New Jersey-bred horses have had an impact at Monmouth Park and on the national racing scene for almost a century. Top New Jersey-breds have been conditioned by Hall of Fame trainers, won the Kentucky Derby, and owned by celebrities. Three New Jersey-breds are in the racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga. Regret (left), the 1917 Kentucky Derby winning filly, joined the Hall of Fame in 1957. Cavalcade, who also won the Kentucky Derby in 1934, got in the Hall of Fame in 1993.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 all-time money earning Jersey-breds. Of course the list begins with Open Mind, who will become the third New Jersey-bred to be inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame this summer.
Open Mind had 19 starts with 12-2-2 results for $1,844,372. Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, she won 11 stakes races, 9 of them graded including the 1989 New York Filly Triple Crown, the Kentucky Oaks, and a win in the Alabama Stakes gave her 10 consecutive victories.
Friendly Lover had 66 starts with 22-13-12 results earning $1,247, 670. He won 12 stakes races with 5 black type victories.
Zoffany ran 36 times with 15-10-2 for $1,225, 569. Zoffany was an international horse with a win in England and 5 graded stakes victories in California. In his penultimate start in the Hollywood Turf Cup, Zoffany defeated 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand.
Wild Gams entered the gate 23 times going 9-6-1 and earned $1,198, 486. Her victories included three grade III stakes.
Park Avenue Ball (left) started 25 times with 7-7-2 results for $1,049,360. He won six stakes races, three of them were for black type.
Joey P. is still in training as a nine year old and has started in 44 races going 18-9-1 earning $1,037, 417. He set a track record in the 2007 Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth going 5.5 furlongs in 1:01.91. Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said, “He’s a remarkable horse. He’s as sound as ever, knock on wood, but he appreciates time off now. He’s everything you could want in a racehorse.” Joey P. is entered in the John J. Reilly Handicap at Monmouth on Saturday, a race he has already won three times.
Sewickley ran in 32 races finishing 11-9-4. He won four graded stakes in New York including the Vosburgh twice, the Tom Fool, and the Fall Highweight.
Who’s the Cowboy is another nine year old that is still in training. He now has earnings of $981,422 in 62 starts with finishes of 17-10-12. In 2006 he won 4 consecutive stakes at Monmouth Park. This year Who’s the Cowboy is 1-1-2 in 6 starts in New York. New trainer Peter Walder said, “He’s settled nicely in the barn, and he looks like a solid, tough horse. It would be great if we could get him over the $1 million mark in earnings in this (the John J. Handicap) race.”
Dance Floor collected $863,299 in purses during a relatively short career of 16 races. Owned by rapper MC Hammer and trained by D. Wayne Lucas, he finished 4-4-2. As a three year old, Dance Floor won the Fountain of Youth, placed in the Florida Derby, and finished third in the Kentucky Derby and the Travers.
Missy’s Mirage ran 28 times finishing 14-8-1 with earnings of $838, 894. Trained by Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens, she won multiple stakes in New York.
Aside from these great thoroughbreds your blogger from “Racing at the Jersey Shore” and Mr. Brian Zipse are Jersey-breds. We would not want to overlook New Jersey’s role in the popular reality television shows Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious, and Real Housewives of New Jersey. By the way, Snookie and The Situation are not Jersey-breds.
At the end of each of my blogs you will find the ABC’s of the Monmouth Hall of Champions, where I will highlight a member of The Hall of Champions, which is located on the first floor of the grandstand and honors the best horses ever to compete at Monmouth Park.
Today Alydar: Alydar competed for 3 years, with a career record of 26: 14-9-1, while earning $957,195. Of course he is famous for his 1978 battles with Triple Crown winner Affirmed. He appeared at Monmouth Park to win the 1977 Sapling Stakes. Alydar ranks 133 on the Horse Racing Nation list of the Top 250 Thoroughbreds of All-Time with an 8.44/10 rating.