Smithwick’s Spice testing stakes company in Saturday’s Friendly Lover at Monmouth Park

By Tom Luicci —-

TRAINER DOUG NUNN OPTIMISTIC THAT SMITHWICK’S SPICE
WILL HANDLE CHALLENGE IN SATURDAY’S FRIENDLY LOVER

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Doug Nunn knows it’s time for him to start finding out a little more about his promising 3-year-old Smithwick’s Spice. It’s just that the veteran trainer would have preferred that process began in an easier spot than Saturday’s Friendly Lover Handicap on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

An impressive winner in a state-bred optional allowance claimer in his last start, Smithwick’s Spice will be trying stakes company for the first time in the $75,000 Friendly Lover, a six-furlong dash for Jersey-breds that headlines a 12-race card.

“I like to take it a step at a time and we’re skipping a step,” said Nunn. “I would have preferred a one other than allowance. So he’s definitely stepping up, and it’s against older horses. It’s not ideal. But he’s a horse with a lot of talent.”

Owned by Seaside Park Mayor Robert Matthies’ New Spice Stable LLC, Smithwick’s Spice has two wins and two seconds in five career start. The only off-the-board finish for the homebred son of Frost Giant-Spicy McHaggis by Good and Tough came in his 2019 debut following an eight-month layoff.

Smithwick’s Spice finished fifth that race but had a legitimate excuse after an extremely slow start. He won his next start gate to wire.

“He’s still learning how to run,” said Nunn, who has 14 horses stabled at Monmouth Park. “He’s got a world of talent, but he definitely needs to move forward in this spot.

“This is a test. And it really is a test to see if he is ready to go on.”

The field that Smithwick’s Spice will be tangling with includes two top-flight Jersey-breds in Prendimi and Chunnel. Predimi won the John J. Reilly Handicap at Monmouth Park on May 25 by a neck over Chunnel – after Chunnel defeated Prendimi last Aug. 26 in the Charles Hesse II Handicap by a neck.

Because Smithwick’s Spice is so sharp Nunn is wheeling him back in 13 days.

“You look at the field and you can see we’re stepping up,” said Nunn. “I’d have liked a softer spot coming off the big race he ran in his last start. But I know he can do this. Last year as a 2-year-old he had three starts in five weeks and he did very well coming back quickly. He likes work. He seems to be his best when he doesn’t have a lot of time between starts.”

Despite the daunting challenge, Nunn is optimistic.

“I think he can be one, two or three,” he said. “I think he is absolutely capable.”

TOP FOUR FINISHERS FROM BOILING SPRINGS STAKES
RETURN IN SUNDAY’S $75,000 OPEN MIND STAKES

The top four finishers from a blanket finish in the May 25 Boiling Springs Stakes – Beautiful Lover, Karama, Ellyb and Her Royal Highness, respectively – will hook up again in the $75,000 Open Mind Stakes that highlights Sunday’s 11-race card at Monmouth Park.

The four were separated by less than two lengths at the finish of the Boiling Springs, which was contested at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass for 3-year-old fillies. The conditions for the Open Mind Stakes are the same.

Beautiful Lover, one of two horses entered in the race from trainer Chad Brown’s stable, has recorded three straight wins, suffering her only lifetime defeat in her career debut. Joe Bravo again has the mount.

Brown has also entered Connectivity.

Among the new shooters is the promising Valiance from trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn. A $650,000 yearling purchase, Valiance is 2-for-2 lifetime with both victories coming on the turf. The most recent one was an impressive win in allowance company at Monmouth at a mile and a sixteenth on May 27.

TITO’S T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY, HANDICAPPING CONTEST
TO COMPLEMENT SATURDAY’S 12-RACE MONMOUTH CARD

A free T-shirt giveaway sponsored by Tito’s Homemade Vodka and a $300 handicapping contest will serve as the promotional highlights to Saturday’s 12-race card at Monmouth Park, with the day also marking the start of the popular Dawn Patrol.

Free T-shirts will be available to the first 5,000 paid admission, with patrons receiving a coupon that can be redeemed outside by the Grandstand overhang or at the Old Clubhouse Welcome Center. Redemption will begin at 11:30 a.m.

The $300 handicapping contest, which is open to the public, includes a $150 non-refundable entry free and a $150 tournament bankroll, as well as a $10 food coupon.

Contest players must bet a minimum of ten (10) races. There is no maximum. Those 10 races must include five from Monmouth Park and five from Woodbine, including the $1 million Queen’s Plate.

The contest format will be win, place and show wagering only.

In addition to the prize money, the top three (3) finishers earn a seat to the 2020 NTRA National Horseplayers Championship.

Walk-up registration is available from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

First race post time at Monmouth Park on Saturday is 12:50 p.m. Woodbine has a special first race post time of noon on Saturday.

The Dawn Patrol, which offers free morning tours of the backstretch, starting gate and jockey’s room hosted by Laurie Lane, will make its seasonal debut on Saturday at 8 a.m. The tours run every Saturday and Sunday morning through Sunday, Aug. 25, with the exception of Haskell Invitational weekend July 20 and 21.

The tour starts on the first floor of the Clubhouse.

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

THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE AWARDS
ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS THROUGH JULY 15

The Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards program presented by Godolphin and supported by the Jockey Club, the HBPA and TOBA, is accepting nominations for racetrack employee awards through July 15 in seven different categories.

Categories include the Leadership Award; the Breeding, Leadership Award; the Racing, Dedication to Breeding Award; the Dedication to Breeding Award; the Newcomer Award; the Thoroughbred Industry Community Award and the Administration Award.

The awards are accompanied by cash prizes.

Anyone can nominate an individual in any category.

To review the categories, and to nominate someone (in Spanish or English), visit www.godolphinUSawards.com.