Monmouth Park Barn Notes

By Tom Luicci —-

STEEPLECHASE RACING RETURNS TO MONMOUTH THURSDAY
WITH A TRIO OF JUMP RACES ON THE EIGHT-RACE CARD

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Steeplechase racing returns to Monmouth Park on Thursday following a one-year hiatus, with three jump races highlighting the eight-race card.

All three Steeplechase races will be contested at 2 and 3/8ths miles with eight jumps over National Fences. The rail for the turf course for all three events will be at 24 feet.

Headlining the trio of Steeplechase races is a $35,000 handicap that goes as the 5th race. It has attracted a field of 11, with the Richard Hendriks-trained Cheers to Us the 7-2 morning line favorite off his 17-length romp in the James M. Moran Jr. Handicap on May 19 during the Radnor Hunt Races in Malvern, Pa.

Steeplechase races will also go as the 1st and 3rd races on the program. Both are maiden races for 4-year-olds and up carrying a $30,000 purse. A field of nine is set for each.

The jumpers’ return to Monmouth Park marks the 21st stop during a 37-day National Steeplechase Association schedule that runs from March 24 to Nov. 11.

On the Thoroughbred side, a field of seven 2-year-old first-time starters debut in the 4th race, a Maiden Special Weight event for Jersey-breds at 5½ furlongs.

First race post at Monmouth on Thursday is 1:15 p.m.

RECORD PICK 6 CARRYOVER MOVED TO FRIDAY’S CARD

The record Jersey Shore Pick 6 carryover of $219,329 has been shifted to Friday’s eight-race card at Monmouth Park.

No Jersey Shore Pick 6 will be offered on Thursday’s card, which features three Steeplechase races.
The Jersey Shore Pick 6, a 20-cent wager, pays out the entire jackpot pool only if there is a single winning ticket. It starts with the 3rd race on Friday’s card and culminates in the 8th race.

NAVARRO CLOSING IN ON ANOTHER RECORD SEASON

With 18 racing days left in Monmouth Park’s 52-day meet, trainer Jorge Navarro is well on his way to a record sixth straight training title – as well as a third straight year of setting the track’s single-season record for wins.

Navarro enters the start of a four-day race week on Thursday with 56 winners, more than twice the total of second-place Jason Servis (27 wins). The 43-year-old conditioner from Panama is also well on his way to breaking the mark of 65 winners in a season, which he set last year. He also broke the single-season record in 2016 with 59 winners.

Jose Ferrer, meanwhile, is closing in on his first riding title at Monmouth Park as the meet heads into the homestretch.

The veteran jockey has 58 winners entering this week, 14 more than five-time Monmouth Park riding champion Paco Lopez.