SYNCHRONY LOOKS TO ADD TO STELLAR TURF RECORD IN SATURDAY’S GRADE 2 MONMOUTH STAKES

By Tom Luicci —-

2/18/2018. – Joe Bravo aboard Synchrony wins the Grade III Fair Grounds Handicap at Fair Grounds. Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Michael Stidham has no qualms about shipping Synchrony wherever there’s a graded turf stakes race that fits the horse’s schedule, which explains why six of his past eight starts have been at different racetracks and on both coasts.

But there is no place the ultra-consistent 6-year-old enjoys more than Monmouth Park’s turf course.

“He loves Monmouth Park,” said Stidham. “You just have to look at his record there to see that.”

Synchrony will look to add to his stellar Monmouth Park record – and impressive career – in Saturday’s Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes, which tops a 13-race card that features four stakes races overall.

The Monmouth Stakes, at a mile and an eighth on the grass, drew a quality field of eight, with Stidham acknowledging that his star turf runner will have to be at his best to win.

“It’s not an easy race by any means,” said Stidham. “But it’s a Grade 2 race. It’s not supposed to be easy.”

Synchrony has handled most tests thrown his way, with a 6-2-4 line from 14 lifetime grass starts. The son of Tapit-Brownie Points by Forest Wildcat has banked $773,052 for his career.

A small chunk of that has come at Monmouth Park, where Synchrony won the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes and the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes last summer. In his only other Monmouth appearance in 2017 he was second in the Grade 3 Red Bank.

“He’s a real honest horse,” said Stidham. “When you see him in the paddock you can see what a big, tough, strong horse he is. He just goes out and tries hard when the conditions are right.”

That’s the one catch with Synchrony: he needs a firm grass course.

That was not the case in his last start on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 4 when Synchrony finished seventh in the Grade 1 Turf Classic over a course listed as “good.”

“The same thing happened the year before in the Turf Classic,” said Stidham. “It rained before the race and the turf was a little on the softer side and he never runs his best race on that type of course. When it’s a firm course you can always count on him giving his best.”

Synchrony, owned by Pin Oak Stable, will have to be on top of his game against the field assembled for the Monmouth Stakes, which carries a $200,000 purse.

Chad Brown has entered Almanaar and Projected, Bill Mott will be represented by Monarchs Glen and Mike Maker is shipping in Markitoff for his Monmouth Park debut.

“Obviously, any time Chad Brown is in a grass race he’s the one to beat,” said Stidham. “Bill Mott has one for Juddmonte Farms and they’re always tough. And the horse that could be dangerous on the lead is Mike Maker’s horse.

“But Synchrony is training great. We have him at Fair Hill (Md.) and he’s had a work since the Churchill race and he’s doing really well. If the weather holds out and the turf stays firm I expect him to gives his best effort, especially at Monmouth Park.”

THREE MONMOUTH RACES IN SATURDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5

Three Monmouth Park races – including the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile – will be part of Saturday’s Cross Country Pick 5, a 50-cent base bet with a mandatory payout that includes two races from Belmont Park.

The wager begins with the Salvator Mile in ninth race at Monmouth Park (scheduled for a 4:31 p.m. post) and will be followed by the 10th race from Monmouth and then the Monmouth Stakes in the 11th race. Races nine and 10 from Belmont Park complete the sequence.

NYRA will be the host for the event and settle for the wager. The bet is available on self-service machines under event code XCN.

Free past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 are available at http://bit.ly/2K25QQ3.

For more information visit www.NYRA.com/CrossCountry.

DARK ARTIST RETURNS IN SUNDAY’S MISS LIBERTY STAKES

Trainer Jane Cibelli is eager to find out if Dark Artist can pick up where she left off a year ago at Monmouth Park when the 4-year-old filly makes her 2019 debut in Sunday’s $75,000 Miss Liberty Stakes.

It was at Monmouth last summer when Dark Artist “turned the corner,” according to Cibelli by winning both of her stakes grass starts (the Boiling Springs and the Open Mind) at the track. The Miss Liberty Stakes, which carries a $75,000 purse, is at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass for fillies and mares three and up and headlines a 12-race program.

“She really came into her own at Gulfstream the race before we brought her to Monmouth last year,” said Cibelli, referencing a wire to wire victory on the grass. “But it was during those two races at Monmouth that she learned to rate and to sit off the pace and run like a real race horse. That’s when she turned the corner.”

Cibelli, Monmouth Park’s leading trainer in 2011 and 2012, will be bringing back the Kentucky-bred daughter of Paynter-Ominous Cat by Storm Cat after a five-month layoff. Overall, Dark Artist is 3-for-6 lifetime on the grass with four wins overall from 10 career starts.

“She needs to step forward a bit in this race,” said Cibelli. “But there are no graded stakes winners in this field and she has been training well.

“It will be a good gauge for her. It’s not an easy race by any means but it should be a good test to see where she is now.”

The Miss Liberty Stakes attracted a field of 10, including main track only entrant Jump Ruler.

JERSEY SHORE FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS BUSY WEEKEND

The popular Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival will begin a three-day run at Monmouth Park on Saturday that coincides with three straight days of live racing over an event-packed Memorial Day weekend at the Shore track.

Forty-two trucks will be offering culinary delights from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Monday.

Saturday’s racing card features the first bundled stakes program of the year, with the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile, the Boiling Springs Stakes and the John J. Reilly Handicap highlighting a 13-race card.

The Miss Liberty Stakes goes as the feature race on Sunday, with the Hysterical Lady Stakes topping Monday’s Memorial Day program.

Saturday also marks the start of the Survival at the Shore handicapping contest as well as the first day that tickets go on sale to the public for the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Invitational slated for July 20.

To be eligible for Survival at the Shore, a free online handicapping game, contestants must register by 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25.

For further information visit Challenge@survivalattheshore.com.

Tickets for the Haskell Invitational will be available starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and may be purchased on line or at the track at the reserved ticket booth on the second floor of the grandstand.

Live music is also on tap throughout the extended weekend, starting on Saturday with country artist Lauren Davidson performing “On the Green” from noon to 4 p.m. and Kristen Baum playing on the second stage, also from noon to 4 p.m.

Brent &Co. and Jessica Rose will be the two featured Sunday performers with the band Sundries taking the stage on Monday.

Saturday and Sunday will also be Family Fun Days, with free clowns, face painters, a bounce house and pony rides for children 12 and under.