Bishops Bay Looks to Defend Title in Salvator Mile

Last year's Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) winner Bishops Bay  returns June 13 to defend his title in the $150,000 race at Monmouth Park. 

Second last time out in the Westchester Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack to last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) winner Antiquarian , the Brad Cox-trained Bishops Bay will take on eight rivals in the 1-mile race Saturday. 

The 6-year-old son of Uncle Mo enjoyed a successful end to the 2025 season, winning back-to-back graded stakes in the Forty Niner Stakes (G3) and Cigar Mile Handicap (G2), the latter after selling to new owner KAS Stables for $1.3 million at the 2025 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale.

He is winless in 2026, with a game fourth-place finish in the Saudi Cup (G1) and a second-place finish in the Westchester, where he faced only three rivals. The pace setup for Saturday's race should suit his stalking style.

"We're looking to get him back in the win column," said assistant trainer Blake Cox, Brad's son. "He looks to us like he is as good as he was last year. He is not giving us any signs that he's regressed. We're really trying to get him going again and this looked like a good spot to get started on that."

Of those he will likely be chasing is Godolphin's speedy grade 1 winner East Avenue . The Brendan Walsh trainee has won at 6 furlongs and 1 1/16 miles, so the Salvator should set up well for the son of Medaglia d'Oro. 

He was last seen finishing fourth to Corporate Power  in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) May 1. Prior to that, he finished a hard-fought second in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3), his only start at a mile, after going six wide coming into the stretch. 

Tyler Gaffalione, who piloted the colt to his 2024 Breeders' Futurity (G1) win, will be in the irons Saturday. 

Carter Stakes (G2) winner Point Dume  will be back for more Saturday to prove he belongs in graded stakes company. His neck victory over 2025 Eclipse champion male sprinter Book'em Danno  in the Carter put him on the map as a horse to be respected, especially after Book'em Danno's comeback victory in the June 6 True North Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course. Point Dume was last seen finishing 10th in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard. 

"Obviously, it was a heck of a day," trainer Timothy Kreiser said of the Carter win. "The horse we beat, we all know who he is. That made it a little extra special.

"It's something you always hope someday will happen for you if you get a horse that is good enough. I don't get those kind of horses much. It was one of those claims that worked out."

Point Dume was claimed for $40,000 after an allowance optional claiming race last summer at Penn National Race Course. He was transferred to the barn of Kreiser for the owner Bush Racing Stable. Following a starter allowance win at Delaware Park, the son of Into Mischief   captured his first stakes win in the M.P. Ballezzi Appreciation Mile Stakes at Parx Racing. 

"I like the race for (Point Dume)," Kreiser said. "If we get a good break, we have a good post (3) for a flat mile. He has plenty of speed. I kind of like this spot for him."

Repole Stable's Grande  enters the race off a sixth-place finish in the Alysheba.

The top two finishers in the Salvator Mile will earn a free entry to the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) July 18 on the undercard of the Haskell Stakes (G1).

National Charter Chases First Stakes win in Pegasus 

BBN Racing's impressive maiden winner National Charter  will look to step up for trainer Rusty Arnold in the $125,000 Pegasus Stakes, Monmouth's traditional prep for the $1 million Haskell.

The son of Constitution   flashed his speed in a 1-mile maiden race at Churchill Downs, where he stalked the pace before making his move to win by 3 1/2 lengths. The lightly raced colt showed some signs of inexperience down the stretch, indicating he should only get better with time.

Cosmo Stables' maiden winner Baby Vino  will make his sixth start after capturing his first victory May 1 at Oaklawn Park by 2 3/4 lengths.

Maiden winner and Withers Stakes fourth-place finisher Schoolyardsuperman  returns Saturday for trainer Chad Brown. He was last seen finishing second by a length in an allowance optional claiming race.

The top two finishers in the Pegasus receive a free entry to the Haskell Stakes.

Program Trading Returns in Monmouth Stakes

Klaravich Stables' multiple grade 1 winner Program Trading  looks to have a clear advantage over his participants in Saturday's $125,000 Monmouth Stakes.

The Brown trainee comes into the 1 1/8-mile turf race off a fourth-place finish in the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) behind Rhetorical . Although he is winless in his last seven starts, the 6-year-old son of Lope de Vega   should outclass his rivals.

Among those who may present a challenge is the Miguel Clement-trained Ridari , who enters off a quick turnaround from the June 7 Poker Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga. This will be his third start in the United States.

The top two finishers receive a free entry to the United Nations Stakes (G2T) on Haskell day.