Monmouth Park Barn Notes

By John Heims —-

NO MORE MUSIC WILL TRY TO STEAL THE SHOW IN SUNDAY’S FEATURE

No More Music stretches back out to his preferred two turns in his second start of the season in Sunday’s $40,000 allowance optional claiming feature going a mile and a sixteenth on the Monmouth Park main track.

“He’s been doing great coming out of last race,” said trainer John Mazza, who conditions the horse for Holly Crest Farm. “The next morning, after the race, he was full of energy and ready to go. He should run better this time because he prefers going long.”

The 5-year-old gelding by Stephen Got Even made his first trip back to the track in 2017 on May 14 at Monmouth going six furlongs and finished sixth.

No More Music’s two career wins both came over the Monmouth dirt in back-to-back races in 2015. After breaking his maiden by three lengths sprinting, he came back nearly two months later to take home a $50,000 allowance event, going a mile and seventy yards, by a neck.

“He’ll probably sit right off the pace,” said Mazza. “We’ll get him to settle and look to make one good run.”

The daughter of the Tactical Cat mare This Girl Rocks has worked once since his seasonal debut. It came on May 28 when he went four furlongs in :51 over a fast Monmouth main track.

Graded stakes placed Sail Ahoy, for Shug McGaughey, ran third in 2015’s Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Aqueduct and will most likely be the post-time favorite exiting a fourth place finish in allowance company at Keeneland on April 21.

The one other New Jersey bred in the field is Don’s Marsh, for trainer Terri Pompay. He makes his 2017 debut after taking two allowance events around two turns last season at Monmouth.

Sunday’s feature will go as race 8 on the day’s 9-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

$1 MILLION PURCHASE INCA CHIEF MAKES DEBUT SUNDAY

Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Stonestreet’s Inca Chief, who was purchased at the Fasig-Tipton March 2016 sale for $1 million, makes his career debut Sunday in a maiden special weight event going five and a half furlongs on the Monmouth main track.

“He came into Monmouth Park Wednesday and has been doing good,” said Juan Tovar, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s a very nice, easy-going colt and has been taking everything in stride since getting to Monmouth.”

The 3-year-old colt by Uncle Mo out of the Two Punch mare Five Star Dream has been working down at Palm Beach Downs with his latest on May 28 going five furlongs in 1:01.

Another high-priced, first-time starter will also take a spot in the starting gate in the field of 9 Sunday. Chad Brown-trainee Speight the Devil, by Speightstown, sold at the Keeneland September Sale in 2015 for $610,000.

The maiden special weight event is set to go as race 6 on the 9-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post at 12:50 p.m.

POPULAR DAWN PATROL RETURNS JUNE 24

Monmouth’s popular Dawn Patrol program, which gives fans a look into racing life behind the scenes, is scheduled to resume on Saturday, June 24 and run all the way through Aug. 20.

This year, Dawn Patrol will be held on Saturdays and Sundays, starting at 8 a.m. The free morning tour consists of a tram ride through the Monmouth Park stable area during workout hours, a close-up look at the starting gate, a tour of the jockeys’ room, which is usually off-limits to the public, and a running commentary on racetrack life by hostess Laurie Lane. Learn about the life of Thoroughbred race horse including training programs and equipment, feed programs and a variety of other topics.

Reservations are required and can be made by call 732-571-5542.