Linda Gaudet's Monster Chaser tops a field of nine in Friday's $100,000 Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes for 2-year-olds at Pimlico. Jockey Richard Monterrey, who has been aboard Monster Chaser for his last three starts, will guide the bay gelding from post four.
Trained by Eddie Gaudet, Monster Chaser enters the Juvenile at odds of 5-2, after finishing a neck behind Seeyoubychance in the Dec. 4 H. Steward Mitchell Stakes over six furlongs at Pimlico. Before that, Monster Chaser won the $75,000 Rollicking Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths, and was runner-up in the Maryland Million Nursery Stakes, both at Pimlico. Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Charles McGinnes, the son of
Meadow Monster broke his maiden in a May 26 race at the Maryland track.
Monster Chaser's top challengers include Prideland, Legal Control, and Seize.
Sovereign Stable and Gatsas Stables' Prideland enters the Juvenile off a 3 1/2-length score going nine furlongs in a Dec. 5 race at Aqueduct. Jockey Pablo Fragoso, who has been aboard the colt for his two starts, will ride the John Terranova II trainee from post seven.
Bred by Dark Hollow Farm, Prideland, a son of
Lion Hearted, started his campaign with a third-place effort in a six-furlong race at Aqueduct. The colt will be sent off at 3-1 odds.
Coming off two wins at Pimlico, Legal Control will seek his first stakes victory for owner Fitzhugh LLC. Trained by Richard Small, the son of
Thunder Gulch will break from post nine. Jockey Ryan Fogelsonger has the mount. Legal Control was bred by Robert Meyerhoff.
Undefeated in two starts, Seize will enter the Juvenile with odds of 9-2. Michael Pino trains the son of
Runaway Groom for owner Ryver Meadow Farms. Luis Felipe Diaz will pilot Seize from post five.
Lisaized will be the lone filly in the field. Trained by Eli Betancourt for owner Dennis Wittek, Lisaized comes off a 4 1/2-length score in an allowance race at Philadelphia Park. Jockey Abel Castellano Jr. will be aboard for the first time. Bred by Stephen Quick, Lisaized will break from post three with odds of 8-1.
Maryland Juvenile Championship Stakes, $100,000, 1 1/16 miles, two-year-olds, Pimlico, Friday, Dec. 31, estimated post time: 3:52 p.m. (EDT)PP -- Horse, Weight, Jockey
1 -- Allen's Kat, 122, Larry C. Reynolds
2 -- Busy Prospect, 122, Mario G. Pino
3 – Lisaized, 119, Abel Castellano Jr.
4 -- Monster Chaser, 122, Richard Monterrey
5 -- Seize, 122, Luis Felipe Diaz
6 -- Game Boy Justin, 122, Erick D. Rodriguez
7 -- Prideland, 122, Pablo Fragoso
8 -- Karbobway, 122, Steve D. Hamilton
9 -- Legal Control, 122, Ryan Fogelsonger
