Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, Sept. 1, 2017

By John Heims —-

BREEN’S DUO SET FOR TWO-YEAR-OLD STAKES SATURDAY

Owner George E. Hall and trainer Kelly Breen will send Little Dipper and Roaming Union to the gate in the Sorority and Sapling, respectively, to try and capture Monmouth Park’s top 2-year-old stakes this Saturday.

Breen will send out Roaming Union in the Sapling after he made a four-wide move around the far turn before coming up a neck short to fellow Sapling runner Coltandmississippi last out in a seven furlong, maiden special weight event at Saratoga on Aug. 12.

“We were looking to get him around two turns and this looked like a good spot to do it,” said Breen. “He came out of the last race well. I don’t think breaking from the rail will be too much of an issue. He has taken dirt to the face before. We’ll see how the break goes and if he needs to, can save some ground along the rail.”

The son of Union Rags out of the Bernardini mare Double Gelato had to check badly moments after breaking from the gate but closed with interest, making up ground through the stretch and finished fifth in his debut going five and a half furlongs at Belmont Park on June 8.

The Keeneland September Sale purchase has worked once in preparation for the Sapling. That work on Aug. 25 when he went four furlongs in :49 over a fast Monmouth main track, ninth fastest of the 41 that went the distance on that day.

Breen’s entry in the Sorority, Little Dipper, will break from the outside in the field of nine after having all sorts of trouble as the odds-on favorite in her stakes debut in the Colleen on the main track at Monmouth on Aug. 5, having to check multiple times before finishing third behind fellow Sorority starter Bronx Beauty.

“I’m really looking forward to her run on Saturday,” said Breen. “I think the outside post is great for her after breaking from the rail last time out.”

The daughter of Eskendereya out of the Glided Time mare Eternal Grace broke her maiden at first asking, going gate-to-wire in a four and a half furlong sprint on June 23 at Monmouth, pulling away late to a six and a quarter length victory.

Little Dipper also worked on Aug. 25 in her lone breeze to gear up for the Sorority. She went three furlongs in :37 on Monmouth’s fast main track.

Albin Jimenez will get the mount on both Little Dipper and Roaming Union for the first time in their short careers.

The Sorority will run as race 8 and the Sapling will go as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post set for 12:50 p.m.

BBQ & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL BACK AT MONMOUTH FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

The BBQ & Craft Beer Festival returns to Monmouth Park Labor Day Weekend with some of the best barbeque and breweries from the area and around the country.

All day long, patrons can taste barbeque cuisine from Local Smoke BBQ, Oink and Moo BBQ, One Big Party BBQ, and Jack’s Goal Line Stand, along with local favorites Enzo’s and El Lechon de Negron and more.

Over 25 breweries will be on-hand and for just $10, guests will be able to sample 10 different beers from commemorative 2-ounce mason jars.

Along with the delicious food and beer, the two-year-olds will headline the weekend’s racing on the track with the Sapling Stakes for the boys and the Sorority Stakes for the girls on Saturday. On Monday, Monmouth Park will host Arabian horse racing, with two races on the card dedicated strictly to Arabians, including a Grade 1 event.

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