Led by the grade III Turf Monster Handicap, Parx Racing in Pennsylvania will card three lucrative stakes worth a total of $850,000 on Labor Day, Sept. 5.
The $350,000 Turf Monster is a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IIT) Nov. 5 at Churchill Downs. The five-furlong race drew a field of 12.
Also on the card are the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap for filly and mares at five furlongs on the grass and the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds on the main dirt track.
The Turf Monster is led by 122-pound high weights and likely favorites Chamberlain Bridge and Regally Ready. Seven-year-old Chamberlain Bridge is the two-time defending winner of the event, and will be looking to earn a return spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, which he won last season at Churchill.
The gelded son of War Chant is looking to snap a three-race losing streak and will break from post 12 under Jamie Theriot. Bret Calhoun trains him for Carl R. Moore Management.
Vinery Racing’s Regally Ready is a neck away from being undefeated in his last five starts. The Steve Asmussen trainee was third as the 3-10 favorite in the My Frenchman Stakes Aug. 6 at Monmouth Park in his most recent start.
Earlier in the season Regally Ready won three in a row at Santa Anita Park, and two starts back won the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (gr. IIIT) in which he defeated Chamberlain Bridge by 4 1/2 lengths. Corey Nakatani has the mount once again.
The one mile and 70-yard Smarty Jones Stakes drew a field of 10 including several big names. Included in the field are Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) winner J J's Lucky Train; Illinois Derby (gr. III) winner Joe Vann; Rush Now, who was runner-up in the West Virginia Derby (gr. III); two-time graded stakes winner Pants On Fire; and Scotus, winner of the Matt Winn Stakes (gr. III) in June.
The Smarty Jones is the local prep for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 24.
$350,000 Turf Monster Stakes (gr. IIIT, Race 10, 4:32 p.m.), 3 & Up, 5 Furlongs (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Central City (FL) R Albarado 117 R W Werner
2. Varsity (KY) J Bravo 114 C Clement
3. Heros Reward (MD) J Castellano 115 D Capuano
4. Country Day (KY) S Bridgmohan 117 S Margolis
5. Perfect Officer (KY) K Carmouche 119 M V Pino
6. Regally Ready (KY) C S Nakatani 122 S M Asmussen
7. Awakino Cat (KY) A Garcia 117 L Rice
8. Yield Bogey (KY) C C Lopez 116 P J Kelly
9. Ben's Cat (MD) J Rose 119 K T Leatherbury
10. Streakin' Mohican (FL) E Trujillo 115 D F O'Neill
11. Chamberlain Bridge (KY) J Theriot 122 W B Calhoun
12. Cardashi (ON) F Pennington 116 T C Kreiser
