Upset Potential for Dido in Eatontown
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Horses race through the stretch on the Monmouth Park turf course during a race in 2013. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
The Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes might not have the same name recognition as some of the premier summer turf races, but over the years this Monmouth Park race has produced some notable winners.
Last year’s winner, the late Laughing, used the Eatontown as a springboard to four consecutive graded stakes wins, including a pair of Grade 1s.
There aren't many horses who jump off the page in this year's edition of the Eatontown.
Orion Moon (#4) was installed as the 2-to-1 morning-line favorite and she’ll probably go off at the shortest price. She enters the Eatontown off a very impressive runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Beaugay Stakes.
Christophe Clemente trains Orion Moon and she will be ridden by local turf-course legend, “Jersey” Joe Bravo. Not only is Bravo a fan favorite at Monmouth Park, he also boasts an astounding 43% win rate there this meet, and he scores at a solid 20% clip when riding for Clemente.
Another interesting horse is #1 Nashly’s Vow. She gets a major class test here, facing the toughest field she’s ever been up against.
On the plus side, she’s looked rock solid in two races this year, winning both of them from on or near the lead. We know she’s got speed but what we don’t know is whether she has the stamina to sustain it. On paper, it looks like Nashly’s Vow will be able to set the pace and enjoy a comfortable trip alone on the lead.
Lastly, #9 Dido is another facing a class test but she’s got all the looks of an improving horse who can handle the jump into graded stakes company. She has been flying late in recent races, and I can see a scenario where she gets up late to either beat Nashly’s Vow at the finish line or gets into the trifecta at the very least.
Dido is also a very appealing 15-to-1 on the morning line.
Selections: #9 Dido - #1 Nashly's Vow - #4 Orion Moon - #3 Triple Arch
Betting the Race on a $20 Budget
$1 exacta 1-9/1-3-4-9 ($6)
$1 trifecta box 1-4-9 ($6)
$8 Win on #9 ($8)
$100,000 Eatontown Stakes
Saturday, Monmouth Park, Race 11, 5:43 p.m. ET
1 1/16 miles (turf), fillies and mares, 3 years old and older
PP
Horse
Jockey
Weight
Trainer
1
Nashly's Vow
Xavier Perez
118
Lawrence Murray
2
Rusty Slipper
Eddie Castro
116
Graham Motion
3
Triple Arch
Orlando Bocachica
116
Marcus Vitali
4
Orion Moon
Joe Bravo
116
Christophe Clemente
5
Medea
Forest Boyce
116
Francis Abbott III
6
Misty in Malibu
Joshua Navarro
116
Rodney Jenkins
7
Lonesome Town
Paco Lopez
116
Mike Trombetta
8
Lady Ten
Gabriel Saez
116
Tony Dutrow
9
Dido
Trevor McCarthy
116
Graham Motion