It's A Gamble Fits the Bill in Jersey Derby
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Photo: Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
It's a Gamble wins the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park
Even though It's a Gamble had tried the dirt just once in his eight-race career prior to May 28, trainer Kelly Breen said he wasn't concerned when the Jersey Derby was moved from the grass to the main track at Monmouth Park due to rain.
It's easy to see why.
It's a Gamble found a seam along the rail and was able to reel in loose frontrunner Indian Lake at the sixteenth pole, going on to a 1 3/4-length victory under jockey Jose Baez in the 78th running of the Jersey Derby, the $102,000 feature race on Monmouth Park's opening card.
Sent off at 9-2 in a field of seven 3-year-olds, It's a Gamble covered the mile over a fast-sealed track in 1:40.70.
Indian Lake, who looked to be on his way to victory in mid-stretch, was 8 3/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Spectatorless .
It's A Gamble with Jose Baez up return after winning the Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park
"Even though this was just his second start on the dirt he has trained well on it," said Breen, who captured his third Monmouth Park training title last year. "So I wasn't all that concerned when it came off the turf. Everything set up for him. The rail opened up and he was able to find his way through.
"Since we shipped him from Florida to New York—his last race on the grass at Aqueduct was really nice—he has been training well. I believe that he's a nice horse—dirt, turf, whatever."
This was the first stakes score for It's a Gamble, who had previously finished second to Hard Love in the April 17 Woodhaven Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Three starts back, in the colt's initial try on dirt, he settled for fourth in the Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-bred sophomores.
It's a Gamble was bred and is owned by Ron Lombardi (Mr. Amore Stable). He is the first stakes winner produced from the winning Yes It's True mare Yes It's Pink.
"The rail really opened up for me," said Baez. "I was just sitting there waiting to see what was going on. I waited long enough that the rail opened and I didn't have to go around horses. I was a little worried about (Indian Lake) getting away from me. That's probably why I asked my horse to go when I did."
It's a Gamble paid $11.20 to win. The son of English Channel improved his record to 3-1-0 from nine starts for earnings of $176,327.
Video: Jersey Derby (BT)