Simon Bar Sinister goes for first stakes win in My Frenchman

Simon Bar Sinister goes for his first stakes win when he takes on nine rivals in Saturday’s $60,000 My Frenchman Stakes going five and a half furlongs on the turf.

“He’s a good horse and has been doing terrific,” said John Mazza, who conditions the horse for Theres A Chance Stable. “He didn’t like the off track last time out. He runs well short and even at a mile too, but he likes to stalk the pace and make a run.”

In his latest outing, Simon Bar Sinister finished fourth in the off the turf Wolf Hill Stakes at Monmouth on July 10. His most recent try over the turf was on May 28 at Monmouth, when he sat just off the pace in his first try around two turns in over a year and just missed getting the win, finishing second by a head to Cement Clement, who went on to run in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes.

A 5-year-old gelding by War Front out of the Forestry mare Christmas Jones, Simon Bar Sinister last made it to the winner’s circle on Feb. 18 in a $62,500 allowance optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park when stormed home to get up in time for a three quarters of a length victory.

He has worked twice since his run in the Wolf Hill Stakes, going four furlongs in :48 4/5 on Aug. 3 and prior to that a bullet three furlongs in :35 flat. 

To grab his first career stakes win, Simon Bar Sinister will have to get by two horses that are coming off four or more straight victories. Black Jet is undefeated for trainer Mario Serey Jr. and has won five in a row dating back to February while Alan Goldberg trainee-Pool Winner has tallied four straight wins beginning in November of 2015, all in allowance or optional claiming company.

Two other entries are also entering the My Frenchman off wins in their last start:  Blue Y Gold, for J. Willard Thompson, came from way out of it to grab the win by a head over a sloppy main track at Monmouth in a $20,000 allowance optional claiming event; and, another from the Mario Serey Jr. barn, Sylven Park, who will break from the rail and is exiting a four length victory in a $16,000 claiming race at Parx on July 18.

The My Frenchman is set as race 9 in Saturday’s 10-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

 

 

Seats in the 2017 DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship are on the line Saturday in Monmouth’s $500 Super Qualifier Handicapping Contest.

Participants must wager on a minimum of 10 races between Monmouth Park and Saratoga with at least five of them being on the Monmouth card. Players can only use win, place and/or show wagers throughout the day as they try to build their bankroll.