ULTRA-CONSISTENT FOREVER LIESL LOOMS THE HORSE TO BEAT IN SATURDAY’S SERENA’S SONG STAKES AT MONMOUTH PARK

By Tom Luicci —-

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Michelle Nevin said her thought process was pretty basic when it came to shipping in Forever Liesl from New York for Saturday’s $75,000 Serena’s Song, the feature race on Monmouth Park’s 12-race card.

“This race came up and she’s ready to go,” said Nevin. “That was pretty much what it came down to.”

The ultra-consistent Forever Liesl looms as the heavy favorite for the 17th running of the Serena’s Song, a mile and 70-yard event for fillies and mares 3 years old and up, having hit the board in 15 of her 18 career starts.

The 5-year-old daughter of Mineshaft-Ava Pie by Distorted Humor has come back this year in top form, with a 1-1-1 showing from her three starts in 2019 – all against stakes competition.

“We purposely gave her a break just to freshen her up and get her back on her toes and it has done her a world of good,” Nevin said.

Owned by Kallenberg Farms, Forever Liesl has banked $347,564 in her career. She is particularly fond of an off track, showing a 4-3-1 line from nine starts on the off going, but Nevin said “she’s won on a fast track as well, so it’s not like we need the slop to see her best effort.”

Nevin says that’s the one thing she can count on with Forever Liesl – her best effort almost every time out.

“She’s very consistent,” she said. “She’s a hardworking mare who, race to race, goes out and gives a top effort. She usually gives you everything she’s got.

“She’s a pleasure to have around because you know she is always going to try.”

Forever Liesl raced twice at Monmouth Park a year ago, winning an optional claimer in the slop before finishing fourth in the Lady’s Secret Stakes. Nevin said that showings like last year’s Lady’s Secret are rare for Forever Liesl.

“I’ve had her since she was a baby,” said Nevin, who started four horses at Monmouth Park a year ago, producing a win and a second. “She always showed that she was going to be a nice horse but as a 2-year-old she was a really big, gangly type, and I think time and age have helped her steadily improve.

“She has finally grown into that body of hers. She has always been genuine. I expect the same as always from her on Saturday – a big effort where she tries as hard as she can.”

Post time for Monmouth Park’s Saturday and Sunday cards is 12:50 p.m.

MONMOUTH PARK PART OF SATURDAY’S CROSS COUNTRY PICK 5

The Serena’s Song Stakes at Monmouth Park will serve as the third leg in the Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, May 11, a 50-cent base bet with a mandatory payout that will also include one race from Woodbine and three from Belmont Park.

The wager will kick off with the eighth race from Woodbine (approximate post time: 4:59 p.m.) and will be followed by the eighth race from Belmont, the 10th race (the $75,000 Serena’s Song Stakes) from Monmouth Park and then the ninth and 10th races from Belmont Park.

The Woodbine race is the $100,000 Ballade. The ninth race from Belmont is the $150,000 Run Happy Stakes and the 10th race from Belmont is the Grade 1 Man O’War.

NYRA will be the host and settle for the wager. The bet is available on self-service machines under event code XCN. Free past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 are available at http://bit.ly/2Jv0L2k.

For more information, please visit the website: www.NYRA.com/CrossCountry.

MOTHER’S DAY CARD ON SUNDAY FEATURES GIVEAWAYS,

FREE ADMISSION FOR LADIES, FAMILY FUN DAY ACTIVITIES

Monmouth Park is offering free admission to all ladies for Sunday’s 10-race Mother’s Day card, with the first 1,000 ladies receiving a free carnation courtesy of In The Garden.

There will also be a drawing for an In The Garden prize basket/gift card, as well as a drawing for Arianna Grande concert tickets. Entry blanks will be provided at the gates and can be dropped off at the Finish Line, the Welcome Center, the Picnic Area Welcome Center, the 1st Floor Clubhouse and Clubhouse Will Call.

Entry forms must be dropped off by the end of the fifth race. The winners will be selected following the sixth race.

Family Fun Day activities will also be on tap, featuring free clowns, face painters, a bounce hours and pony rides.

Following the races, the Random Test Reggae Band will perform at the Blu Grotto from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.