Plesa Sends Out Pair in Decathlon
Trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. will send out a pair of stakes winners this Saturday when Prudhoe Bay and Yes I’m Lucky head postward in the $75,000 Decathlon Stakes, feature on the Opening Day program.
Both horses have earned over $200,000 in their careers and both are already stakes winners over the Monmouth strip – Prudhoe Bay taking last year’s Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes and Yes I’m Lucky victorious in the 2013 Tyro.
Prudhoe Bay has drawn the far outside in the field of 14 as he makes his fourth start of 2015.
“I was a little disappointed in his last effort,” said Plesa, who conditions the colt for Rustlewood Farm Inc. “He did ship up well and is training good so I expect he’ll run better here on Saturday.”
That last race was a third-place finish in a Florida-bred restricted stakes at Tampa Bay Downs where he was close up earlier and checked in third, 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Prior to that he tried two turf stakes at Gulfstream Park, finishing fourth and seventh.
Prudhoe Bay will look to regain his 2014 form in the six-furlong Decathlon. Last year, the son of Songandaprayer won three of eight starts including the six-furlong Jersey Shore.
“It’s not what you’ve done in the past, but what you’re going to do today,” said Plesa. “He’s run very well before and hopefully he’ll be right back to those efforts this weekend.”
As for Yes I’m Lucky, he’ll be making just his second start of 2015 in this Saturday’s 11th race.
“There weren’t too many opportunities for him this winter,” Plesa said. “He’s been doing great and training really well so we’re just looking forward to seeing him run.”
Yes I’m Lucky is owned by Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa. As a 2-year-old he won his first three starts, including a pair of stakes races. He then finished second in the Sapling Stakes (G3) here before taking the Laurel Futurity. He made just one start in 2014, winning a stakes event at Gulfstream before coming back to that track in 2015 for his lone start this year.
The colt by Yes It’s True was a $105,000 sales purchase as a 2-year-old.
Monmouth’s 2015 season runs from May 9 through Sept. 27. Gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.
OPENING WEEKEND INCLUDES PASS GIVEAWAY, MOTHER’S DAY FESTIVITIES
All paying patrons at Monmouth Park on Opening Day (May 9) will leave with a little something extra, a Miller Lite Pass good for free Grandstand admission all the way through July 4.
The Opening Day promotion complements a 12-race card highlighted by the $75,000 Decathlon Stakes.
On Sunday, it’s Mother’s Day with all ladies receiving free admission. In addition, the first 1,000 ladies through the gates will receive a free gift courtesy of The Monmouth Mall. There will be a prize giveaway from Simone’s Jewelry and Ocean Place Resort & Spa as well as a Champagne Bar and brunch in the Turf Club and Dining Terrace.
Live music will be on tap both days this weekend as gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.
Source: Monmouth Park