With all eyes focused on The Haskell next week, Monmouth Park will offer a very attractive stakes race Saturday with the Grade II Monmouth Breeders’ Cup Oaks.
The $250,000 race will be a prelude to next Sunday’s (Aug. 5) Haskell.
The designation "Oaks" was established in England and the first Epsom Oaks was contested in 1779, actually a year before the first Derby was run. The tradition of Oaks, for fillies, and Derby, for colts, has continued ever since for 3-year-old events. Thus, at the old Monmouth Park, it was natural to name the prestigious 3-year-old filly race the Monmouth Oaks, and it has lived up to the lofty tradition since 1871.
This Saturday’s event will be run at a mile and an eighth. Last year Spain, ridden by Jose Velez, Jr. took the top prize by an easy 4 lengths.
There will also be a stakes race in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship series.
The Blue Sparkler handicap will be run along with the Oaks on Saturday. The Blue Sparkler carries a $75,000 purse. Fillies and mares will contest the six furlong distance.
Two-year-olds will hold the spotlight on Sunday with the Tyro Stakes. The youngsters will dash 5 furlongs, vying for the $50,000 purse. The Malouf Auto Group Starter Series No. 3 will be run at a mile and an 1/18th on the turf. The race is for 3-year-olds and up.
The Miller Lite Month of August grandstand pass will be given out to all paid admissions on Saturday.
Then on Sunday Monmouth Park will celebrate Golfers Appreciation Day. Bring a golf tee with you, and you can get in the grandstand for free.
There will be golfing equipment exhibits from numerous companies, and golf pros will be on hand from Legends Golf Course to answer questions and show some tricks of the trade.
Just who will show up for The Haskell is a big question. Songandaprayer has defected and well he should. The Bob Hurley-owned racehorse is good for dashes and not for the long haul.
Weights were handed out last week and, naturally, Point Given, was high weight with 124 pounds.
Jockey Joe Bravo came through with four wins on Saturday’s card to maintain his lead. Eibar Coa booted home a pair on the same card.
Racing continued Wednesday at the Oceanport oval with post time for the first race shoved up 10 minutes. The first race now goes off at 12:55 That new post will be in effect the rest of the meet except for Haskell Day when the first race will leave at 12:30.
Jockey Jose Velez and trainer Alan Seewald combined for a double on Sunday. Velez’s win aboard Spectacular Slew kept the horse in the money in seven of nine races.
Rideouts Patton was impressive in winning the Anderson Fowler Stakes. Jockey Tom Turner and his horse turned in outstanding fractions of 20.4, and 43.1 before winning the 5-furlong sprint in 55.2.