More Than a Party looks to defend title in Open Mind

More Than a Party will look to defend her title against five other New Jersey bred fillies and mares in Monday’s $60,000 Open Mind Handicap, going six furlongs.  

      

“She couldn’t be doing any better going into the race,” said Eddie Broome, who conditions the horse and owns her with Richard Malouf. “She had no problem coming up here from Gulfstream.”

Last time out, the 5-year-old mare by More Than Ready out of the Jules mare Party to Party sat right off the early pace before taking the lead around the far turn and pulled away to a seven-length victory in an allowance optional claiming event on April 14 at Gulfstream Park.

“She had some trouble getting her footing that day, but once she did, she sat nicely and then took off in the stretch,” said Broome.

Since returning to Monmouth from Florida, More Than a Party has worked twice over the main track, the latest coming on May 22 where she went five furlongs in 1:01, the fastest of the six horses that went the distance on that day.

More Than a Party has hit the board in six of her eight career starts on the Monmouth Park main track, posting a record of 3-2-1. She won last year’s edition of the Open Mind, her most recent victory at Monmouth, by two and a quarter lengths.

“We will probably sit right of the early speed which will most likely come from her outside,” said Broome.

That early speed appears to be Bustin Out for Chuck Spina’s barn. She won her first start of 2016 in gate-to-wire fashion on May 14 and has a record of 4-1-2 in her eight career starts at Monmouth.

Along with More Than a Party, two other stakes winners will be entering the starting gate on Monday; Love Came to Town, for Kevin Sleeter, and Little Stitch, for Joe Jennings.

The Open Mind goes as race eight on Monday’s nine-race program. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. as Monmouth Park hosts the final day of a three-day Food Truck Festival.

 

 

Monmouth Park’s popular Food Truck Festival concludes Memorial Day, Monday, May 30. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Family Fun Day will be in full force with clowns, pony rides, face painters and a bounce house to entertain the kids.

The food trucks first rolled into Monmouth in 2012 for a one-day event, which has expanded in size and scope to what it is today.  Among those who will be concocting their culinary delights are:  Empanada Guy, Max’s Hot Dogs, Betty’s Icebox, Red Hook Lobster and Enzo’s Deli, to name a few.

First post will be 12:50 p.m.  Admission to the Grandstand, where the food trucks will assemble, is $5 – seniors pay $3 and children 12 and under are free.

For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com.

 

 

Tickets for the 49th edition of the betfair.com Haskell Invitational, to be renewed on Sunday, July 31, are now on sale.

Clubhouse sections start at $25, while Grandstand seats range from $20-$25. For the Grandstand balcony seat prices go from $13-$18. A complete Grandstand or Clubhouse box ranges from $100-$200 depending on the number of people.

Last year tickets went quickly as a record crowd of over 60,000 packed Monmouth Park to watch Triple Crown winner American Pharoah take home New Jersey’s richest horse race.

Admission on Haskell Day, which is not included in the reserved seat price, is $8 for the Grandstand and $10 for the Clubhouse. For seniors aged 55 and up Grandstand admission is $4 and Clubhouse admission will cost $5.     

Haskell tickets can be purchased by calling 732-571-5563, or by visiting the reserved seat booth (2nd floor of the Grandstand) on any live racing day. In addition, fans can pre-purchase Haskell seats directly through www.monmouthpark.com.