Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 6/13 – Monmouth Park Race 9

With the other stakes races clumped together, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile Stakes will be a standalone race here on Q&A racing. A field of nine horses are entered in this race with the top two finishers getting a free entry into the Monmouth Cup on Haskell Day next month.

Monmouth Park Race 9 – Salvator Mile Stakes (Grade 3)

Favored in the Salvator Mile is the 6 Bishop’s Bay (9/5 morning line). He finished second in a small field in the Westchester Stakes. He dueled down the backstretch but held on to second when passed by the winner at the top of the stretch. This six-year-old won this race last year and can run on the lead, but he has shown he can stalk if need be.

The 9 East Avenue (5/1 ML) draws the far outside post today. He finished off the board after getting bumped around early in the Grade 2 Alysheba Stakes. He is a speedy horse and may try to gun for the lead with his post today.

The 4 Grand Mo the First (9/2 ML) returned to the main track after racing on the turf in 2024 and 2025. He was close to the pace in an optional claimer and won in his first race in 11 months. If he can get a fast pace in front of him, he should be closing late.

The 3 Point Dume (6/1 ML) was slow at the start of the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes and was never close. Look for him to be quicker out of the gate for a trainer who wins 20 to 30% annually in Pennsylvania.

Joe’s Pick

We do have some speed in this race which will be shown early on today. Look for Bishops Bay to bounce back today in his second race since racing in Saudi Arabia.

I’m calling this race 6-4-9-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Best of luck and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!