Red Lodge Takes the Colleen with Ease

From Royal Ascot to beautiful Oceanport, New Jersey, Hat Creek Racing and Head of Plains’ Red Lodge popped out of the gate first and never looked back, posting an impressive 3 ½ length victory in Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Wesley Ward, Red Lodge went the 5 ½ furlongs over firm turf in 1:02.98 and returned $3, $2.10 and $2.10 as the odds-on favorite in the field of five 2-year-old fillies.  Iron Mizz rallied to complete the $5.40 exacta and paid $2.40 and $2.10.  It was another length and a half back to Harlands Thunder, who returned $2.10 to show.

“She is a very nice filly,” said winning rider Paco Lopez.  “She had a great break and went to the lead.  I hit her one time going around the turn and I knew I had a lot of horse left.”

A daughter of Midshipman from the Aldebaran mare Star Silver, Red Lodge was making her first start since the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 16.  She has now won two of her four starts, good for earnings of $81,000.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Aug. 7 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.

Source: Monmouth Park