Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Thursday, August 3, 2017

By John Heims —-

STEPHENS HAS PAIR ENTERED IN SATURDAY’S COLLEEN STAKES

Trainer John Stephens has a pair of two-year-old fillies, City Success and Brexit Revenge, entered for their first try in stakes action when they take on seven others in Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes going five and a half furlongs.

Both of Stephens entries come out of the same race with Brexit Revenge pulling off the 14/1 upset in her debut on July 15 going five furlongs on the main track while City Success had to steady at the start and finished fifth.

“I’m leaning towards just running City Success here on Saturday,” said Stephens. “Brexit Revenge has more of a smaller build and I think the dirt may suit her better. She’s a grinder that never quits. I think that City Success will like turf with her pedigree and I think she will want to go farther eventually. I think this is a good spot to get a race into her on the grass.”

City Success’ sire City Zip has produced a solid list of turf runners including Catch A Glimpse, who took the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. He also sired Monmouth turf legend Get Serious, who won eight graded stakes races in Oceanport including three straight editions of the Grade 3 Red Bank.

Both fillies worked at Monmouth on July 26 going four furlongs over a fast main track, with City Success going the distance in :48 4/5, sixth fastest of the 39 that day, while Brexit Revenge breezed the half-mile in :49 4/5. Jose Ferrer will be aboard City Success as she breaks from gate four on Saturday.

Four other starters are coming into the race breaking their maiden last time out including Kelly Breen’s Little Dipper, who ran away from the field to score a six and a quarter length victory, and Beaux Arts for Russell Cash, who went up to Saratoga and took a five and a half furlong sprint gate-to-wire in her first try on the grass.

The Colleen will run as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 with first post scheduled at 12:50 p.m.

ITALIAN FESTIVAL RETURNS TO MONMOUTH PARK SUNDAY

The Italian Festival returns to Monmouth Park this Saturday as a taste of Italy comes back to the Jersey Shore.

The festival will include authentic music, games for all ages including two bocce courts, and delicious food Enzo’s Pizza, Mama Dude’s, The Little Sicilian Rice Balls, Mannino’s Cannoli Express, Gigantino’s Meatballs and so much more.

New this year will be the Italian wine tasting. You can purchase a commemorative wine tasting glass and receive five 2-ounce samples for just $10.

Live music will be playing “On the Green” all day long with The Metropolitan Festival Band.

Saturday’s 11-race, live Thoroughbred racing card will be headlined by the $60,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

KORTNEY’S CHALLENGE 2-MILE FUN RUN/WALK AND FOOD BANK DAY SUNDAY

This Sunday, Monmouth Park will once again host Kortney’s Challenge, a two mile fun run/walk. Proceeds from the event will go to the Kortney Rose Foundation, an organization devoted to raising money to support research related to the treatment and cure of pediatric brain tumors.

The race will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the track’s entrance and will end two miles later in the Grandstand. Runners will also receive free Grandstand parking and admission to the park with registration to Kortney’s Challenge. Participants can register on race day in person starting at 8:30 a.m., or online at www.thekortneyrosefoundation.org.

Nonparticipants can also receive free admission by participating in Food Bank Day and donating a canned food or a non-perishable item. All food donations will go to the Monmouth/Ocean County Food Bank.

Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with the first race set for 12:50 p.m.