Monmouth Park Barn Notes for Friday, Aug. 3, 2018

By Tom Luicci —-

TRAINER CARVAJAL LOOKING FOR SUCCESS TO CONTINUE
WITH PRENDIMI IN SUNDAY’S CO-FEATURED ALLOWANCE

OCEANPORT, N.J. – In the same quiet way he oversees a 20-horse stable that consists mostly of allowance horses, claimers and Jersey-breds Luis Carvajal, Jr. is well on pace to having the best season of his 13-year career as a trainer.

The Santiago, Chile, native hopes to move a step closer to that accomplishment – modest for many trainers but a significant milestone for Carvajal – when he sends out Prendimi in Sunday’s co-featured $50,000 allowance at Monmouth Park.

“Being a small barn, I think we’re doing pretty good for ourselves,” said Carvajal. “I don’t have a lot of horses but I have good clients that have been with me for many years so it’s nice to have success for them. But we’ll see. Knock on wood. You need the horses to stay healthy and to run the way they’re supposed to. If that happens this could be my best year yet.”

For the year, Carvajal has 10 winners from 81 starters entering the weekend, with three of those victories from 18 Monmouth Park starts. His best year for victories was 2008 when he won 16 races. From an earnings standpoint he is at $582,408 this year, with his best year of $738,171 in 2017 within his sights.

“It’s been a good year so far,” he said.

Carvajal will be wheeling back Prendimi after just a week, largely because his third-place finish on Haskell Day in the same company he will run in on Sunday essentially took the place of a missed workout.

The gelded son of Dance With Ravens-Cigno d’Oro shows a 1-2-3 line from seven career starts. The lone victory came at Monmouth Park on June 9 when Prendimi won a six-furlong Maiden Special Weight race by 4½ lengths.

He will face six Jersey-breds going a mile on Sunday’s 10-race card.

“He still needs to mature,” Carvajal said of Prendimi. “He doesn’t quite get the hang of it yet. He doesn’t really know how to run yet.

“(Jockey) Chris DeCarlo told me he seems like he’s better going long because he’s such a big horse. Once he gets into his stride he’s good. But he has a lot of room to improve.”

Carvajal, 46, learned about racing from his father, who was a jockey in Chile. He spent 10 years as an assistant to Robert Durso, whom he refers to as “one of my mentors.” He keeps 10 horses at Monmouth, 10 at Parx and spends the winters in Florida, mostly at Tampa Bay Downs.

“Hopefully we can keep going and keep winning,” he said.

First post for Sunday’s card is 12:50 p.m.

ITALIAN FESTIVAL AND WINE TASTING SET FOR SATURDAY

The Italian Festival and Wine Tasting, featuring 11 eateries and vendors and wine tasting, highlights an event-filled Saturday at Monmouth Park that will complement a 10-race card, including a pair of stakes races for 2-year-olds on the grass.

The eateries and vendors on hand for the Italian Festival and Wine Tasting are Angelo’s Italian Market, Buzzetta’s Festival, Enzo’s Pizza, Kono Pizza, Maddalena’s Cheesecake, Mister Softee, The Cannoli Café, The Little Sicilian Riceball, Tony’s Italian Sausage and Louie Linguini.

The wine tasting, sponsored by Opici Wines, will be located in the beer garden area. For $10, patrons will receive five 2-ounce samplers as well as a commemorative wine glass.

The Festival will run from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Plenty of additional entertainment is being offered Saturday as well, with the Metropolitan Festival Band performing “On the Green” from noon to 4 p.m. while also walking the festival area to play.
Dancers will be on hand, with Paolo and Laurentina of The Rhythm Stompers performing from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., with demonstrations every 45 minutes in the festival area.

The musical entertainment will continue after the races at the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto, with Pam McCoy and the Familiar Faces performing. There will also be a DJ from Rock the House Entertainment.

I IDOLIZE YOU SPLASHES HOME A 4½-LENGTH WINNER
IN MONMOUTH PARK’S FRIDAY FEATURE RACE

I Idolize You rated nicely off early speedster Lucky Six, took control entering the turn and then drew off for a 4½-length victory over a sloppy track in the feature race on Friday at Monmouth Park.

Sent off at 7-5 in the field of six, which saw four scratches when the five-furlong sprint as taken off the grass, I Idolize You gave trainer Jason Servis his 25th winner from 53 starters at the meeting. He is second in the trainer standings behind Jorge Navarro’s 53 wins.

I Idolize You covered the distance in :57.50, with Lucky Six holding for second. It was another 3¼ lengths back to Baseballnbourbon.

“I was one of the two speed horses so I was right where I thought I would be early,” said winning jockey Albin Jimenez. “It was a clean trip and he really took to the slop.”

The 3-year-old gelded son of Awesome of Course-Marywiththeblueyes, owned by Mr Amore Stable, won for the third time in seven career starts. It was his second straight victory at Monmouth Park.

Racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday with a 10-race card. First race post is 12:50.

Due to Friday’s heavy rains, Saturday’s five scheduled turf races – the 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th and 10th – have already been switched to the main track.

PICK 6 CARRYOVER AT $205,096 ENTERING SATURDAY’S CARD

The Jersey Shore Pick 6 carryover has grown to a record $205,096 for Monmouth Park’s 10-race card on Saturday after failing to produce just a single winning ticket, as required to take the entire pool for the 20-cent jackpot bet, on Friday’s eight-race program.

Friday’s short price-dominated sequence began with Go Black Betty ($4.80) in the 3rd race, followed by Steamboat Bill ($7.00) in the 4th race, Swagger ($4.60) in the 5th race, I Idolize You ($3.40) in the 6th race, Gangbusters ($9.00) in the 7th race and No Trespassing ($10.80) in the 8th and final race.

Picking all six winners returned $182.78 for 20 cents.

Saturday’s Jersey Shore Pick 6 will begin in race five and culminate in race 10. First race post is 12:50 p.m..