Monmouth Park Barn Notes – Thursday, July 2 July 3rd, 2009
Saturdays $750,000 United Nations Stakes came up looking like a Grade 1 turf race should, with a solid mix of old and young performers in the field of nine, including Patricia Generazios Presious Passion, who will be out to duplicate his 2008 score in the mile and three-eighths event.
Only this time, victory wont come as a surprise for the 6-year-old son of Royal Anthem, and you definitely wont get 13-1 at the windows. Presious Passion turned in a powerful prep for the 56th running of the U.N. by winning the Monmouth Stakes here on June 13, regaining the lead in deep stretch after he looked beaten, and that race should set him up for a repeat. That race set him up right for this, and Im happy with him, said trainer Mary Hartmann. Hes coming up to the race the right way. Presious Passion, who was a problem child at 4, has turned into a professional racehorse at 5 and 6, and comes into this running of the United Nations as a multiple graded stakes winner with more than $1.2 million in career earnings. He acted like a wild kid at 4, Hartmann said. It wasnt until he turned 5 that he learned to relax and stopped doing stupid things all the time. Last year was the geldings best season yet, with victories in the Grade 1 United Nations, Grade 2 W.L. McKnight and Grade 3 Pan American.
This year, hes won the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida and the Monmouth Stakes and comes into the U.N. ready to roll. I dont breeze him between races, Hartmann said, because he gallops so aggressively every day. And it seems like it takes most of the day when we bring him out. Ive tried to keep him relaxed and happy between races, the trainer said. He goes out after the last break when theres no traffic on the track and he can be relaxed. He stands out there for a half-hour, and then he backs up to the quarter-pole and stands for another 15 minutes, and then he gallops two miles. It keeps him happy. There will be some new shooters gunning for Presious Passion in this edition of the U.N., including the 4-year-olds Court Vision and Wesley. There will also be some old challengers like Better Talk Now, the 2005 U.N. winner who tries again at age 10.
KISS THE KID GOES TURF-TO-DIRT IN SALVATOR MILE SATURDAY
Hardacre Farms Kiss the Kid, who tried Presious Passion in the Monmouth Stakes on turf last out, will go for his first graded stakes victory on the main track in Saturdays $250,000 Salvator Mile (G3). The 6-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid has won two Grade 3 events on the grass (Cliff Hanger at the Meadowlands and Appleton at Gulfstream), and owner-trainer Amy Tarrant thinks the Salvator Mile is a good spot for Kiss the Kid to pass the versatility test. I thought I should give him a chance in here because we have the home field advantage, Tarrant said. He trains over this track every day, and hes already won on the dirt here. If ever I was going to try him in a graded stakes on dirt, this is the place to take a shot, she said. Kiss the Kid won a mile and a sixteenth allowance event here in 2006, and took an off-the-turf allowance on a muddy track in 2007. Last year, Tarrant sent him out in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream on the main track, and Kiss the Kid finished a game third behind Spring at Last and A.P. Arrow. Hes run well enough on the main track here to deserve a chance, Tarrant said. I think he can get a piece of it.
T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY SATURDAY TOPS HOLIDAY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
Monmouth Park will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend with three days of activities for the entire family. Friday, Saturday and Sunday all will be Family Fun Days, with free pony rides, face painters, clowns, and bounce houses each day from 12 to 4 p.m. Live music will be provided on Saturday by the Cats on a Smooth Surface band, and on Sunday by The Kootz. A Monmouth Park T-shirt giveaway highlights Saturday, July 4, with all paid admissions receiving a distinctive Jersey Shore shirt.
A special jockey autograph signing and memorabilia sale, plus several raffles, will be featured on Saturday and Sunday, with proceeds benefitting the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund.
Prizes to be raffled off include restaurant gift certificates, Stars of the Turf prints by renowned racing artist PEB, and an afternoon in the booth with Monmouth announcer Larry Collmus.