Racing Action Returns to the Jersey Shore – Bet on Horse Racing

The racing action returns to the Jersey Shore on Friday for three days of non stop wagering action, complete with large fields and competitive races, giving horseplayers plenty of opportunities to pad the bankroll.

Monmouth Park enters the fourth week of the Elite Summer Meet, offering an average of $1 million in purses per day over the first 50 days of the meeting.

The big purses have lured horsemen from throughout the country, filling up the entry box, with 120 horses slated to compete on Friday, an average field size of ten per race.

Saturday’s card is equally attractive, and features the $200,000 Pegasus (G3) for three year olds, with the race including several talented three year olds that went down the Triple Crown Trail this year.

The 2/1 morning favorite in the Pegasus is Jackson Bend, who bounced back with a solid third place finish in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico after finishing a non threatening 12th in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.

Schoolyard Dreams appeared as if he would make some noise in the Triple Crown races this year after a tough nose loss in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), but was fourth in the Wood Memorial (G1) and faded to finish ninth in the Preakness.

The more established three year olds in the field will have to deal with the up and coming Afleet Express, who was a very impressive winner last out against first level allowance company.

The Jimmy Jerkens trainee looks primed and ready to fire a good one in his stakes debut, and it will be his first try around two turns.

Nacho Friend, Soaring Empire, and Afleet Again complete the competitive field.

Before we figure out who we are going to bet in tomorrow’s Pegasus, let’s solve Friday’s Late Pick 3 at Monmouth Park with a $24 investment:

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Monmouth Park:

Starting in Race 10: $1: 5,6,10 / 1,3 / 2,4,5,12 = $24

MTH Race 10 Alw $80,000N1X (5:20 ET)
#6 P J’s Back, #10 Afternoon Treat, #5 Partyallnightlong

#6 P J’s Back pressed the early pace and was no match for the winner late in a runner up finish in his first go against winners and first start off a six month layoff. The racing surface that day was favoring horses coming from off the pace.

The third place finisher in the race was Farragott’s Follies, who came back to beat Alw-1 state breds in his next start on June 6. The gelding should move forward in his second start off the bench.

#10 Afternoon Treat was outrun last out, got bumped around at the 1/8 pole and faded to finish a well beaten ninth. Perkins sends this guy out for his second start off the bench and has been sending out live runners at the meet. The gelding is a half to stakes winner Love That Dance ($272K).

MTH Race 11 Clm $10,000 (5:50 ET)
#3 Man of Danger, #1 Balraj

#3 Man of Danger was the beaten chalk last out in a runner up finish for a $7.5K tag. The gelding battled for the early lead while down along a dull rail and a racing strip that was playing to outside stalkers and closers.

The gelding was nearly four lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. He was claimed out of his last start by the Costa barn that is showing a 0 for 6 mark first off the claim. If we go back five years the barn is 5 for 27 first off the claim. The gelding is a three time winner over the main track here and won on the turf here last fall for a $25K tag.

#1 Balraj drops into a softer spot here after checking in fourth against $25K starter allowance company at Philly. The colt weakened turning for home and the jock basically wrapped him up in the stretch. The colt has won 2 of 3 here and makes his third start since last fall. He owns back numbers that are a good fit and expecting him to bounce back here with a better effort.

MTH Race 12 Clm $5,000 (6:15 ET)
#12 January Gent, #4 Alpha Capo, #2 Precious Package, #5 Matching Whites

#12 January Gent raced wide much of the trip last out facing state bred Alw-2 optional claimers and drops into a softer spot here jammed in for a $5K tag by the Dutrow barn.

The gelding put in a  slow breeze over the main track here on June 14, but the barn does not drill fast in the mornings and this gelding has landed in the exacta in 9 of his 12 starts. It looks like a negative drop, but don’t forget the barn is chasing a $30K purse here.

#4 Alpha Capo cuts back to six furlongs here after dueling for the early lead and weakened to finish third against $10K non winners of two races in six months. The top two finishers in the race came back to win their next starts. Asmussen takes over the training duties and is 27% winners (with a +ROI) with newcomers to the barn.

Good luck padding your bankroll today!