Triple Threat Sharp in U.S. Debut at Monmouth

Team Valor and Gary Barber's Triple Threat stormed home on the far outside in the lane and won a late duel with Middleburg to take the $205,000 Monmouth Handicap (gr. IIT)  June 7 at Monmouth Park.

It marked the United States debut for Triple Threat, who was bred in France by his owners. The 5-year-old horse by Monsun out of the Lyphard mare Drei was a group II winner in France in 2013 and hadn't raced since last September.

Now trained by Bill Mott, Triple Threat, who was ridden by Jose Lezcano, won for the fourth time in 14 starts.

Triple Threat rated in sixth and seventh in the nine-horse early as Inchcape, who led for most of the way and settled for third, set a soft pace of :25.27 for the opening quarter-mile, :50.51 for the half-mile, and 1:14.52 for six furlongs. The leader was tracked intently by Cage Fighter, who eventually finished fourth.

On the far turn in the 1 1/18-mile grass test the field began to bunch. Triple Threat on the far outside and Middleburg, who was closer to the rail, began serious rallies, and in the final sixteenth of a mile it came down to those two. Triple Threat won by a nose in 1:49.89 on turf rated firm.

"He had to take back going into the first turn," Lezcano said. "That was fine because we were close to the pack anyway with the slow pace. We had to go a little wide, but once we hit the quarter-pole, he had a lot of kick left for the stretch.

"That was my first time on the horse and he had a lot of power coming down the stretch."

Triple Threat paid $7.40, $4, and $3.20 across the board as the co-second choice with Middleburg, who returned $3.60 and $3. Inchcape was worth $4.60 to show.

Favored Ghurair, who hadn't raced since last August, was in contention early but finished fifth, just behind Cage Fighter.

Triple Threat has now earned $370,648, and based on his effort in the Monmouth Handicap should prove a big player in graded turf stakes at the season progresses.