Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Sunday, May 28, 2017

By John Heims —-

MONMOUTH-LOVING CHUBLICIOUS RETURNS TO THE JERSEY SHORE MONDAY

Monmouth Park regular Chublicious is back at the Jersey Shore to take on nine rivals in Monday’s Memorial Day feature at six furlongs. The $51,200 allowance event for New Jersey breds will see Chublicious, the 5-2 favorite, break from the outside post in the dirt sprint.

“He’s been eating and training really well here,” said Jorge Navarro, who’s been Monmouth’s top trainer the past four seasons. “He hasn’t missed a beat since coming back to our barn.”

The 6-year-old gelding by Hey Chub out of the Arch mare Sassy Broad has worked three times since his return to the Monmouth backstretch. His most recent came on May 20, when he went five furlongs in 1:01 4/5, third fastest of the 14 horses that went the distance that day.

His last outing came on Jan. 14 in the Fire Plug Stakes at Laurel Park, where he sat fifth down the backstretch before showing his usual late closing kick to grab second behind Grade 3 winner Imperial Hint.

Owned by David Gruskos, Chublicious went a perfect 3-for-3 over the Monmouth Park main track last year, all stakes wins: John J. Reilly Handicap, Mr. Prospector Stakes and the New Jersey Breeders Handicap. Antonio Gallardo was aboard for all three wins and will get the call again on Monday.

In his career, the 2016 New Jersey bred champion older male and sprinter has run 10 times at Monmouth, hitting the board in each of them with a 7-2-1 record including breaking his maiden over the track in his second try.

“I don’t think the outside post will really affect him,” said Navarro. “There seems to be plenty of pace in the race. He will probably sit right off of it.”

To get to the wire first on Monday, he will have to get by three other New Jersey bred stakes winners, two of which have won the same race as Chublicious in prior years. Chubble Maker, who also is by Hey Chub, took the 2015 New Jersey Breeders Handicap and Saucy Don got the victory in the 2015 John J. Reilly Handicap.

Monday’s New Jersey bred allowance event will be race 8 on a 9-race holiday card. It will also be the final day of the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

FOOD TRUCKS FESTIVAL CONCLUDES MEMORIAL DAY

Monmouth Park’s popular Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival wraps up Memorial Day Monday, May 29.

The food trucks first rolled into Monmouth in 2012 for a one-day event, which has expanded in size and scope to what it is today. Among those who will be concocting their culinary delights are: Empanada Guy, Wild Bill’s Soda, Red Hook Lobster and Enzo’s Deli, to name a few.

Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 12:50 p.m. Admission to the Grandstand, where the food trucks will assemble, is $5 – seniors pay $3 and children 12 and under are free.

For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com.

BETFAIR.COM HASKELL TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets for the 50th edition of the betfair.com Haskell Invitational, to be renewed on Sunday, July 30, are on sale now.

Clubhouse sections start at $25, while Grandstand seats range from $20-$25. For the Grandstand balcony seat prices go from $13-$18. A complete Grandstand or Clubhouse box ranges from $100-$200 depending on the number of people.

Last year, Preakness winner Exaggerator took down Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist in the slop to take home the 49th renewal.

Admission on Haskell Day, which is not included in the reserved seat price, is $8 for the Grandstand and $10 for the Clubhouse. For seniors aged 55 and up Grandstand admission is $4 and Clubhouse admission will cost $5.

Haskell tickets can be purchased by calling 732-571-5563, or by visiting the reserved seat booth (2nd floor of the Grandstand) on any live racing day. In addition, fans can pre-purchase Haskell seats directly through www.monmouthpark.com.

The Haskell is part of the Breeder’s Cup Challenge Series: Win & You’re In with the victor earning an automatic berth to the $6 million Classic.