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Ready's Gal gets hosed off after winning the Matchmaker Stakes Haskell results

The first weekend in August is richest for New Jersey racing, with theA Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday following harness racing's Hambletonian at the Meadowlands on Saturday. The undercard of the Haskell is a busy one featuring 2 graded stakes along with several listed stakes.

The $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) featured a field of eight older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the turf, with the top three finishers also receiving a stallion season from one of three Taylor Made stallions. Masseuse was sent off as the 7-5 favorite over 3-1 Ready's Gal and 5-1 Smart N Classy.

When the gate opened, 9-1 Humoristic went right to the front while favored Masseuse bobbled at the start and was immediately pulled up by jockey Edgar Prado. Humoristic battled for the lead with Ready's Gal through fractions of 25.48, 50.48, and 1:14.37 over the fast track. Rounding the far turn, Ready's Hal took over the lead and pulled away to a 1 1/2 length lead at the 1/8 pole, then was all-out to hold off the late-running 11-1 Prop Me Up by 1/2 a length at the line in 1:48.77 over the firm going. It was another 1 1/2 lengths back to Humoristic in third, while Smart N Classy was fourth.
Results Chart from DRF

Ready's Gal in the winner's cirle with trainer Todd Pletcher in the background. Winning jockey John Velazquez said, "There wasn't much speed and I had a ton of horse turning for home." Ready's Gal is now two-for-two at Monmouth. She won the Little Silver on grass here last year. It was the second stakes score of the year for the 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready who won the Grade 3 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay in March.

The field rounds the turn after the start while favorite Masseuse is being pulled up by jockey Edgar Prado. She bobbled at the start apparently with some kind of injury in the rear. She was walked into a horse ambulance and vanned off the track, but did not appear to be seriously injured.

The $150,000 Oceanport Stakes saw ten older horses go 1 1/16 miles on the turf, with Three Valleys sent off as the lukewarm 5-2 favorite over 3-1 Rebel Rebel. Hotstufanthensome was the 7-2 third choice on the board.

91-1 longest shot Juniper Knight battled on the pace with 27-1 Gigawatt through fractions of 24.43, 47.74, and 1:11.04 with 4-1 Icy Atlantic giving chase just behind them. At the top of the stretch, the pacesetters dropped from contention as the field bunched up, with Hotstufanthensome taking the lead with a furlong to go. However, Three Valleys, who had raced sixth early, took the far turn four wide and was gaining with every stride. Three Valleys nailed Hotstufanthensome at the line for the neck victory in 1:40.06. It was 3 lengths back to Rebel Rebel in third.
Results Chart from DRF

The cavalry charge at the head of the stretch first time by in the Oceanport Stakes.

Ramon Dominguez celebrates the win aboard Three Valleys. Dominguez said, "My horse had a great trip. I wasn't really worried about the pace up front because I was focused on my horse. When I got to the quarter-pole, I had a ton of horse and I knew it was going to be between my horse and the six (Hotstufanthensome)."

The $100,000 Jersey Derby saw eight 3-year-olds go 1 1/16 miles on the turf. 10-1 outsider Presious Passion rallied from sixth early to hook up with 2-1 favorite Rock Lobster, and the pair battled it out through the last furlong. 5-2 second choice Extra Bend closed from the back of the pack and the three hit the wire together in a blanket finish. Presious Passion had his nose down where it mattered, while Rock Lobster was second and Extra Bend was third.
Results Chart from Equibase

Presious Passion in the winner's circle after the Jersey Derby. Winning trainer Mary Hartmann said, "He finally got a good trip today. He's been unlucky in some of his other races here."

The $100,000 Regret Stakes featured 8 older fillies and mares sprinting six furlongs on the main track. 9-5 favorite My Lucky Free took over the lead three-wide on the far turn and then drew away through the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths over 9-2 Notimetoquit in 1:09.15. It was another length back to Summer Sting in third.
Results Chart from Equibase

Chuck Lopez celebrates his win aboard My Lucky Free in the Regret Stakes. He said, "I was fortunate she got to sit off the pace. I sat back and watched the fireworks. When I asked her to go, she just took off."

The $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes saw seven older horses sprint six furlongs on the main track. 4-1 third choice Who's The Cowboy was unhurried early while racing out of trouble to the outside, entered the stretch 7 wide, then unleashed a powerful rally through the lane to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths over 5-1 Kazoo in a time of 1:08.82. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to 33-1 longest shot Maddy's Lion in third.
Results Chart from Equibase

Eddue King Jr. looks thrilled to have won the Teddy Drone Stakes with Who's the Cowboy. Winning trainer Kevin Sleeter said, "He loves the outside. He loves lying back a little. There was a lot of speed in there. Sometimes, it sets up perfect." Jockey Eddie King Jr. added, "When I saw the post positions, I knew I was a winner. He did it easy today."

On the the Haskell Results and Photos

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