True Romance looks to notch first stakes win in Regret

True Romance looks to notch her first stakes win of her career when she breaks from the gate against five rivals in Saturday’s $60,000 Regret Stakes, going six furlongs on the Monmouth Park main track.

The 6-year-old mare by Yes It’s True has won her last two races on the main track in gate-to-wire fashion against allowance optional claiming company at Monmouth on June 17 and an allowance event at Keeneland on April 8. Joe Bravo was aboard for both of those wins and will get the call again on Sunday.

“We got a maintenance breeze in her with Bravo aboard and she finished up strong,” said trainer Tim Hills. “Last time out, she broke from the rail, so the plan was to get her out well and on the lead and at Keeneland, she was the lone speed in the race.”

That last breeze came on July 9 when she went four furlongs in :49 over a fast Monmouth main track.

True Romance has hit the board in each of her four career starts over the Monmouth Park dirt, all versus allowance optional claiming opponents.

Owned by Robert Susi, the last stakes appearance for the daughter of the Wild Rush mare Spring Rush came on the turf two starts back in the Blue Sparkler Stakes on May 28 at Monmouth where she finished seventh by just three and a quarter lengths.

“She’s run well sitting off the pace earlier in her career, so we’ll probably settle off the early speed and make a good run,” said Hills.

To add a first stakes victory to her resume, True Romance will have to get by short priced runners and likely speeds of the race, Court Dancer, who breaks from the rail for trainer Jason Servis, and Bustin Out, for Chuck Spina, who won last year’s Eleven North Handicap at Monmouth and is two-for-two at the meet this year.

The Regret will run as race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race card. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. for day 2 of the Surf & Turf Seafood Festival, with first post at 12:50 p.m.

 

 

The Surf & Turf Seafood Festival continues at Monmouth Park Sunday with some of the best seafood at the Jersey Shore.

Patrons will be able to try delicious seafood from crab cakes to clam chowder, shrimp, flounder, lobster rolls and much more from vendors such as Red Hook Lobster, Cape May Salt Oysters, Star of the Sea Seafood, Ike’s Famous Crabcakes, Tony’s Clam Bar and many more.

The Surf & Turf Seafood Festival will also have games and activities for all ages Sunday including Family Fun Day featuring pony rides, face painters and bounce house. Pez Head will be headlining live music “On the Green” as well.

Gates will open at 11:30 a.m., with first post at 12:50 p.m.