for Friday's six-race opening-day program, which was impacted by rain that forced the featured $100,000 Jersey Derby to be taken off the turf.

Last year, Monmouth did not open until July 3 due to the COVID pandemic. A similar six-race program drew $3,422,830 in total wagers. On-track handle Friday was $125,956.

In 2019, Monmouth Park opened with eight races on May 4, Kentucky Derby day. The track handed $2,798,394 with $494,288 coming on track. 

Monmouth opened this year's meet with a new riding-crop rule that is the strictest in North America. Under the mandate from the New Jersey Racing Commission, jockeys at Monmouth Park can only use the riding crop as a matter of safety. As a result of this rule, some jockeys - including perennial leading rider Joe Bravo and Antonio Gallardo - elected not to participate at the meet. 

In the featured Jersey Derby, It's a Gamble scored by 1 1/2 lengths under Jose Baez for trainer Kelly Breen. He had raced on dirt just once previously in eight lifetime starts. 

“Even though this was just his second start on the dirt he has trained well on it,” said Breen, who captured his third Monmouth Park training title last year. “So I wasn’t all that concerned when it came off the turf. Everything set up for him. The rail opened up and he was able to find his way through."

The other winning jockeys on Friday's card were Christian Navarro (1st, 4th), Isaac Castillo (2nd) and Tomas Mejia (3rd, 6th).

Monmouth Park continues on Saturday with a 12-race program starting at 12:15 p.m. EDT.