Meru looking to follow up “eye-popping” debut in Saturday’s Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth Park

By Tom Luicci —-

DUARTE HOPING MERU CAN FOLLOW UP “EYE-POPPING” DEBUT
IN SATURDAY’S SMOKE GLACKEN STAKES AT MONMOUTH

OCEANPORT, N.J. – After a debut performance that trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr., described as “eye-popping,” 2-year-old colt Meru will test stakes company in Saturday’s Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth Park, still offering the potential to be any kind of horse.

Off first impressions there’s plenty of reason for optimism for what the future holds.

“This horse really hasn’t done much wrong,” said Duarte. “He’s a high energy horse. That’s the one thing we noticed immediately with him and why we had him make his first start locally.

“He was a little bit intense in the paddock before his race. So we turned him out after that and freshened him up a bit. We didn’t go crazy with going to Saratoga or maybe somewhere else because we thought it would be a little too much for him to blend in at this point in his career. So this race, being an easy ship for him, made sense.”

A son of Sky Mesa-Lady Lavery by Elusive Quality, Meru was picked out by Colts Neck Stables farm manager Alan Goldberg at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale for 2-year-olds in training in April, at a cost of $300,000.

His racing debut in a Maiden Special Weight race at five furlongs at Monmouth Park on July 13 resulted in an impressive 6¼-length win.

Duarte has been waiting for the next spot for Meru since then. The six-furlong Smoke Glacken, the feature on Saturday’s 11-race card, was where he landed.

“We’ve been ready with him for weeks,” said Duarte, who has 14 winners from 43 starters at the Monmouth meet.
“We’ve just kind of been in maintenance works with him. He’s ready to go. Everybody in the barn is hoping he can follow up that first start with another one.”

Six other 2-year-old colts will oppose Meru, including the Jason Servis-trained All Eyes West and As Seen On TV, from Kelly Breen’s barn.

All Eyes West was second in his debut (and only race so far), beaten a nose by the Duarte-trained Big City Bob, who went on to win the Sapling Stakes. As Seen On TV won his debut by a head on Aug. 24 at Monmouth Park.

“Meru has always shown ability, so what he did was not a huge surprise,” Duarte said. “It was more the way he did it that was so impressive. He was very professional on the track.

“Knowing his behavior we thought we’d give him another run at Monmouth to get him more experience.”

Duarte, who also conditions Goldwood, the only four-time stakes winner at the current Monmouth Park meet, said he is still waiting to see a little more before declaring Meru to be graded stakes caliber.

“The way he showed his first time out, I don’t know if that was a fluke but we always knew he had ability and he showed it,” Duarte said. “So I can’t say yet. We all hope he is that good. But he has to show us on the racetrack.”

$250 NHC HANDICAPPING CONTEST ON TAP SATURDAY

Monmouth Park will host a $250 NHC Qualifier Handicapping Contest on Saturday, Sept. 21, featuring races from Monmouth Park, Belmont and Churchill Downs.

The cost is $250, with $100 of that going toward a non-refundable entry fee and the remaining $150 serving as a player’s contest bankroll.

The contest is open to the public, with walk-up registration the day of the event only between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

In addition to prize money the top two (2) finishers will earn a seat in the NHC.

Wagering format is win, place and show, with a minimum required wager each race of $15 (there is no maximum).
Contest players must bet a minimum of 10 races (there is no maximum) and at least five (5) must be on Monmouth Park’s 11-race card. Players can wager on any self-service machine.

Registration tables will be located inside the main Grandstand gate and inside the Clubhouse entrance.