Pletcher enters three runners in Long Branch

Todd Pletcher will send out three of the seven 3-year-olds that will enter the starting gate for Saturday’s $100,000 Long Branch Stakes, Monmouth Park’s final prep race for the Grade 1 betfair.com Haskell Invitational on July 31.

“All three have been training well here,” said Anthony Sciametta, assistant to Pletcher. “They will gallop easy today (Thursday) to get ready for Saturday.”

Uncle Vinny, owned by Starlight Racing, is coming off a second place finish, behind fellow Long Branch starter Tiz Long Gone, in a $47,000 allowance event at Monmouth on May 30.

The 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo out of the Untuttable mare Arealhotlover placed in two graded stakes in his 2-year-old season, a second place finish in the Grade 3 Sanford and a third place finish in the Grade 1 Hopeful, both at Saratoga.

Uncle Vinny has worked three times since his last start, all at Monmouth. The latest came on July 1 where he went four furlongs in :50 4/5 on the main track.

Breaking to the outside of Uncle Vinny will be Azar. The 3-year-old Pletcher trainee by Scat Daddy out of the Mineshaft mare Miss Ocean City is making only his second career start on dirt. In that lone start, Azar stalked the early pace before getting up in time to score a three quarters of a length victory in a $75,000 allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28.

Azar is exiting an eighth place finish by just two and a quarter lengths in the Grade 3 Pennine Ridge at Belmont on June 4 going a mile and an eighth on the turf.

Owned by Alto Racing LLC, Azar was shipped to Monmouth after his last start and worked twice over the main track with the most recent being on July 3 where he went four furlongs in :49.

Azar broke his maiden with a win in Grade 2 With Anticipation Stakes on Sept. 2 at Saratoga before running in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.

Rounding out the trio of Pletcher entries is Unbridled Daddy. The 3-year-old colt by Scat Daddy out of the Essence of Dubai mare Unbridled Essence is coming out of the Grade 3 Penn Mile at Penn National on June 4, where he finished seventh behind Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf champion Catch a Glimpse.

Owned by Red Oak Stable, Unbridled Daddy is making his first career start on dirt in the Long Branch. All seven of his previous starts had been over the turf.

Unbridled Daddy last found the winners circle in a $75,000 allowance optional claiming event on Mar. 19 at Gulfstream Park when he got bumped at the break and spotted the field over five lengths before storming home to four length win.

Unbridled Daddy has worked three times over the Monmouth Park main track, with the most recent coming on July 3, where he went four furlongs in :49 2/5.

The other four horses entering the gate with Pletcher’s trio are all coming off wins in either allowance or optional claiming company.

The Long Branch, at a mile and sixteenth, is set as race 9 on Saturday’s 10-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

STARS & STRIPES CELEBRATION, CLASSIC CAR SHOW ARRIVE AT MONMOUTH
 

The Budweiser Clydesdales, Stars & Stripes Celebration and the Classic Car Show headline a jam-packed weekend of events at Monmouth Park.

On Saturday, the Stars & Stripes Celebration featuring the Budweiser Clydesdales return to Monmouth Park for the first time in years.

The Clydesdales will parade down the track starting at the top of the stretch after race 3, approximately at 2 p.m. They will then proceed through the bus lot to the festival area where they will stand for photos for roughly 90 minutes under the trees on the grass.

Once finished, they will parade back down the stretch and stop in front of the winners circle for a presentation.

On the track, the day of racing will be headlined by the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes, the final chance for an invite to the $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational.

On Sunday, it’s Oldies Day at Monmouth Park with the Classic Car Show. The Cameo’s, New Jersey’s Favorite Oldies Group, will be playing live from 12-3 p.m. There will be live swing dancing performances as well as free lessons throughout the day. Big Joe Henry will broadcast live his NJ 101.5 FM Jersey’s Favorite Hits show “On the Green.”

Also on Sunday, patrons can enjoy Family Fun Day featuring pony rides, face painters and bounce house.

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

Source: Monmouth Park