Trainer
Marty Wolfson’s Monmouth Park string consists of nine horses. Nearly half the barn is entered this weekend.
That
makes for a busy three days for Heather Irion, who oversees Wolfson’s local
string while the boss sees to his Calder Race Course home base.
On
Friday, Irion will saddle Farnsworth Stable LLC’s Dancin Perfect, fourth most
recently in an overnight stakes race at Calder.
“She’s
been here for six weeks,” Irion said. “She’s doing super. Hopefully we don’t get anymore rain because
she’ll only run on turf.”
On
Saturday, the ultra-consistent Amazing will be one of the headliners in the
$75,000 Lighthouse Stakes.
The
6-year-old daughter of Greatness will eclipse the $500,000 mark in career
earnings with a win.
“Amazing
arrived Tuesday and has trained since Wednesday,” Irion said. “She seems to have shipped really well. She been bucking and kicking ever since she’s
been here.”
A
multiple stakes winner, Amazing has knocked heads against some of the best
South Florida distaffers in her career, but has also been able to take her game
on the road, running well at Saratoga, Santa Anita and even Woodbine.
“She
looks like a horse that takes her track wherever she goes,” Irion said. “Marty is really fond of this filly.”
One
race after Amazing goes in the Lighthouse, 3-year-old filly Oak Marsh steps up
to Grade 3 competition in the Boiling Springs.
The
daughter of First Samurai was most recently fourth in the Little Silver Stakes
on May 29.
“It
should help her that she’s been stabled here for six weeks now,” said Irion of
Oak Marsh, who shows two works since the Little Silver. “Marty is looking for improvement from
her. He wouldn’t have entered her if he
didn’t think she had a shot.”
Wrapping
up the busy week on Sunday, Irion will saddle Bronx City Girl in the $75,000
Blue Sparkler Stakes. The 4-year-old
Yankee Gentleman filly was second in Monmouth’s Red Cross last out behind
stablemate Jehan.
“All
the horses are doing really, really well,” Irion said. “They’re tearing the barn down. They’re definitely not making it easy on me.”
SPRINT STAR
PARTYALLNIGHTLONG MAY TRY TWO TURNS NEXT OUT
Richard
Malouf and Eddie Broome’s New Jersey-bred Partyallnightlong, who electrified
the local fans last summer by winning four races, and returned last month to
take his 2011 debut, may try to stretchout to two turns following his start in
Friday’s eighth race.
The
4-year-old colt by Put It Back has five career wins on his resume – all at six
furlongs.
“We
weren’t surprised he ran as well as he did last out despite the layoff,” said
Broome, who also trains Partyallnightlong.
“He trained well leading up to it and has continued to train well since. He’s a little fitter for this race than he
was last time.”
After
breaking from the rail in his seasonal debut, Partyallnightlong will move out to
post position No. 6 on Friday.
\
“He
has a much better post for Friday,” Broome said. “He’s always been the type that likes to sit
and track horses. General Maximus looks
like he has speed from the rail and Awesome Son should entertain him, so we
should be in a spot to be in a good position.”
While
Broome expects another winning performance from Partyallnightlong on Friday, he
says something new might be in the colt’s future moving forward.
“We’ll
take it one race at a time, but I think we’ll look to stretch him out around
two turns after this race,” he said.
TWO-DAY WINE FESTIVAL ON TAP THIS WEEKEND AT MONMOUTH PARK
Monmouth
Park’s second-annual Win & Wine Festival returns this weekend featuring
nearly a dozen local wineries offering samples of their finest potables.
Taking
place from 12:30 to 6:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, the Wine Festival will be
located outside the north end of the Grandstand.
For
$10, fans can purchase unlimited samples that are served in a commemorative
festival wine glass.
Festival
attendees may also purchase wine by either the bottle or the case.
In
addition to the wineries, a number of crafters and vendors will be set up in
the festival area.