A field of nine 2-year-olds will line up in the $150,000 Sapling Stakes (gr. III) Sept. 4 at Monmouth Park, the racetrack’s premier event for juvenile runners.
Among the likely favorites of the six-furlong sprint are Canadian-invader Madman Diaries, undefeated Vengeful Wildcat, and Sanford (gr. II) winner Maybesomaybenot.
Madman Diaries, trained and co-owned by Wesley Ward, won the Victoria Stakes on the Woodbine Polytrack by more than nine lengths in June and returned to finish runner-up in the Colin Stakes July 17. This will be his first start on dirt. Jeffrey Sanchez will ride.
Locally-based Vengeful Wildcat is unbeaten in two starts, both at Monmouth. The son of Vindication enters off a 3 1/2-length score in the Tyro Stakes July 25. Ben Perkins Jr. trains for New Farm. Carlos Marquez Jr. will have the ride.
“He’s done well since the Tyro,” Perkins said. “He had a couple of breezes in company the last two weeks, and he’s looking good. It’s amazing how much he’s matured in just two races. Young horses get different after they race. Before he started, he acted like a goofy kid. But he’s experienced now, knows what the game is about. Just different than before.”
Carolyn and Karen Scisney’s Maybesomaybenot broke his maiden July 3 at Churchill Downs in his second start and shipped to Saratoga a little more than three weeks later to take the Sanford in wire-to-wire fashion. The Mike Maker trainee will break from the outside with Elvis Trujillo in the irons.
$150,000 Sapling Stakes (gr. III, Race 11, 5:30 p.m.), 2YO, 6 Furlongs (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Madman Diaries (FL), J Sanchez, 121, W A Ward
2. Nacho Saint (KY), G K Gomez, 116, K J Breen
3. Another Silver Oak (KY), F Jara, 121, T A Pletcher
4. Vengeful Wildcat (KY), C H Marquez Jr., 121 B W Perkins, Jr.
5. Printing Press (KY), C C Lopez, 117, T M Pompay
6. J J's Lucky Train (KY), J Rose, 121, W D Anderson
7. Brother in Arms (KY), J Bravo, 116, K J Breen
8. Chipshot (FL), S Bridgmohan, 121, S M Asmussen
9. Maybesomaybenot (KY), E Trujillo, 121, M J Maker
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Madman Diaries (FL), J Sanchez, 121, W A Ward
2. Nacho Saint (KY), G K Gomez, 116, K J Breen
3. Another Silver Oak (KY), F Jara, 121, T A Pletcher
4. Vengeful Wildcat (KY), C H Marquez Jr., 121 B W Perkins, Jr.
5. Printing Press (KY), C C Lopez, 117, T M Pompay
6. J J's Lucky Train (KY), J Rose, 121, W D Anderson
7. Brother in Arms (KY), J Bravo, 116, K J Breen
8. Chipshot (FL), S Bridgmohan, 121, S M Asmussen
9. Maybesomaybenot (KY), E Trujillo, 121, M J Maker
