Sunny Ridge Targets Haskell Invitational
Sunny Ridge calls the Monmouth Park backstretch his home and will stay home for his next start in Monmouth’s marquee event, the Grade 1, $1 million betfair.com Haskell Invitational on July 31.
The 3-year-old gelding by Holy Bull out of the Songandaprayer mare Lignum Vitae exits the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 5 where he made a strong move on the far turn before finishing fourth by three lengths behind then undefeated Shagaf.
Owned by Dennis Drazin, Sunny Ridge latest trip to the winners circle came in the Grade 3 Withers over the Aqueduct inner track on Jan. 30. He sat second for most of the race that day before grabbing the lead at the top of the stretch and holding on for a three quarters of a length victory.
Sunny Ridge has worked four times since his last outing over three and a half months ago. The most recent came on July 21 over the Monmouth main track where he went five furlongs in 1:02 4/5.
“I don’t plan on working anymore in the lead up to the race,” said trainer Jason Servis. “He will have open gallops and jogs the rest of the way.”
Sunny Ridge is a perfect 2-for-2 over the Monmouth Park dirt, both races coming as a 2-year-old. He broke his maiden at first asking and came back later in the meet to take the Sapling Stakes in late-charging fashion with Nik Juarez aboard for both wins.
Nik Juarez gets the call once again in the Haskell.
Sunny Ridge isn’t the only locally based horse to run in this year’s betfair.com Haskell. Eddie Plesa Jr. will send out Awesome Slew, who finished third in his most recent outing, his first around two turns, in the Grade 3 Pegasus. He is 2-for-3 lifetime on the Monmouth main track.
Three Kentucky Derby runners have confirmed their next start will be in the Haskell including champion Nyquist, for trainer Doug O’Neill, who will make his first start since finishing third in the Preakness.
Gun Runner, conditioned by Steve Asmussen, finished third in the Derby and is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Brody’s Cause comes in from the barn of Dale Romans. Brody’s Cause won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity as a 2-year-old and the Grade 1 Toyota Bluegrass, both at Keeneland, en route to starts in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Bob Baffert will look for his record ninth win in the Haskell with American Freedom, who is coming off a win in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows.
The betfair.com Haskell Invitational is a Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” event for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Haskell’s scheduled post time is 5:49 p.m. and will be telecast live on NBC. The entire Haskell Day card will be broadcast live on TVG.
Gates will open early on Haskell Day at 10 a.m. with first race scheduled for 12 noon.
COLONEL SHARP TRIES STAKES COMPANY FOR FIRST TIME IN JERSEY SHORE
Colonel Sharp takes on stakes company for the first time when he enters the gate with five other rivals in Saturday’sGrade 3, $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes, going six furlongs on the main track.
“I couldn’t be happier with how he is doing,” said conditioner Todd Beattie. “He’s been doing excellent since his last race and has been really sharp and working strong.”
Owned by DASL Stable, the 3-year-old gelding by Colonel John out of the Cherokee Run mare Extra Sharp is coming off a tenth place finish in a $62,000 allowance optional claiming event at Belmont Park on June 11.
Prior to that start, Colonel Sharp broke his maiden in his first try, taking the field gate-to-wire to win by 13 lengths onApril 22 at Penn National. In his first start versus winners, he battled his way to a head victory in a $50,000 allowance optional claiming event at Pimlico on May 12.
Colonel Sharp has worked three times since his last start on June 11. The last bullet came on July 19 when he went five furlongs in :59 1/5.
Nik Juarez will be aboard for the first time on Saturday.
“He was the only 3-year-old in the race at Belmont last time and it was a really tough field,” said Beattie. “I’m not saying we will be the speed of the race, but he will be close up.”
Eddie Plesa Jr. sends out a duo from his barn to try and grab their first graded stakes win. Yellow Chips is coming off back-to-back wins in late-closing fashion, while Full Salute is a three times stakes winner with the most recent coming in his latest start in the Select Stakes going five and a half furlongs on the turf.
The Jersey Shore will be one of two stakes races on Saturday, along with the Lamplighter, and is set as race eight inSaturday’s 10-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.
PEPPI THE HUNTER COMES TO MONMOUTH FOR FIRST TIME IN LAMPLIGHTER
Peppi the Hunter looks to make his Monmouth Park debut a winning one when he takes on six other 3-year-olds in Saturday’s $60,000 Lamplighter Stakes, going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.
Peppi the Hunter is exiting a fourth place finish in a $40,000 allowance optional claiming event at Suffolk Downs on July 10. His last stakes appearance came in the Stanton on June 22 at Delaware Park where he finished sixth behind two of his Lamplighter rivals, Brass Compass and Second Mate.
The 3-year-old gelding by U S Ranger out of the Mineshaft mare Fine Line last found his way to the winners circle onApril 2 when he took down a $75,000 allowance optional claiming field on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs. His last turf win came just a race prior in the same optional claiming company.
“I like the post for him,” said owner and trainer Joseph Minieri. “It will all depend on how he breaks to see where he is positioned early. The last three or four races, he has been a little too close to the pace. I think he will be trying to come running late.”
Jonathon Gonzales will have the mount for the first time in the Lamplighter.
The Lamplighter is one of two stakes to be run on Saturday’s 10-race card along with the Grade 3 Jersey Shore. It is set to run as race nine. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.
Source: Monmouth Park