Plesa expects Mr. Jordan to run a big race in Iselin

Mr. Jordan will try to grab his second graded stakes score over the Monmouth Park main track when he enters the gate with five rivals for the Grade 3, $100,000 Phillip H. Iselin Stakes going a mile and an eighth this Saturday.

“He has been doing really good,” said Eddie Plesa Jr., who conditions the horse for David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa. “I don’t think he minded the sloppy track last time, but I expect him to run a big race Saturday.”

Mr. Jordan is making his third start off a 4 ½ month layoff and is exiting a third place finish over a sloppy track behind Grade 1 winner Bradester in the Grade 2 Monmouth Cup on the Haskell Day undercard.

Mr. Jordan made his return to the races off the layoff with a third place finish in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile on July 2.

The 4-year-old gelding by Kantharos out of the Cloud Hopping mare Miss Skeetd was a multiple stakes winner as a 2-year-old with wins in the Smooth Air Stakes and Juvenile Sprint Stakes, both at Gulfstream Park West.

The lone graded stakes win for Mr. Jordan came last year in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes when he battled Tekton down the stretch to the head victory. That win led him to a start in last year’s Haskell Invitational against Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

Mr. Jordan has worked just once since his start on Haskell Day. It came on Aug. 15 over a fast Monmouth track where he went five furlongs in 1:02 3/5.

“It was mostly just a maintenance work for him,” said Plesa Jr. “He will probably be on the pace or close to it.”

To grab the Iselin title, Mr. Jordan will have to deal with three horses that are entering the race off wins in allowance optional claiming events.  Watershed, for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and the David Jacobson trainee Baccelo both exit wins at Saratoga while Cowboy Rhythm, out of the Todd Pletcher barn, took his first score versus winners over a sloppy Monmouth main track.

The Phillip H. Iselin is set as race 11 in Saturday’s 12-race card. Gates will open early at 11:00 a.m., with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.  Monmouth will beam-in all the action from Saratoga that day including Haskell winner Exaggerator’s run in the Travers Stakes.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEKEND AT MONMOUTH THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY
 

With football season right around the corner, fans can get a jump start on their fantasy teams and get insight from some of the industry’s leading pros with the FNTSY Football Weekend at Monmouth Park this Saturday and Sunday.

Fans will be able come in throughout the day to talk to experts, writers and hosts from the FNTSY Sports Network at the William Hill Sports Bar and get one-on-one advice and analysis with any fantasy football questions.

On both days, everyone in attendance wearing a football jersey will receive free Grandstand admission.

For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com.

NEW JERSEY THOROUGHBRED FESTIVAL CONTESTED SUNDAY

The best that New Jersey breds have to offer will be on display on Sunday at Monmouth with the 14th annual New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival presented by Malouf Auto Group.

Three stakes races restricted to horses born in the Garden State are on tap for Sunday including the Charles Hesse III Handicap, Jersey Breeders Handicap and the Eleven North Handicap.

Along with a great day or racing, there will also be a NJ Thoroughbred Festival long sleeve t-shirt giveaway with paid admission, while supply last.

Sunday is also Day 2 of the FNTSY Football Weekend as well as Family Fun Day featuring pony rides, face painters and a bounce house.

In addition, live music will be playing “On the Green” from the Larry Stevens Band.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with scheduled first post at 12:50 p.m.

Source: Monmouth Park