Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, August 4, 2017

By John Heims —-

MIZZ MAYHEM MAKES TURF DEBUT IN COLLEEN

Mizz Mayhem will try the grass for the first time when she joins eight other two-year-old fillies in the gate for Saturday’s $60,000 Colleen Stakes going five and a half furlongs at Monmouth Park.

The daughter of Yesbyjimminy out of the Forest Camp mare Forest Retreat graduated last time out in her third career start in a five furlong maiden special weight event at Parx on July 10 where she took the lead right away and never looked back, posting a 5 ¾ length score. Nik Juarez will be aboard for the first time in the Colleen.

“She has a lot of natural speed and this is a good spot for her,” said trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. “Paco (jockey Lopez) said that she may like the turf when he rode her last time in the win. She’s been doing well leading up to the race.”

Owned by Laurie Plesa, Mizz Mayhem has hit the board in each of her three starts. In her debut at Monmouth, she took on the boys and finished third after finishing well up the rail. She returned back to take on fillies and finished second two starts back behind runaway winner Mel’s Gone Wild at Parx.

Mizz Mayhem’s pedigree suggests that she should like the switch to the turf as her full sister, Flay Mignon, has banked over $116,000 with a win on the grass.

Four other starters are coming into the race breaking their maiden last time out including Anthony Margotta Jr.’s Bronx Beauty, who pulled away late for a seven-length win on the main track at Penn National, and Beaux Arts for Russell Cash, who went up to Saratoga and took a five and a half furlong sprint gate-to-wire in her first try on the grass.

The Colleen will run as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 with first post scheduled at 12:50 p.m.

PHONEMYPOSSEAGAIN TRIES STAKES COMPANY FOR FIRST TIME IN TYRO

Phonemyposseagain will look to make it back-to-back victories when he tries the turf for the first time in Sunday’s $60,000 Tyro Stakes for two-year-olds going five and a half furlongs at Monmouth Park.

“He’s been training really well,” said trainer Chuck Spina. “He’s run well in each of his races against some tough company including a stakes winner and this spot isn’t easy either. He’s well rested and looks ready to go for Sunday.”

The son of Posse out of the Phone Trick mare Phone Express broke his maiden in his third start by 3 ¾ lengths against New Jersey breds on July 2 at Monmouth. In his first two starts, he has finished second in each behind good company in Wesley Ward’s filly Schianti, who beat the boys that day, and Firenze Fire, who won the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in his next start. Jose Ferrer has been aboard for all three starts and has the call once again on Sunday.

Owned by Joseph and Gayle Ioia, Phonemyposseagain has worked once leading up to his run in the Tyro. That breeze came on July 27 when he went four furlongs in :49 2/5 over a fast Monmouth main track.

The two main threats to Phonemyposseagain appear to be Hemp Hemp Hurray for Wesley Ward and Todd Pletcher’s Earth, both broke their maiden on the turf in their first try.

The only other Tyro entrant to break their maiden on the grass was Coop Tries Harder for Jane Cibelli, who went wire-to-wire in his first try on turf and around two turns on July 5.

The Tyro will run as race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 12:50 p.m.

ITALIAN FESTIVAL RETURNS TO MONMOUTH PARK SUNDAY

The Italian Festival returns to Monmouth Park this Saturday as a taste of Italy comes back to the Jersey Shore.

The festival will include authentic music, games for all ages including two bocce courts, and delicious food Enzo’s Pizza, Mama Dude’s, The Little Sicilian Rice Balls, Mannino’s Cannoli Express, Gigantino’s Meatballs and so much more.

New this year will be the Italian wine tasting. You can purchase a commemorative wine tasting glass and receive five 2-ounce samples for just $10.

Live music will be playing “On the Green” all day long with The Metropolitan Festival Band.

Saturday’s 11-race, live Thoroughbred racing card will be headlined by the $60,000 Colleen Stakes for 2-year-olds on the turf.

Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.

KORTNEY’S CHALLENGE 2-MILE FUN RUN/WALK AND FOOD BANK DAY SUNDAY

This Sunday, Monmouth Park will once again host Kortney’s Challenge, a two mile fun run/walk. Proceeds from the event will go to the Kortney Rose Foundation, an organization devoted to raising money to support research related to the treatment and cure of pediatric brain tumors.
The race will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the track’s entrance and will end two miles later in the Grandstand. Runners will also receive free Grandstand parking and admission to the park with registration to Kortney’s Challenge. Participants can register on race day in person starting at 8:30 a.m., or online at www.thekortneyrosefoundation.org.
Nonparticipants can also receive free admission by participating in Food Bank Day and donating a canned food or a non-perishable item. All food donations will go to the Monmouth/Ocean County Food Bank.
Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, with the first race set for 12:50 p.m.