Jockey Mezzatesta Notches First U.S. Win At Monmouth

Jockey Andrea Mezzatesta would have preferred it didn't take 17 mounts to earn his first win in the United States, but the 28-year-old native of Milan, Italy, said the extended wait only made the milestone that much more enjoyable.

Mezzatesta scored an upset with the Kelly Breen-trained Morethanicanhandle ($34.40) in Sunday's seventh race at Monmouth Park to break through in his first summer of riding in the United States.

“I am very happy,” said Mezzatesta, the son of legendary Italian jockey Vincenzino Mezzatesta. “It seems like it has been a long time since I had a winner. It's a good feeling to finally get the first one.”

Mezzatesta, who won 365 races in Europe and Asia, came to the United States at the urging of close friend and fellow jockey Umberto Rispoli. He rode a winner in his last race in Italy on May 30, flew to the United States the next day, and secured his first U.S. mount on June 3 at Monmouth Park.

“I was trying to be patient, but you want to get that first win,” Mezzatesta said.

Mezzatesta said he will be riding at Monmouth Park for the duration of the meet. All 16 of his previous mounts in the U.S. have been at the Jersey Shore oval. He had a second and three thirds prior to his win.

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Turf-Loving That’s Right Aces First Stakes Test With Gate-To-Wire Romp In My Frenchman At Monmouth Park

Jockey Andy Hernandez says there's no secret to the success That's Right has had since being switch to the grass three starts ago.

“With him, it's ring and go,” said Hernandez. “If you want to catch me, okay. Good luck with how fast this horse is on the grass.”

That's Right made the transition to stakes company look almost as effortless as he did the rise from the maiden special weight ranks to an allowance, out-breaking the field by two lengths and then scampering off unchallenged for 3¼-length victory in the $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes Sunday at Monmouth Park.

After starting his career 0-for-6 on the dirt, trainer Michael Moore tried the 3-year-old son of Goldencents sprinting on the grass for the first time on May 20 at Pimlico. He won that race by five lengths to break his maiden, then easily handled allowance company with a 5¼-length romp at five furlongs on the grass.

Sunday was more of the same, with That's Right covering the 5½ furlongs over a firm turf course in 1:02.46.

“He always showed speed on the dirt but he frustrated us because he would always quit at the end,” said Moore. “We thought he was better than he was showing. We finally got him on the grass at Pimlico and he ran off the screen, so obviously we are keeping him on the turf.

“He is a totally different horse on the turf, the way he moves, everything about him. This race was another test with better horses, but as I told the owner (James Shannon Jr.) after the race: 'He came off the turn like he did in the allowance race in his last start.' He was four or five lengths in front of them. And there were some good horses in this field.”

The 7-2 third choice in the field of seven 3-year-olds, That's Right never gave favorite One Timer or second choice Too Many Twizzlers any hope. One Timer closed for second, a head better than Grooms All Business.

That's Right is now 3-for-3 on the turf, all sprints.

“There was speed in the race and he got to the lead pretty easily. At this point in his career no one can catch him on the grass,” said Moore. “You look at him on the grass now and you say, 'How good can he be?' ”

Hernandez, a 22-year-old native of Matanzas, Cuba, has been aboard for all three grass sprints. The victory was his first stakes win at Monmouth Park.

“He broke sharp today,” said Hernandez. “I put him on the lead and he did what he has been doing since he tried the grass – he took off and no one could stay with him.

“I kept looking around for someone to make a run at us but after a while I just said, 'He is going to win a stakes race.' ”

That's Right led the field through a :22.29 opening quarter and reached the half in :44.21 before cruising home.

That's Right, who was bred in Kentucky by Edward A. Seltzer, is out of the Greatness mare Cat Ten. He has a 3-1-2 record from nine career starts and $154,150 in lifetime earnings.

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Gulfstream Park: Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $175,000 Friday

The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool is guaranteed at $175,000 Friday at Gulfstream Park.

There will also be a Late Pick 5 carryover of $94,227.46 for Friday.

The Rainbow 6 has gone unsolved for five racing days since a lucky bettor hit the jackpot for a $118,521 payoff Friday, July 8.

The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70% of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30% is carried over to the jackpot pool.

Friday's Happy Hour program gets under way at 2:55 p.m. (ET).

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