Monmouth at Meadowlands cancels Saturday racing due to rain

Monmouth at Meadowlands has canceled its six-race, all-turf card Saturday due to rain.

An area including East Rutherford, New Jersey is under a flood watch until 8:00 p.m. EDT. The National Weather Service predicts a 100 percent chance of rain Saturday afternoon, with thunderstorms possible and between one-half and three-quarters of an inch of new rainfall. They call for a 60 percent chance of rain Saturday night, with those likely to come before 8:00 p.m. EDT. Monmouth media director Tom Luicci confirmed to Horse Racing Nation on Saturday morning that this weather caused the track to cancel.

The track contested its six-race card Friday night over turf rated good, with Mia's Crusade winning the featured Pinot Grigio Handicap, a sprint stakes for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares.

However, rain fell in the area overnight and continued precipitation through Saturday after an already-rainy meet has made the turf unusable for racing once again. Saturday's card is the fourth the track has had to cancel this meet. Rain also forced abandonment of the Monmouth at Meadowlands cards on Sept. 23, Sept. 29 and last Saturday.

Saturday's canceled card included six races, with the richest among them being the opener, a $57,500 allowance-level turf mile for New Jersey-breds. Coincidentally the morning-line favorite in that race was One Time Willard: a 4-year-old gelding by Micromanage out of New Jersey-bred mare Pinot Grigio, the namesake of Friday's feature.

Closing weekend of Monmouth at Meadowlands is scheduled for Friday and next Saturday. Post time is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT both days.