NJ-Bred Chublicious Captures Mr. Prospector

David Gruskos' Chublicious, whose previous success had come mostly in New Jersey-bred company, rallied in the stretch to capture the $75,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes June 26 at Monmouth Park.

Chublicious, a 5-year-old Hey Chub gelding bred by Joe-Dan Farm, is now two-for-two this year after the move into the barn of Jorge Navarro, who had the top three finishers in the Mr. Prospector. In his first start of the year May 29, Chublicious won the six-furlong John J. Reilly Stakes for state-breds in 1:09.28 on a fast track.

Chublicious did even better in the open Mr. Prospector. He covered the six furlongs in 1:08.68. He defeated stablemates Shaft of Light, a former $12,500 claimer, by 1 1/4 lengths, and Visionary Ruler, claimed for $20,000 in May, by 6 1/4 lengths.

Always Sunshine, a grade III stakes winner and the favorite in the Mr. Prospector, finished a distant fourth, while the promising Chief Istan, undefeated in three starts, checked in sixth.

Chublicious, ridden by Antonio Gallardo, returned $7.40 to win. Out of the Arch mare Sassy Broad, Chublicious has earned $262,980 on a record of seven wins, two seconds, and two thirds in 14 starts.

"It feels great to have the top three finishers in the race especially here at Monmouth—my home—and in a really good field," Navarro said. "I said going in that all three horses were doing really well. I'll probably keep all of them running here with Jersey-breds."

Visionary Ruler was bred in New Jersey; Shaft of Light was bred in Ontario.