Quills Picks Winners – Saturday 7/18 – Monmouth Park Races 11 & 12
Our races continue with the main events that Monmouth Park holds today on the turf course as well as the main track. These graded stakes should avoid the major storms that will be hitting the Mid-Atlantic region after the races conclude today down the Jersey Shore.
Race 11 is the United Nations Stakes and eight are entered in this Grade 2 race. Then some of the horses that we have gotten to know from this year’s Triple Crown trail invade the Jersey Shore in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes.
Let’s break down these two races here.
Monmouth Park Race 11 – United Nations Stakes (Grade 2)
We start this portion of our day on the turf course for the United Nations Stakes. Eight are entered in this mile and three-eighths test. At the most we will have seven runners here as the 2 Telescopic will be scratched as his trainer chose to run him at Ellis Park.
Favored in the United Nations is the 7 Just a Touch (8/5 morning line). He went gate to wire in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park last month and will look to make it three for three since finding a home on the green. He ha shown versatility on his two races. He closed from last to win an allowance in April before his front running score last month. This five-year-old is looking just as good in the mornings recently as he has on the grass. But will he be close to the pace or off of it?
The 4 Program Trading (2/1 ML) won the local prep race here in the Monmouth Stakes. He is a multiple grade 1 winning ridgling who run well in the biggest of races on the lawn. Look for him to be stalking, possibly right behind his stablemate if he chooses to go for the lead today.
The 6 Uncle’s Gold (9/2 ML) won an optional claiming race at Colonial Downs last month and kicked clear to a daylight win. This is his third race off of a short layoff, but will go for four in a row against tougher foes today.
The 3 Echo Lane (7/2 ML) comes in from Churchill Downs where he finished fourth in the Chorleywood Stakes. Look for him to be near the pace as well and try to beat Brad Cox’s duo here today.
Joe’s United Nations Pick
This looks like it is a race between the two favorites and Uncle’s Gold. It looks like I prefer Program Trading with all the back class he has over the favored Just a Touch who may be better at the distance. Uncle’s Gold will also be tough, but in the end my tiebreaker is the back class, so my pick here is Program Trading.
I’m calling this race 4-6-7-3 and my play is $20 to win on the 4.
Monmouth Park Race 12 – Haskell Stakes (Grade 1)
Cue up Bruce Springsteen as we will see which of these seven three-year-olds were Born to Run today in the Haskell Stakes. Some of the names are familiar here as we remember some of the entrants from the Triple Crown trail.
Favored in this Grade 1 race is the 2 Further Ado (2/1 ML). He bounced back from his performance in the Kentucky Derby by winning the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill Downs last month. He comes east where he will face some familiar foes. I’m expecting him to be close to the pace here this afternoon.
The 1 Star Sweeper (30/1 ML) finished last in the Pegasus here at Monmouth last month and appears to been given the second invite for the Haskell from running in the Pegasus. I can’t see him finishing much ahead of the ambulance today.
The 3 Baby Vino (15/1 ML) won the Pegasus to earn his way into the race and will take the step up here. Look for him to be sitting and making a move, but he might be in over his head.
The 4 The Puma (7/2 ML) returns after being scratched on Kentucky Derby Day. He has shown the talent and has shown he fit right in with the top three-year-olds. He returns today after his connections regrouped and could be dangerous in his return.
The 5 Iron Honor (3/1 ML) finished second to Napoleon Solo in the Preakness. He did close but could not get to the winner that day. If Napoleon Solo does go for the lead, I can see Iron Honor right there with him today.
The 6 Napoleon Solo (5/2 ML) won the Preakness last time out at Laurel Park and returns this afternoon. He is the speed in this race and could potentially take this field gate to wire today. He also runs at his jockey Paco Lopez’s playground, Monmouth Park as the jock is Mr. Monmouth Park this year.
The 7 Ocelli (6/1 ML) makes me sound like a broken record when I say that he is still a maiden. He had a great chance in the Ohio Derby at Thistledown where he had the lead late and could not hold off Chip Honcho. He has consistently closed well but has yet to get his nose down at the wire or his picture taken. Is today the day?
Joe’s Haskell Pick
This does look like Napoleon Solo and Iron Honor are the two that will be on the front end here today. I think this can set up for the closers here. The Puma is the wild card in this race and could remind us of what could have been on the first Saturday of May.
Further Ado has shown he can run well, especially in Kentucky. He might be a little bit further back than he normally is, but I think the two front runners will come back to the pack late.
I correctly picked The Puma’s maiden breaker in the Tampa Bay Derby, and I’m going to swing for the fences again with Ocelli. He has had some tough luck recently losing by small margins. The owners could just put him in a maiden race and have him win at 1/9 odds. But he showed everyone he belongs despite the “M” for his lifetime record on DRF. Today is his day to graduate, and it will be today in this Grade 1.
I’m calling this race 7-4-2-6 and my play is $20 to win on the 7. I’ll also go with a 4/7 United Nations/Haskell double for $20 as well. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!
