Jersey Derby Kicks Off Monmouth Park Summer Meet
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Photo: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
It Can Be Done wins the Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park
Monmouth Park begins its 76th Thoroughbred season May 28 without some of its most well-known jockeys amid a dispute with the New Jersey Racing Commission over a new riding crop rule, but it still has some noteworthy trainers among its opening day entries.
Peter Brant's Sifting Sands , from the powerhouse Chad Brown stable, is among eight 3-year-olds (plus one main track only entrant) entered in the featured $100,000 Jersey Derby at a mile on turf. The son of Dubawi is 1-for-3 and was seventh most recently in the Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack April 17.
Post time for the first race on the six-race twilight card is 5:00 p.m. ET and the Jersey Derby goes at 7:00 p.m.
This year's field drew a modest group, with It's a Gamble , runner-up in the Woodhaven, having the second richest turf earnings. He has won two of seven races and $110,327 on the surface.
Kelly Breen, leading trainer at Monmouth last summer, conditions the 3-year-old son of English Channel for Mr. Amore Stable. In 2020, Breen, a New Jersey native, set personal bests in overall wins (84) and starters (418) while producing his second-best earnings year in a career that began in 1992.
Jose Baez, who this week has been riding at Finger Lakes, gets the mount on the Breen trainee.
Under the new NJRC regulation, jockeys at Monmouth Park are not permitted to use the riding crop except for safety reasons, a rule that has led some riders to say they will not ride at the meet.
KING: Monmouth Cards Opening Day Amid NJ Riding Crop Dispute
The diuretic Lasix, used to control respiratory bleeding in horses but not permitted in stakes races in other leading jurisdictions across the country, is allowed in New Jersey. All horses in the Jersey Derby are entered to race on it. It's a Gamble raced without Lasix in all of his eight prior starts.
Other leading contenders include Indian Lake , fourth in the James W. Murphy Stakes in his turf debut; Hot Blooded and It Can Be Done , stakes winners on turf last year as juveniles; and Riptide Rock , who returns to grass, the surface on which he broke his maiden, after three competitive tries this year at Oaklawn Park, which only has a dirt course.
Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer trains Riptide Rock, a son of Point of Entry , for Stronach Stables.
Gregg Sacco, trainer of It Can Be Done, said his 3-year-old will compete even if forecast rain forces the Jersey Derby to the main track.
"He had a very good number on the dirt, and he trains well on the dirt," the trainer said. "He won the Nownownow Stakes here (at Monmouth Oct. 4) on the turf last year so he has shown he can run well on either surface."
Following Friday's twilight card, Monmouth Park will conduct live racing four straight days over the Memorial Day weekend. First post on Saturdays, Sundays, and special Monday holiday cards throughout the meet is 12:15 p.m. Masks are required for attendance.
Monmouth Park will begin allowing vaccinated owners to have access to the backstretch starting June 8 and will increase winner's circle and walking ring access beginning June 11.
Monmouth's signature race, the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), is July 17. NBC will broadcast the Haskell, while TVG will provide daily television coverage of Monmouth.
Monmouth Park, Friday, May 28, 2021, Race 5Entries: Jersey Derby
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1It's a Gamble (NY)
Jose Baez
115
Kelly J. Breen
3/1
2
2Bringing the Heat (KY)
Tomas B. Mejia
115
John D. Stephens
20/1
3
3Spectatorless (KY)
Christian J. Navarro
115
Wayne Potts
20/1
4
4Indian Lake (KY)
Luis M. Ocasio
115
Jamie Ness
6/1
5
5Hot Blooded (FL)
Isaac Castillo
115
Carlos A. David
6/1
6
6Sifting Sands (GB)
Luis R. Reyes
115
Chad C. Brown
4/1
7
7It Can Be Done (KY)
Jose C. Ferrer
115
Gregory D. Sacco
5/2
8
8Riptide Rock (ON)
Jomar Torres
115
Jerry Hollendorfer
7/2
9
9Pickin' Time (NJ)
UNKNOWN
115
Kelly J. Breen
3/1
