Divisidero Brings Back Class into Oceanport

Gunpowder Farms and Brereton Jones' Divisidero will look for his first win in more than a year in the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park on the Haskell Invitational undercard July 20.

The 1 1/16-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of six, and Divisidero brings back class and comes off a second-place finish June 16 in Laurel Park's Prince George's County Stakes. Missing a breakthrough win in that race by a length, the 7-year-old son of Kitten's Joy  has made three starts this year and finished second twice.

A winner of the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) at Churchill Downs in 2016 and 2017, Divisidero raced in three top-level events last year, placing third in the Fourstardave Handicap, fifth in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Mile. His most recent victory came in the Arlington Handicap (G3T) in July 2018.

The turf veteran had his last timed work at Fair Hill Training Center for trainer Kelly Rubley July 12, posting four furlongs in a bullet :48 flat to be the fastest of 16 that day. He will break from the rail Saturday.

Although he doesn't carry the same deep résumé, Skeedattle Stables' Just Howard finished a head behind Divisidero to take third in the Prince George's County and drew the outside post for the Oceanport.

Trained by Graham Motion, the Maryland-bred son of English Channel  is also 0-for-3 this year, finishing fourth in his 5-year-old season opener and third in the 1 1/16-mile Dixie Stakes (G2T), three-quarters of a length behind winner Catholic Boy.

Chad Brown trainee Projected has an even longer winless streak that stretches to his score in the 2017 Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup Stakes (G2T). The 7-year-old gelding finished seventh last time out in the 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Stakes (G2T). Although winless last year in seven starts, he did string together six placings in a row, all in stakes or graded stakes.

Pizmo Time is another Maryland-bred who is seeking his first stakes win in the Oceanport, and the 6-year-old son of City Zip brings a three-race win streak into his graded stakes debut. Campaigned by Caves Farm and trained by Edward Graham, Pizmo Time has victories at a mile and 1 1/16 miles this year, with four of his five victories coming by narrow margins.

Dover Cliffs, who comes in off an allowance optional claiming score over the Oceanport course and distance, and graded stakes-placed Bird's Eye View round out the field.

Entries: Oceanport S. (G3T)

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 20, 2019, Race 5

• Grade IIIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 1:51 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Divisidero (KY)	Jevian Toledo	116	Kelly Rubley	3/2
2	2Bird's Eye View (KY)	Jose Lezcano	116	Michael Dini	8/1
3	3Dover Cliffs (KY)	Jomar Torres	116	J. Kent Sweezey	10/1
4	4Projected (GB)	Joe Bravo	116	Chad C. Brown	2/1
5	5Pizmo Time (MD)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	116	Edward L. Graham	15/1
6	6Just Howard (MD)	Trevor McCarthy	116	H. Graham Motion	5/2