Nacho Friend Wins; Pants On Fire Works

George and Lori Hall’s Nacho Friend took command out of the gate and withstood steady pressure throughout the mile and a sixteenth $52,000 allowance/optional claiming contest to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Primary Witness in the Friday feature at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Kelly John Breen and ridden by Angel Serpa, Nacho Friend returned $4, $2.40 and $2.20 as the odds-on favorite in the field of six colts and geldings.  Primary Witness completed the $17.20 exacta and paid $4 and $2.40.  It was another length and three-quarters back to New Adventure, who paid $3.40 to show.

Friday’s win was the third in 15 starts for Nacho Friend, a 4-year-old colt by Friends Lake from the Kennedy Road mare You’renotlistening.

Earlier on the Friday card, trainer Breen sent out another of his runners, this one Louisiana Derby winner Pants on Fire for an afternoon half-mile work.

Just after the fifth race, Pants on Fire, recently ninth in the Kentucky Derby, blazed four furlongs in :45 1/5 over the fast main track.  After the work, Breen said Pants on Fire will race next in the Pegasus Stakes (G3) at Monmouth on Saturday, June 18, with the ultimate goal being the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Haskell Invitational on July 31.