John and Sarah Kelly’s Red Vine moved past pacesetter Valid at the top of the stretch before reporting home a two length winner in the $75,000 Majestic Light Stakes at Monmouth Park before a Saturday crowd of 23,483.
The first of a three-day food truck festival brought a crowd of more than double over last year’s Memorial Day Saturday as the racetrack enjoyed sunlit skies throughout the afternoon.
“They came early and stayed late,” said Bob Kulina, president of Darby Development LLC, operators of the racetrack. “It was a great crowd and an even greater event. Everyone at Monmouth has worked hard to make these events into the success that we saw today and we will continue to work to bring even more fan-friendly festivals to the racetrack.”
In the day’s feature, Red Vine covered the mile and 70 yards over a fast main track in 1:40 2/5 and returned $3.80, $2.40 and $2.10 as the odds-on favorite in the field of five colts and geldings. Valid completed the $9 exacta and paid $3 and $2.10. It was another eight lengths back to Souper Lucky, who paid $2.40 to show.
“I had a beautiful trip,” said winning jockey Joe Bravo, who earlier on the card became just the 31st rider in history to win 5,000 career races. “Christophe (trainer Clement) told me this morning to just guide the horse into a good position and he will do the rest. All I had to do was be a passenger and the horse answered the call when I asked. He keeps on improving with each start.”
A 5-year-old horse by Candy Ride from the Storm Creek mare Murky
Waters, Red Vine has won 5 of his 16 lifetime starts, good for earnings
of $335,715.
Source: Monmouth Park
