New York Invaders Target Overflow Eatontown

An easy drive down the road for New York-based horsemen, Monmouth Park offers expanded options—specifically the chance for several turf fillies to try a step up in the $100,000 Eatontown Stakes (gr. IIIT) June 27 at the New Jersey oval.

Kenzadargent, who swooped in for trainer Chad Brown and owner Martin Schwartz to claim the local Miss Liberty Stakes May 25 in her 4-year-old season debut, Stellar Path from the barn of Christophe Clement, and James Toner trainee Recepta look the stiffest in an overflow field of 14 for the 1 1/16-mile turf test (11 will start). 

Brown sent Kenzagargent to the Miss Liberty for her first start since a sixth in the Pebbles Stakes at Belmont Park last October. That fizzle followed back to back allowance scores in her U.S. debut at Saratoga Race Course and a follow-up effort at Belmont.

Well-rested, the French-bred daughter of Kendargent closed willingly to a 3 3/4-length win at the Eatontown distance under jockey Jose Lezcano in her most recent outing. She drew the 5 hole for this start and will carry 118 pounds.

Fellow French-bred Stellar Path, a 4-year-old by Astronomer Royal, made her first start a winning one for new owner Trevor Stewart and Clement after racing extensively abroad. She took the April 17 Plenty of Grace Stakes at a mile on the Aqueduct Racetrack turf despite bobbling at the start and racing rank inside before shifting out to get the win. Favored In the May 23 Nassau Stakes (Can-IIT) going a mile at Woodbine, she took the lead but yielded grudglingly to finish fourth. Joe Bravo gets the mount from post 6 and is part of a 120-pound impost.

Recepta, who runs for Phillips Racing Partnership and Pam Gartin, was third in the May 9 Beaugay Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Belmont after winning a Keeneland allowance in April in her first start of 2015. The 4-year-old Speightstown   filly still seeks her first graded score. Kendrick Carmouche will ride from the 8 spot.

Others of interest include Hit The Board Stables' I'm Already Sexy, a grade III winner for trainer Wayne Catalano who last out was second in the June 6 Old Forester Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs; Five Fillies Stable's grade III winner Sistas Stroll, third in the May 15 Gallorette Handicap (gr. IIIT) last out; Nina Gardner's homebred Royal Renege, winner of the May 30 Lyphard Stakes at Penn National; and recent Churchill allowance winner She's Not Here.  

Evidently, Rusty Slipper, Speed Seeker, and Bocaiuva complete the lineup. New York-bred Old Harbor is also-eligible.

Got Lucky and Rebecca's Surprise are entered for the main track only.