MULTIPLE GRADE 1 WINNER DIVISIDERO “HAPPY, HEALTHY” HEADING INTO SUNDAY’S GRADE 3 RED BANK STAKES

By Tom Luicci —-

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Kelly Rubley says there’s a simple explanation for multiple Grade 1 winner Divisidero continuing to be both productive and competitive as a 7-year-old horse – a time when many of his equine peers with similar credentials have long since headed to the breeding shed.

“I think he loves the Fair Hill (Md.) Training Center and he loves his turned out time,” she said. “He’s just a very happy horse.

“When he’s not competitive, that’s when he needs to move on to his next career. But he has been very good, very consistent, and he has stayed healthy.”

On Sunday at Monmouth Park, Divisidero will look to add to his impressive career credentials in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes, one of four stakes races on the card.

After just missing by a head in the Grade 3 Oceanport Stakes on July 20 at Monmouth Park as the 7-10 favorite – “I thought that was a rough trip,” Rubley said – the son of Kitten’s Joy-Madame du Lac by Lemon Drop Kid will look to break through in 2019 after posting three second-place finishes in his four starts so far without a victory.

If he does, it will mark the fifth straight year that Divisidero has recorded a graded stakes victory.

“I think it’s a blessing that he’s happy and healthy and still competitive,” said the Maryland-based Rubley. “Certainly we’d like to win more. But I’m happy with him and happy with the way he’s training. I think he’s in top form. I’m really happy with the way he’s coming into this race. We’re looking forward to this weekend.”

The $150,000 Red Bank Stakes, at a mile on the turf for 3-year-olds and up, tops a bundled stakes card that includes the $100,000 Sapling Stakes, the $100,000 Sorority Stakes and the $75,000 Safely Kept Stakes.

Divisidero, owned by Gunpowder Farms LLC and Brereton C. Jones, heads into his race with a 6-6-4 line from 26 career starts with earnings just over $1.5 million.

The mile distance for the Red Bank doesn’t concern Rubley either.

“It all depends on how the race sets up,” she said. “He ran very well in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (finishing fourth last year). So I think he is versatile. He can go a mile, he can go a mile and an eighth, he can go a mile and three-sixteenths. It depends on the trip.”

Divisidero’s versatility extends beyond his distance flexibility. During his 26-race career he has raced at 11 different racetracks.

GOLDWOOD TOPS FIELD FOR SUNDAY’S SAFELY KEPT STAKES

IN QUEST FOR FOURTH STAKES WIN OF MONMOUTH MEET

The distinction of being the only three-time stakes winner at the current Monmouth Park meet no longer belongs to Goldwood, with Golden Brown having matched her in that accomplishment with his victory in last Sunday’s Charles Hesse III Handicap. So trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. is setting out to break the tie.

Goldwood will look to become the only four-time stakes winner during Monmouth’s 2019 season in Sunday’s $75,000 Safely Kept Stakes, with the Kentucky-bred turf sprint specialist having already won the Politely Stakes, Unbridled Elaine Stakes and the Incredible Revenge Stakes.

The Safely Kept is at five furlongs on the grass.

“The barn is excited about the opportunity,” said Duarte. “She seems to be on top of her game. She is doing very well. We had a little rain earlier in the week but the forecast looks good for this weekend so it seems like it’s all system go.”

Owned by Colts Neck Stables LLC, Goldwood has seven wins from 16 career starts with lifetime earnings of $285,130. Even though the 5-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro-Crimson Maple by Rahy is coming off a hard-fought victory just three weeks ago in the Incredible Revenge Stakes, Duarte sees no reason to stop with her now.

“I feel like if we were worried about pushing her because it’s too much too soon we would have waited for another race,” he said. “There are other options out there for us. But she has been doing so well at Monmouth Park and the money is good enough and she is so consistent now, so why change?

“She really came back well from her last race. She took five minutes to cool herself out. She’s such a big filly it seems like it didn’t take that much out of her. The weather is a little cooler and I feel like it hasn’t drained her as much as it might in the summer heat.

“She’s sharp, happy and she’s telling us she wants to do it again.”

THREE-DAY BBQ & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL KICKS OFF SATURDAY

The three-day Boar’s Head BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, featuring 17 vendors and more than 80 craft beers, will highlight the promotional side of Monmouth Park’s Labor Day weekend, starting on Saturday.

For $10, patrons will receive ten (10) 2-ounce samples in the beer garden as well as a commemorative sample glass. The 17 food vendors will be stationed in the Festival Area from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday, with live racing all three days.

Saturday and Sunday will also be Family Fun Days, with free clowns, face painters, pony rides and music. The band “After the Reign” will perform from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday “On the Green.”

The William Hill Sports Book by Monmouth Park is also expected to be active with the first full weekend of college football.

The $75,000 Presious Passion Stakes will highlight Saturday’s 12-race card, which will begin with a Pick 5 carryover of $30,238 starting in the first race. First race post time is 12:40 p.m.

Following the races on Saturday the Moroccan Sheepherders will perform in the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto.