Player Quick Pick-Monmouth-9/1/2014
By D.S. Williamson
The feature on Labor Day at Monmouth Park is the Grade 3 Boiling Springs for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles over the turf. Although there are only 8 entrants, the field is exceptionally deep. The favorite, Little Journey, is at 2 to 1, but by no means is the Chad Brown trainee a lock to win her first graded race.
Monmouth Park 10 | 5:32 pm ET
Grade 3 Boiling Springs 3yo F going 1-1/8 mi. (T)
5 – Mary ‘N Eileen – 8/1 – The Indy King sired three-year-old doesn’t appear to have a lot of turf breeding, but looks could be misleading. Indy King only charges $1,000 per live foal, meaning that there probably aren’t a lot of Indy King’s running around at race tracks. Mary ‘N Eileen’s grandfather is A.P. Indy, perhaps the single most important sire after Seattle Slew in the past 30 years in the United States. Her dam is Apleasantnight sired by Pleasant Tap. Both Pleasant Tap and A.P. Indy could run at any distance and over any surface. The reason that I’m putting in so much effort explaining Mary ‘N Eileen’s turf running credentials is because she’s won three in a row, all in front running fashion, and could be the lone speed in this. She’s going to be tough whether or not this stays on the turf. If it goes to dirt, she’s the odds on choice.
8 – Black Elegance – 4/1 – This Italian import was coming on in the stretch in the $50K Christina B Stakes at Delaware Park in July but couldn’t quite get there, losing by only .75 lengths. That was only Black Elegance’s third lifetime race, making her a logical contender in this for the winner’s circle. Jockey Eddie Castro is as good as it gets and trainer Richard Mettee has a win and a second place finish in 3 races at the current Monmouth track. Castro will make sure she’s in the mix as they turn for home. The slightest improvement could give Black Elegance the victory in this.
4 – Little Journey – 2/1– The chalk has every right to improve in her fourth race in the United States. The Chad Brown trainee finished third in the Grade 1 American Oaks over Santa Anita’s turf course in May before finishing seventh over Saratoga’s turf course in the Grade 2 Lake Placid in July. This might be the softest field that she’s ever faced, but horseplayers should beware. A lot of times imports tend to run worse the longer that they stay in the United States. That’s not the only issue. Because of her credentials, Little Journey will be a huge underlay in the Boiling Springs on Monday. By huge underlay, we’re talking 6/5 or worse. If the odds drift to 3/1 or higher, she might be the bet but the chances of that happening are slim to none.
The feature on Labor Day at Monmouth Park is the Grade 3 Boiling Springs for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/8 miles over the turf. Although there are only 8 entrants, the field is exceptionally deep. The favorite, Little Journey, is at 2 to 1, but by no means is the Chad Brown trainee a lock to win her first graded race.
Monmouth Park 10 | 5:32 pm ET
Grade 3 Boiling Springs 3yo F going 1-1/8 mi. (T)
5 – Mary ‘N Eileen – 8/1 – The Indy King sired three-year-old doesn’t appear to have a lot of turf breeding, but looks could be misleading. Indy King only charges $1,000 per live foal, meaning that there probably aren’t a lot of Indy King’s running around at race tracks. Mary ‘N Eileen’s grandfather is A.P. Indy, perhaps the single most important sire after Seattle Slew in the past 30 years in the United States. Her dam is Apleasantnight sired by Pleasant Tap. Both Pleasant Tap and A.P. Indy could run at any distance and over any surface. The reason that I’m putting in so much effort explaining Mary ‘N Eileen’s turf running credentials is because she’s won three in a row, all in front running fashion, and could be the lone speed in this. She’s going to be tough whether or not this stays on the turf. If it goes to dirt, she’s the odds on choice.
8 – Black Elegance – 4/1 – This Italian import was coming on in the stretch in the $50K Christina B Stakes at Delaware Park in July but couldn’t quite get there, losing by only .75 lengths. That was only Black Elegance’s third lifetime race, making her a logical contender in this for the winner’s circle. Jockey Eddie Castro is as good as it gets and trainer Richard Mettee has a win and a second place finish in 3 races at the current Monmouth track. Castro will make sure she’s in the mix as they turn for home. The slightest improvement could give Black Elegance the victory in this.
4 – Little Journey – 2/1– The chalk has every right to improve in her fourth race in the United States. The Chad Brown trainee finished third in the Grade 1 American Oaks over Santa Anita’s turf course in May before finishing seventh over Saratoga’s turf course in the Grade 2 Lake Placid in July. This might be the softest field that she’s ever faced, but horseplayers should beware. A lot of times imports tend to run worse the longer that they stay in the United States. That’s not the only issue. Because of her credentials, Little Journey will be a huge underlay in the Boiling Springs on Monday. By huge underlay, we’re talking 6/5 or worse. If the odds drift to 3/1 or higher, she might be the bet but the chances of that happening are slim to none.
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