Hardacre Farm’s Pomeroy’s
Pistol, who broke her maiden at first asking here last year, makes her 2011
Monmouth debut on Saturday in the $75,000 Just Smashing Stakes, a six-furlong
jaunt for 3-year-old fillies.
The homebred miss has earned
some serious credentials since she last raced at Monmouth, winning the Grade 2
Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream in January, and then running third in the
Grade 2 Davona Dale in February.
Pomeroy’s Pistol comes into
the Just Smashing off an uncharacteristic poor effort, a dull sixth in the
Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Oaks Day.
“I knew we were in trouble
when she washed out in the paddock,” said Amy Tarrant, who is breeder, owner
and trainer of the filly. “When she gets all worked up before a race, she
doesn’t run well. When she comes into the paddock looking like she’s asleep,
look out, because that’s when she runs best.”
Pomeroy’s Pistol has put in a
couple of solid works since returning to Monmouth, including three furlongs in :36
4/5 last week. Jockey Chris DeCarlo, who will ride her for the first time
Saturday, was aboard for the breeze.
“She’s been working
terrifically,” Tarrant said, “so I know she still loves Monmouth.”
Last year here, the filly
came out flying on Aug. 7, breaking her maiden by nearly seven lengths. She
moved to stakes company in the Sorority next out, and bounced a bit to finish
fifth. In her final Monmouth start of the year, on Oct. 3, she finished third
in an allowance race after a world of traffic trouble.
Pomeroy’s Pistol had a
profitable winter in Florida, finishing second in the Grade 3 Old Hat before
her win and her third in the Grade 2 events.
“I want to find some graded
sprint stakes for her down the line,” Tarrant said. “But my plans will all
hinge on how she runs Saturday. She needs more experience and maturity, and
this race will help.
“One thing is for sure, she
will become my best broodmare when she’s finished racing,” Tarrant said.
ANOTHER LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ZERO
RATE POLICY
Zero Rate Policy never got to
race at Monmouth last year, but he wowed the crowd when he made his Oceanport
debut on May 15, rolling to a daylight victory in a first-level allowance
event.
So hopes for the future are
high all around when he makes his first stakes start in Saturday’s $75,000
Rumson Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs.
“He was just a big old baby
last year,” trainer Terri Pompay said. “He was big and gawky, and he just
wasn’t ready to race last year. He needed time, and the owners (Klaravich
Stables and William Lawrence) allowed me to give him the time he needed to grow
up a little.”
Zero Rate Policy, a gelded
son of Trippi – Untitled Song, by Unbridled’s Song, made his first start at
Gulfstream in March and ran second after battling for the lead.
“He was green,” Pompay said,
“but he learned something because the next time he ran (April 23) he broke his
maiden.”
The Florida-bred drew off to
win by nearly four lengths that day in a swift 1:09 1/5 for six furlongs.
“That race gave him more
experience,” Pompay said, “and he kept improving. His last race (the Monmouth
win) was his best yet.”
Pompay said the Rumson will
serve as a stepping-stone to bigger and better things, possibly including the
$150,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) here on July 3.
“He needs more experience
before I send him out to play with the big boys,” Pompay said.