A
new world record for a one mile turf race was established at Monmouth Park
on Sunday when Mandurah went in 1:31.23 over the firm course. The $50,000 event
was the first in the four-part Malouf Auto Group Starter Series, which runs all
summer long at Monmouth. The condition for the race was: 3-year-olds and up
which have started for a claiming price of $12,500 or less in 2009-2010 and
have not won a stakes since becoming eligible.
Trained by Grant Forster and ridden by Alex Solis, Mandurah toted 114 pounds in
establishing the new mark in Monmouth’s ninth race. The old record belonged to
Mister Light, who ran 1:31.41 on January 3, 2005, at Gulfstream Park
as a 6-year-old carrying 118 pounds.
After seeing his 6-year-old gelding by A.P. Indy run the fastest mile in
Thoroughbred history, Forster said, “He’s a very talented horse. We thought
he’d like the firm turf at Monmouth, which he did very well.
“We purchased him privately as a 4-year-old and gelded him. He always trained
well in the morning, but didn’t show up in the afternoon. But over this winter
we got him in some races and gained his confidence back.”
A winner of three races at Oaklawn earlier this year Mandurah was making his
first start on turf. His connections plan to continue on in the Malouf Auto Group
Starter Series. Next up is the mile and a sixteenth test on Saturday, June 26.
The Malouf series boasts a point system of 80 for first, 50 for second, 30 for
third, 20 for fourth and 10 for unplaced. Any horse running in three of the
four series races will receive 40 bonus points. At the end of the series, a
$5,000 first prize will be awarded to the trainer of the horse with the most
accumulated points.