Since I’m going to be at Monmouth on Sunday I thought I would take a look at some of those races. It initially has the look of a pick-4 that doesn’t have a lot of complexity with the possible exception of the 8th race.

RACE 8

The 8th is the featured Colleen Stakes for 2 year old fillies at 5 furlongs on the turf. There is a lot left to prove for this group and I think it is fair to say no filly really sticks out.

• 3 Momma’s Favorite has one race on a sloppy race track where she showed a lot of interest swinging wide into the stretch and closing past horses to finish second. There is every reason to expect she’ll take to the turf. Given that half the field is still without a win, it wouldn’t be a complete shock for someone to get her first win in this race. It certainly could be Momma’s Favorite.
• 5 Nicky’s Brown Miss opened her career at MTH but moved to BEL where she ran a good race on the turf. She is one of the many that has yet to break her maiden, but her last race really showed a lot of aptitude for the turf. If she shows a bit more speed and her closing enthusiasm she could break her maiden in this race. She is cross entered at Saratoga so may not go in this race.
• 6 Tulira’s Star was third in the Schuylerville on opening day at SAR. She was bumped at the break and was not able to show the speed she did in her maiden win. She gets her third new rider, but with a clean break she has a chance to be in the mix at the wire.
• 8 Nellinger has one maiden race on the turf at Saratoga and ran evenly around the track. She looks as good as any of the runners here and is another one that may break her maiden.

RACE 9

• 1 More Than a Party is one of two horses that look well above the rest of the field. She has a win at the distance at MTH two races back. You can excuse her last race since it was on the turf. If she runs to her figure she seems to be the winner.
• 2 P J’s Superego has four seconds in four races at MTH. She has the speed to duel More Than a Party and on her best day can win the race.

RACE 10

• 2 World Gone Wright has one race on the turf but it was a win over the MTH surface. She has three wins in five outings and has been competitive with better. She looks like she’ll have the lead and will be the one to catch.
• 4 Allaboutcaroline looks a little cheaper than some in this field, but she is a fast filly and she likes turf sprints. She looks like a must use on the pick-4.
• 7 Ju Ju  Eyeballs ran big in her last at MTH and may inherit the favorites role today. She’s 4 for 5 with a second on the turf, she has good figures and would be no surprise at all in the winner’s circle.
• 11 Well Lit has a win and two seconds on the MTH turf. She’s won two sprints in a row, although at Penn National. I’m not sure she is fast enough to get into the race early, and she has been racing with much less than she is facing today, but I think she has a chance to be in the money.

RACE 11

• 1 Writer’s Block is a four start maiden that showed some talent at the $10K level last out. He has a little bit of speed so should be able to establish position from the 1 post.
• 3 Soniko was claimed last out at this same $10K level. He was a solid favorite in his last race, and didn’t run poorly but didn’t really finish in a way that might justify his 5-2 ML. With only two races under his belt he has every chance to improve, but I wouldn’t make him a single.
• 5 Safari Samba was second in the same race in which Writer’s Block was third last out. It was a useful race, and with only five starts he is another that could improve enough to win the race. He should be the one battling with Soniko and if speed is holding up, it could run that way around the track.
• 8 Devil’s Match raced at the wrong distance last out but didn’t disgrace himself. He looks far better placed in a sprint, and although he hasn’t shown high early speed, his finishing numbers make him a contender.