Jockey Jamie Theriot scored back-to-back victories in Parx Racing's two Labor Day features at the former Philadelphia Park, taking the inaugural $300,400 Smarty Jones Stakes (VIDEO) on 8-1 shot Thiskyhasnolimit after winning the $251,000 Turf Monster Handicap (VIDEO) on defending champion Chamberlain Bridge.
In the mile and 70 yards Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds, Theriot kept Thiskyhasnolimit well off the pace set by longshot Strapping Groom before moving into contention on the far turn. Thiskyhasnolimit engaged Comedero turning for home, then easily passed the favorite in mid-stretch to win by two lengths.
The Steve Asmussen trainee completed the distance in 1:40.49 and paid $18.40, $9.40, and $4.80. Nacho Friend returned $5.40 and $4.20 while Pleasant Prince, the Ohio Derby (gr. III) winner, paid $3.00.
Thiskyhasnolimit, by Sky Mesa out of the Deputy Minister mare Lovely Regina, was bred in Kentucky by Stud TNT and sold at the 2008 Keeneland September yearling sale for $120,000.
Owned by Cathy and Bob Zollars and Mark Wagner, the colt earned his first stakes victory in the 2009 Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) at Churchill Downs. This year he scored a three-quarter-length victory in the Matt Winn Stakes May 15 at the Louisville track, had a runner-up effort in the Iowa Derby (gr. III), and most recently finished fifth in the Aug. 7 West Virginia Derby (gr. II).
The victory in the Smarty Jones, a prep for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) on Sept. 25, gives Thiskyhasnolimit four victories from 10 starts and earnings of $449,439.
In the Turf Monster Handicap, defending champion Chamberlain Bridge raced well off the pace, rallied six wide in the stretch, and comfortably won the five-furlong turf test. The 5-2 favorite defeated A Unique Treasure, an 8-1 shot, by a half length over the firm course, with second-choice Stradivinsky finishing in third.
A 6-year-old War Chant gelding owned by Carl R. Moore Management and trained by Bret Calhoun, Chamberlain Bridge returned $7, $3.60, and $2.60. A Unique Treasure paid $9.20 and $5.60. Stradivinsky paid $2.60.
Chamberlain Bridge most recently captured the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at Penn National and the Arlington Sprint Handicap. His Turf Monster victory, completed in :56.63, made him a millionaire, with lifetime earnings of $1,040,245 and a total of 15 victories from 29 starts.