Led by the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) July 28, Monmouth Park has announced a total stakes schedule of $6 million, including 16 graded events worth $3.45 million, for the 2013 racing season.
Afleeting Lady, second to Royal Delta in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II) last month, top a field of nine entered for the $200,000 Molly Pitcher (gr. II) at Monmouth July 29.
John Sikura's Hill 'n' Dale Farms will team with Monmouth Park to sponsor the track's biggest race for fillies and mares, the $250,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 28.
Monmouth's stable gates opened April 5, officially kicking off training for their 2010 "Million Dollar Meet." Among the first to arrive are New Jersey stalwarts Kelly Breen, Gregg Sacco, and Joe Pierce.
In what amounted to a little more than a workout, Hystericalady defended her title in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II) with ease Aug. 24, romping to an eight-length victory on the Monmouth Park dirt at odds of 1-9.
Any rival having to face the exceptional mare Hystericalady would have a hard time, no matter when or where it is. But having to do it at Monmouth Park, where she has proven to like the surface, and in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (gr. II), an event she won by daylight last season, make it an even more unenviable task.
Headlined by the $1 million Haskell Invitational (gr. I) on Aug. 3, Monmouth Park will offer $3.85 million in graded stakes for the 2008 racing season, which runs from May 9 through Sept. 28.
Favored Hystericalady took care of the drama to the $280,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) soon after the start. She controlled the pace and then drew away when asked by jockey Eddie Castro to score by 6 1/4 lengths at Monmouth Park Aug. 25.
As a handicapper, there are three fine reasons to like 4-year-old filly India in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) Aug. 25 at Monmouth Park: She is guided by the nation's top trainer, Todd Pletcher; aboard will be Joe Bravo, the perennial leader at Monmouth; and India seems to relish the Monmouth dirt, having gone 2-for-2 in New Jersey, including a resounding 4 1/2-length victory in the Miss Liberty Stakes July 6.
TVG announced that it will welcome its newest exclusive racetrack partner, Monmouth Park, with live on-track coverage of the 2007 racing season's opening weekend from the Jersey Shore racetrack.
Sondra Bender's Promenade Girl spoiled the return to action of Round Pond in Sunday's $294,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares on a sloppy track at Monmouth Park.
Sunday's 61st running of the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup (gr. II), the premier filly-mare event of Monmouth's summer season, drew a select six-horse field.
Capeside Lady beat Bending Strings by five lengths Saturday in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth Park.
K and K Racing Stable's La Reason rolled to the lead in upper stretch and drew off to an impressive three-length win in the $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth Park.
Bare Necessities, the starting highweight at 119 pounds, will be favored in Sunday's $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Monmouth Park, but she will not have an easy time of it.
Led by the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap on Sunday, August 8, Thoroughbreds will compete for $3.35 million in graded stakes when Monmouth Park opens its 72-day season Saturday, May 29.
Monmouth Park racing secretary Mike Dempsey said he expects six fillies and mares for next Saturday's Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), the star of the show to be Edward P. Evans' Summer Colony.
Trainer Shug McGaughey, recovering from bypass surgery, records fifth career Molly Pitcher score with Atelier.
Spain, the all-time leading earning filly or mare in North America, is the overwhelming choice in a field of only five entered for Saturday's Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Monmouth.
Trainer Rick Violette added blinkers to March Magic for Saturday's $300,000 Molly Pitcher Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) and the 4-year-old filly responded by winning the 1 1/16-mile Monmouth Park feature by three lengths. The race was marred by the break down of 3-5 favorite License Fee.
The hard-luck year for Silverbulletday continued Tuesday.
