Sapling S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

While his half-sister, Nest, has been racking up the Grade I victories at Saratoga this summer, Lost Ark (Violence–Marion Ravenwood, by A.P. Indy) stayed behind in Todd Pletcher's Belmont division with Monmouth's Sapling S. targeted. Mission accomplished, as the 2-year-old remained undefeated in two starts and romped by 7 1/2 lengths in the Sapling.

Shuffled back at the start, but securing a mid-pack spot on the inside, Lost Ark was content to let Bourbon Spirit (Liam's Map) battle it out up front for the :23.94 quarter and :47.51 half. Angled out quite wide on the turn, Lost Ark swished his tail as he unfurled a powerful stride to mow down Bourbon Spirit and finish much the best as the even-money favorite.

“I did not want or expect him to be too far back,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “It was his first time going two turns and first time going longer so those were my only concerns. I got the ideal trip inside and once I took him out he took off and galloped away. Very professional horse.”

Lost Ark's previous outing came July 3 at Belmont, where he attended the pace before pulling clear for a 5 1/2-length score as he posted a 79 debut Beyer in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. His dam has now produced two GISWs, a SW, and a MSP from six foals to race. She did not produce foals the last two years, but is currently carrying a full-sibling to Nest and is entered in Keeneland's November sale on opening day. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

SAPLING S., $203,500, Monmouth, 8-27, 2yo, 1m, 1:37.20, ft.
1–LOST ARK, 117, c, 2, by Violence
               1st Dam: Marion Ravenwood (SW, $112,598), by A.P. Indy
               2nd Dam: Andujar, by Quiet American
               3rd Dam: Nureyev's Best, by Nureyev
($275,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Harrell
Ventures, LLC; B-Ashview Farm & Colts Neck Stables (KY);
T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. $120,000. Lifetime
Record: 2-2-0-0, $169,500. *1/2 to Dr Jack (Pioneerof the
Nile), MSP, $156,155; 1/2 to Nest (Curlin), MGISW,
$1,735,550; 1/2 to Idol (Curlin), GISW, $426,964.
2–Bourbon Spirit, 117, c, 2, Liam's Map–Gifted Glory, by
Tapit. ($115,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $200,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Flurry Racing Stables LLC and Titletown
Racing Stables; B-St. Elias Stables, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$40,000.
3–Major Dude, 117, c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Mary Rita, by Distorted
Humor. ($550,000 Ylg '21 FTSAUG). 1ST BLACK TYPE.
O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Clearsky Farms (KY); T-Todd A.
Pletcher. $20,000.
Margins: 7HF, HD, 2 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 9.40, 4.60.
Also Ran: American Blaze, Freedom Road, Saloon, V Mart, Minister for Magic.

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Officials at Monmouth Park have announced an across-the-board increase in purses to begin on TVG.com Haskell S. day July 17 and have added three live September dates on Fridays to the calendar.

“We're thankful to Gov. Philip Murphy and to the leadership in the state Senate and Assembly who continue to support racing in New Jersey,” said Dennis Drazin, the Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, the operators of Monmouth Park. “A supplemental appropriation was passed and signed into law, and with rain preventing us from writing more races during the early stages of the meet, we have $5.5 million to spend on purses to support the Monmouth Park product as a result.

“We believe it was important to make the announcement at this time, so horsemen can plan for the balance of the meet. We feel these increases will further strengthen what is already a quality product.”

A 20% increase will be applied to all maiden special weight and allowance races, while claiming races run for $12,500 tags or higher will see a prize money increase of 10%. The purses for lower-level claimers will be raised by 5%. Open stakes races that are currently listed at $75,000 will be contested for $100,000, while state-bred stakes will run for $85,000, up from $75,000.

Other stakes races will receive more significant bumps. According to the release, the Sept. 26 Nownownow S. for 2-year-olds at a mile on the turf, will see the largest boost from $150,000 to $500,000. The race in named in honor of the winner of the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf held at Monmouth in 2007 and will serve as a stepping-stone to this year's race at Del Mar Nov. 5.

The Sapling S. (Sept. 5) and Sorority S. (Sept. 6.), for 2-year-old males and females, respectively, see their purses doubled to $200,000, while the GIII Monmouth Oaks and GIII Iselin S. are each to be raised by $50,000 to $250,000.

Monmouth's original schedule called for weekend racing only during the month of September, but the track will now hold live programs Friday-Sunday and will conduct live racing on Labor Day, Sept. 6.

Officials also announced that after a one-year hiatus owing to the coronavirus, the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet will return in 2021. Nine all-turf programs will also see significant purse increases. That schedule will be announced at a later date.

The post Purse Increase, Dates Added at Monmouth appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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