Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Thursday, July 19, 2018

By Tom Luicci —-

AULDWOOD LANE SEEKING FIRST STAKES VICTORY
IN SATURDAY’S $60,000 BLUE SPARKLER AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. – When trainer Jason Servis sends out Auldwood Lane in Saturday’s $60,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park, he knows he will have the filly exactly where she should be: Sprinting on the grass.

How he came to the realization that she fits those conditions, though, was pure happenstance.

“When she was 2, she was ready to run. A five-furlong grass race was really the only option we had, so we thought we’d give it a try,” Servis said.

But there was some uncertainty, since Servis also trained Ever Always, the dam of Auldwood Lane, and she had never raced on the grass during an injury-shortened career that saw her win four of five races.

Auldwood Lane finished a solid third in her career debut at Gulfstream Park West, showing plenty of late run, and sprinting on the grass became her niche. In her five-race career she owns a 2-1-2 line, all in turf sprints, and comes off an impressive allowance victory at Monmouth Park on June 24.

The Blue Sparkler, a 5½-furlong turf sprint restricted to 3-year-old fillies, has drawn a field of eight, not counting three main track only entrants. The late-running Auldwood Lane, with victories in two of her past three starts, looms the potential favorite to notch her first career stakes victory – but more because of the race she did not win among her last three.

That was a fast-closing second, beaten 1¼ lengths by Miz Mayhem in the Cedar Key Stakes at Gulfstream Park on April 27.

Miz Mayhem has won two straight stakes races – the Nicole’s Dream at Gulfstream Park and the Stormy Blues Stakes at Laurel Park – since beating Auldwood Lane to stretch her overall winning streak to five.

“That’s a good filly she lost to that day,” said Servis. “I think we have a good one, too.”

Paco Lopez is again listed to ride Auldwood Lane, a daughter of Bodemeister owned by Dennis Drazin. The Blue Sparkler will go as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race card.

JERSEY SHORE 6 CARRYOVER AT $140,746 FOR FRIDAY

The Jersey Shore Pick 6 carryover pool has grown to $140,746 entering Friday’s eight-race card at Monmouth Park.

Friday’s first race post is 1:15 p.m. The Jersey Shore Pick 6 starts in the third race that day. Post time for Saturdays and Sundays remains at 12:50 p.m.

The 20-cent jackpot wager pays out the entire pool only if there is a single winning ticket.

MILLER LITE GRANDSTAND PASS GIVEAWAY ON SATURDAY

Two popular promotions will complement Monmouth Park’s 11-race Saturday card: The Miller Lite Grandstand Pass Giveaway and a $250 NHC Handicapping Contest.

With paid admission on Saturday, fans will receive a redemption form for one free Grandstand pass valid from July 22 through Sept. 9, excluding Haskell Day on July 29.

The NHC Handicapping Contest will only accept walk-up registration in either the clubhouse or grandstand. The NHC Handicapping Contest will be restricted to races from Monmouth Park and Saratoga, with the top two finishers earning spots in the 2019 NHC event in Las Vegas.