Speed Seeker Faces Full Field in Eatontown
Speed Seeker joins four other graded stakes winners in her first try over the Monmouth Park turf in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Eatontown Stakes going a mile and a sixteenth.
“She’s been doing great since coming from Tampa,” said trainer Joan Scott, who conditions the horse for owners Frank Ferrogine, Richard Rendina, Frank Coniglio, and Robert Johnson. “She has been training well and all systems are a go for Saturday.”
Speed Seeker has worked five times since returning from the winter in Florida. Her last morning move was on June 19, where she went five furlongs in 1:03 over a fast Monmouth main track.
The 4-year-old filly by Heatseeker out of the Southern Halo mare Seraphic Too has run her last three races at Tampa Bay Downs, all in stakes company. Her latest try came in the Distaff Turf in April where she dueled a quick early pace of :22 4/5 for the quarter mile and :46 2/5 for the half before finishing sixth to eventual winner Evidently, who will break post position one in the Eatontown.
“We wanted to give her a little time off after her last start,” said Scott. “She seems to run better when going into the race fresh.”
Speed Seeker’s greatest triumph came in last year’s edition of the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes at Woodbine where she came from the middle of the pack to storm home to over a four length score.
“She is a horse that likes to find a place that she is comfortable early on in the race,” said Scott. “I think we will have her close to the lead early on. Erick Rodriguez will be back aboard for this race. He has ridden the last few times and is very familiar with her.”
Speed Seeker is going to have to fend off a bunch of stakes winners to get to the wire first including four graded stakes victors: Rusty Slipper, Stellar Path, Sistas Stroll, and I’m Already Sexy.
Kenzadargent, trained by Chad Brown, is another one who has had stakes success with her latest coming over the Monmouth turf in winning the Miss Liberty Stakes four weeks ago.
The Eatontown will be race 11 on Saturday’s 12-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., first post p.m.
WIN AND WINE WEEKEND/CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL AT MONMOUTH THIS WEEKEND
Guests will pour into Monmouth Park Saturday and Sunday for Win and Wine weekend and Chocolate Festival, where they will be able to sample and purchase delicious wines from New Jersey’s best wineries and satisfy their sweet tooth with many different chocolate treats, all while enjoying a day at the races.
Multiple packages are available all weekend. For $10, patrons will receive a wristband for unlimited access to wine sampling from vintners such as Cava Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards, Monroeville Vineyard, Plagido's Winery, Renault Winery and more. For $7, guests will be able sample an assortment of chocolates from Candy Creations, Chimney Cakes, JoJo’s Chocolate, JD Gourmet, Mehek, Dee’s Cakes, among others. For those who fancy both wine and chocolate, they can have the bundle package for just $15.
Patrons will also be able to enjoy live music from The Larry Stevens Band on Saturday and The Rory Daniels Bandon Sunday, which is also Family Fun Day featuring pony rides, face painters and bounce house.
Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with event festivities beginning at 12 noon and first post at 12:50 p.m. for both days.
Source: Monmouth Park