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 Brushed by a Star returns after the Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3). |
The 35,253 fans who came out to Monmouth Park on Sunday for the Haskell Invitational enjoyed 5 stakes races on the undercard. Spectators and participants enjoyed a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the upper 70's, with a fast main track and firm turf course.
The richest race on the undercard is the $200,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G2) for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. R Gypsy Gold was sent off as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 8, exiting a win in the Endear Stakes at Belmont Park. In to challenge her included 7-4 second choice Afleeting Lady, second in the Fleur de Lis (G2) at Churchill Downs, and 5-1 third choice Derwin's Star, winner of the Bed O'Roses (G3) at Belmont.
Jockey Corey Nakatani sent 9-1 Brushed by a Star to the lead immediately and she set fractions of 24.23, 48.33, and 1:12.46 over the fast track while stalked by 12-1 Absinthe Minded and Derwin's Star. Entering the stretch, Brushed by a Star pulled away by 1 1/2 lengths as Derwin's Star tired. 20-1 longest shot Successful Song, 5th early, rallied 3 wide but Brushed by a Star easily held her off by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:44.15. It was just a nose back to late-running favorite R Gypsy Gold.
Results Chart from DRF
Left: Brushed by a Star in the winner's circle. Trainer Grant Forster said, “We gave her the winter off, and she’s had a great four-year-old season. She’s a big, long, strong filly and she’s come back even better this year. This is a great example of what a horse can do when they get their confidence back."
Right: Second place finisher Successful Song in the post parade.
Third place finisher and beaten favorite R Gypsy Gold in the post parade. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds in 13 starts, earning $226,167 for owner-breeder E. Paul Robsham Stables.
The $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) featured a field of 6 older fillies and mares going 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Gallorette Handicap (G3) third place finisher Laughing was sent off as the 6-5 favorite over 7-4 second choice Silver Screamer,winner of the Eatontown (G3), and 4-1 third choice Unbridled Humor, third in the Eatontown.
Laughing and Silver Screamer dueled for the lead for the first mile through fractions of 24.55, 48.87, 1:12.80, and 1:36.63 over the firm turf, while stalked by Unbridled Humor third. In mid-stretch, Silver Screamer and Unbridled Humor tired, allowing Laughing to carry her speed to the line, finishing a length in front of late-running 10-1 Shimmering Momennt in 1:48.93. It was a long 3 1/2 lengths back to 12-1 Island School third.
Results Chart from DRF
Left: Laughing returns after the race. Winning trainer Alan Goldberg said, “She’s a nice filly. She never had a real chance in the (Gallorette) with the heat and the shipping. But she’s been doing great since then, and I thought she would run well today.”
Right: Laughing in the winner's circle. Jockey Rafael Bejarano said, "The other horse went right to the front, but under the wire the first time, I saw he took a little hold, so I sent my filly to the lead. They were rocking in the first part, and I was a little worried, but I put her on the lead, and that's where she was very comfortable."
Immediately before the Haskell, a field of 7 older horses contested the $150,000 Oceanport Stakes (G3) at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Queen'splatekitten, third in the Red Bank (G3) last out, was sent off as the 6-5 favorite over 5-2 second choice Get Serious, winner of the Red Bank, and 3-1 third choice Admiral Perry, off an allowance win.
26-1 longest shot Tune Me In battled for the early lead with Get Serious through fractions of 25.85, 50.12, and 1:13.64 over the firm course, with 8-1 Crepuscolo and favorite Queen'splatekitten stalking the lead pair third and fourth. Entering the stretch, Crepuscolo tired as Tune Me In took a short lead to the 1/8 pole through 1 mile in 1:37.36. Queen'splatekitten put in a mild rally but Tune Me In held him off by 1/2 a length in 1:43.39. It was a neck back to Get Serious third.
Results Chart from DRF
Left: Tune Me In in the winner's circle. His jockey Paco Lopez said, “The pace was so slow so I just wanted to wait as long as possible. I was very confident because the pace was slow. At the 1/4 pole, I asked him and he finished strong." Trainer Bruce Alexander added, "I knew no one wanted to go with Get Serious, so we did. The whole race was won when they went 25 and 50. He’s a good horse, and he showed it."
Right: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Queen'splatekitten in the post parade. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third in 12 starts, earning $332,013 for owner Mill House LLC.
Kicking off the stakes action on Haskell day, the $100,000 Majestic Light Stakes featured a field of 7 older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. 20-1 longest shot I'm Steppin' It Up led through fractions of 23.89, 47.70, and 1:12.07 while stalked by 7-2 third choice Ponzi Scheme. The pacesetter tired at the 1/4 pole as 7-1 Gourmet Dinner, sixth early, came through to take a short lead through 1 mile in 1:37.64. Gourmet Dinner outfinished Ponzi Scheme by a neck in 1:44.20. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to 10-1 Small Town Talk third, while 3-2 favorite Brujo de Olieros was fourth.
Results Chart from DRF
Gourmet Dinner in the winner's circle. The Bruce Brown trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 14 starts, earning $1,067,277 for owner Our Sugar Bear Stable.
The $100,000 Teddy Drone Stakes featured 9 older horses sprinting 6 furlongs on the main track. 7-1 Secret Commander opened up a 2 length lead exiting the chute through fractions of 22.26 and 44.97 while stalked by 5-2 second choice Royal Currier. Into the stretch, Royal Currier took over through 5/8 in 56.90, and held off late-running 2-1 favorite Travelin Man by a nose in 1:09.63. It was another 1/2 length back to 5-1 Raging Six third.
Results Chart from DRF
Royal Currier heads to the winner's circle. Jockey Joe Bravo said, “He doesn’t care who he’s running against. He’s a battler.” The Patricia Farro trainee improved his record to 12 wins, 6 seconds, and 2 thirds in 26 starts, earning $678,550 for owner MAT Stables LLC.
On to the 2012 Haskell results and photos
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