Robert Tell and Wesley A. Ward’s Madman Diaries took control
out of the gate and never looked back, winning the Grade 3, $150,000 Sapling
Stakes by a half length as Grecian Maiden held on for a nose victory in the
$100,000 Twin Lights Stakes before a crowd of 13,469 at Monmouth Park on
Saturday.
After setting fractions of :22 2/5 for the first quarter and :46 2/5 for the
half-mile, Madman Diaries was confronted by Vengeful Wildcat nearing the eighth
pole, but repelled that challenge to win the Sapling, Monmouth’s top race for
2-year-olds. Madman Diaries paid $13.60, $6.80 and $5.60 and topped the $80.20
exacta. Vengeful Wildcat held for second and paid $4.20 and $3.20. It was a
neck back to Chipshot, who paid $4.40 to show. Favorite Maybesomaybenot checked
in fourth.
“I was pretty confident in him,” said co-owner Wesley Ward, who conditions the
son of Bring the Heat from the Outflanker mare Harper N Abbey. “He’s been
breezing up at Saratoga
and had me convinced he can run on dirt, that’s why we took a shot here.”
Ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez, Madman Diaries scored his third win in five starts
on Saturday. After debuting at Keeneland this April, the 2-year-old gelding had
run his last four at Woodbine. The Sapling marked the first start on
conventional dirt for Madman Diaries, who has now earned $247,822.
In the Twin Lights, Grecian Maiden stepped the mile and an eighth over firm
turf in 1:48 1/5 and paid $21.40, $10.40 and $6.80. Profiteroles, whose late
charge fell just short at the wire, paid $6.40 to place and $4.20 to show and
completed the $102.40 exacta. It was another length and a half back to Bet on
the Blue, who paid $5.20 to show.
“There wasn’t a lot of pace in the race so we wanted to a lay a little closer,”
said winning jockey Julian Pimentel. “It worked out beautifully. When I pushed
her she just took off. She really answered today.”
Trained by Michael Trombetta, Grecian Maiden earned her third win in six starts
by taking the Twin Lights. The 3-year-old filly by Ghostzapper from the Two
Punch mare Willa on the Move, has now banked $119,980 for her connections.