POSTULATION, SHARP IN RETURN FOLLOWING LAYOFF, CAPTURES SATURDAY’S PRESIOUS PASSION STAKES

By Tom Luicci —-

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Freshened by a lengthy layoff while also getting some class relief, Postulation benefitted from an ideal stalking trip before kicking into gear coming out of the final turn to score an easy victory in the first running of the mile and a half Presious Passion Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Michael Matz and ridden by Paco Lopez, the 7-year-old gelding marked his return to racing for the first time since last Dec. 15 with a 2¾-length victory over Sunrise Twist. It was another 1¼ lengths back to Saratoga Jack, who carved out most of the fractions before fading late.

“It was a nice spot for him,” said Joss Saville, Matz’s assistant. “He’s had a bit of a layoff since he last raced in Florida. He’s been training great coming into this race. It was a lovely race to start him back.

“The class relief helped him and gave him a bit of confidence again. He came back to himself. Paco Lopez said he was pulling on him and that he wasn’t really relaxing. I think that’s because he was so fresh and happy to be back doing something again.”

Postulation had raced in graded stakes races in six of his previous 10 starts, including two Grade 1s.

Time for the “about” 12 furlongs over a turf course rated firm was 2:36.18.

Postulation returned $5.20 to win in recording his sixth career victory in 26 lifetime starts, with the $45,000 winner’s share of the $75,000 purse boosting his overall earnings to $521,411.

“My horse was very strong in the race,” said Lopez. “I wanted to give him a little breather but he never gave me a break. No loose reins the whole race. He tried so hard and I had great position. No one wanted to go second and third behind the loose speed (Saratoga Jack) and my horse was so strong that I took it. It worked out perfect. He was very strong coming into the final turn.”

Saratoga Jack had command of the race, with Postulation sitting second the entire time, until the final turn, when Lopez urged his horse to start sprinting. No one threatened the son of Harlan’s Holiday-Supposition by Dansili in the stretch.

FREE ADMISSION, PARKING AT MONMOUTH BEGINS SEPT. 7;

FIRST RACE POST WILL BE 1:15 P.M. STARTING NEXT WEEKEND

Monmouth Park will have free admission and parking for all live racing days for the remainder of the meet starting Saturday, Sept. 7, and will move first race post time to 1:15 beginning that day as well. That post time will remain in effect through the final day of live racing on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Beginning next weekend (Sept. 7 and 8), the track will have live racing on Saturdays and Sundays only through the end of September.

Monmouth Park will also offer live racing on all four Sundays in October.

Thoroughbred racing will shift to the Meadowlands in East Rutherford for all-turf cards on Fridays and Sundays throughout October. First race post for those cards will be 12:30 p.m.

BBQ & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL CONTINUES SUNDAY

The Boar’s Head BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, featuring 17 vendors and more than 80 craft beers, will continue its three-day run at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Sept. 1, and Monday, Sept. 2, with live racing both days.

For $10, patrons will receive ten (10) 2-ounce samples in the beer garden as well as a commemorative sample glass. The 17 food vendors will be stationed in the Festival Area from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

Sunday will also be Family Fun Day, with free clowns, face painters, pony rides and music for children 12 and under. Chris Morrisy will perform from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday “On the Green.”

Following Sunday’s 13-race live racing card the band Route 80 will perform in the Beer Garden at Blu Grotto.

The Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes, one of four stakes races on the card, headlines Sunday’s racing program.