By Joe Quillen
Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 6/15 – Monmouth Park Races 9 to 12
Let’s head to the Jersey Shore as Monmouth Park has their Haskell Preview Day. We will take a look at four races today which will be the final four races on their card. If you’re watching along at home this afternoon, the races will be on FS2.
Race 9 – Eatontown Stakes
We begin the sequence with the Eatontown Stakes with is a turf race going a mile and a sixteenth. There was rain in the mid-Atlantic area on Friday night, so it will be interesting to see what condition the turf is in today.
The 6 Spirit And Glory (5/2 morning line) is favored here and has been on the lead the last two races on the turf. She is very versatile and can win from off the pace like she did in February over soft ground.
The 1 Sacred Wish (3/1 ML) won on the front end in an allowance at Aqueduct, but like the favorite, she can rate off the pace as well.
The 4 No Show Sammy Jo (6/1 ML) makes the logical step into Grade 3 company here today after winning an allowance in her first race back from an almost year long layoff. Bringing her back shows she’s healthy and ready to go here. She should be closing here today.
The 8 Ocean Club (6/1 ML) appears to need the lead and her finish in the race depends on who goes with her on the lead.
I’ll call this 4-6-1-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 4.
Race 10 – Pegasus Stakes
The three-year-olds are next and they will go a mile and a sixteenth on the main track in this prep race for the Haskell.
The 1 Tuscan Sky (5/2 ML) is favored here and won his first two races on wet tracks. He didn’t show much in the Wood Memorial and returns after a break. He appears to be a need the lead type horse and should gun for the lead with drawing the rail.
He 8 Sea Streak (7/2 ML) won the Long Branch last month on the lead here at Monmouth and should also be at or near the lead.
The 7 Domestic Product (3/1 ML) looks like he will enjoy having a ton less horses running after had problems at the start then was wide most of the way around. If we have the horses mentioned on the lead, he will love this trip.
The 3 Otello (9/2 ML) appears to be a horse that could be also enjoying a speed duel up front. But he didn’t show much in his last two races in graded stakes company.
I think Domestic Product will be too tough here. 7-3-8-1 here with a $20 win wagers on the 7.
Race 11 – Monmouth Stakes
We have nine horses going a mile and an eighth on the turf here in the Monmouth Stakes. The 8 Tawny Port (5/1 ML) is cross entered into the 7th race at Churchill Downs. I haven’t heard where he will be as of yet, but scratches will tell in due time.
Favored is the 4 Grand Sonata (3/1 ML) who returned to the races in May finishing second in an optional claimer. He showed a nice kick in his return.
The 5 Siege of Boston (7/2 ML) didn’t have his usual kick in the Turf Classic. But it was his first race in two months. I’m expecting his great kick to return today.
In a race that does not appear to have a ton of speed, the 9 Running Bee (4/1 ML) could steal this on the front end. He tired on the lead in the Dinner Party at Pimlico on Preakness Day a few weeks ago.
The 2 Beatbox (6/1 ML) did not enjoy the going at Pimlico in the aforementioned Dinner Party. He appears to be very versatile and should bounce back.
I think Siege of Boston has the best kick here and I will go 5-2-9-4 with a $20 win play on the 5.
Race 12 – Salvator Mile
We have 8 horses in the finale here at Monmouth as the field will go one mile on the main track.
The heavy favorite is the 2 Bright Future (1/1 ML) who is running for the first time since the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November. Though you can question the layoff and being ready, the field in that Classic had a few horses that have won Grade 1 races. He will be close to or on the lead here today.
The 8 Coastal Mission (10/1 ML) could surprise here. He has been on the lead and a few lengths back and won. You can toss that Maryland Sprint race at Pimlico. But he has won going a mile and an eighth, so a mile is not impossible.
The 4 Shirl’s Speight (8/1 ML) has been running on the turf, but he did finished third in this race two years ago. He has only raced three times, but the turf to dirt angle may be enticing.
The 1 Sherlock’s Jewel (8/1 ML) races for the first time in three months and should be ready to go here. He finished second in the Challenger racing off the pace. He has two wins and a place in 3 races on the dirt and should like the trip here.
This Is all about Bright Future today. I’ll call this 2-1-4-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 2.
Since this is the final four races of the card, I’ll give a pick-4 here as well. My pick 4:
Race 9: 1,4,6
Race 10: 3.7
Race 11: 2,4,5,9
Race 12: 2
Total wager on a 50-cent increment = $12
Best of luck everyone!