Artisanal Takes $70K Little Silver Stakes

It's Hot Dog Showdown Day here at on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, and throngs of people have come out to sample various grilled meats and craft beers, with People's Choice and Judge's Choice champions to be crowned later.

A giant inflatable King Kong clutching a hot dog greets visitors as they enter the park.

It is a partly cloudy day with temperatures in the 80s, and the track conditions are fast, with firm turf.

First Race - 12:50 p.m. Post Time

In the first race of the day, eight horses will compete for $18,000 in purse money. They will run one and one-sixteenth miles.

Final odds:

1. Dream Waltz (3-1)
2. Jacknows (7-2)
3. Sir Tyler T (9-1)
4. Irish Eddie K (7-2)
5. Avanti Avanti (2-1)
6. Ira's Song (9-1)
7. Supah Alex (20-1)
8. Outclass (39-1)

Finish 2-1-7-3

Jacknows (7-2), owned by Dawghouse Stable, trained by Robert Mosco, and jockeyed by Navin Mangalee, won the first race of the day.

Dream Waltz (3-1) placed, and Supah Alex (20-1) showed.

Outclass, a 39-1 longshot, jumped out to an early lead, but slowed in the race's final furlongs.

Second Race - 1:21 p.m. Post Time

Owners Joseph Ioia and Chuck Spina must be Yankees fans, as the no. 1 and no. 1A horses of this race are named Mo's Rivera and Mo's Cutter, respectively. Bruce fans might be drawn in by E Street Shuffle.

The nine three-year-olds which have never won two races will vie for $16,000 in purse money.

Final odds:

1. Mo's Rivera (6-1)   1A. Mo's Cutter (6-1)
2. Mr. Billy N Mr. S (10-1)
3. Agaricus (60-1)
4. Showmanship (3-2)
5. Straight No Chaser (41-1)
6. E Street Shuffle (5-2)
7. City Commander (11-1)
8. Nearly There (7-2)

Finish 4-1A-1-6

Showmanship (3-2), owned by Pewter Stable and MJM Stable, trained by Kathleen A. Demasi, and jockeyed by Paco Lopez, wins the second race of the day.

Mo's Cutter places, and Mo's Rivera shows.

Third Race - 1:52 p.m. Post Time

Six horses will run six furlongs in the third race of the day, with a purse claiming of $22,000 at stake.

Final odds:

1. Holy Cat (3-1)
2. Poetic Pal (36-1)
3. Encomium (7-2)
4. Bright Day (8-1)
5. Cathedral Flyer (23-1)
6. Royale Harbor (3-5)

Finish 2-3-1-6

Encomium started strong and maintained a significant lead before Poetic Pal broke hard in the final stretch to snatch first.

Lots of cheers and happy faces for Poetic Pal, the 36-1 longshot owned and trained by Charles Carlesimo, Jr. and jockeyed by Eddie Rivera.

A $2 bet on Poetic Pal to win is good for $75.20, and a $2 exacta on Poetic Pal and Encomium can be cashed in for $427.60.

Fourth Race - 2:23 p.m. Post Time

Nine fillies and mares three years and up go for a $50,000 purse in the fourth race Sunday. They'll run one and one-sixteenth of a mile on the track's inner turf.

Final odds:

1. A Brilliant Idea (4-1)
2. Marcie Lee (20-1)
3. Well Equipped (32-1)
4. Joyce's Angel (9-1)
5. Soothing Bell (50-1)
6. Desert Witch (8-1)
7. My Sweet Family (25-1)
8. Tres Leches (2-1)
9. Silver Rock (IRE) (8-5)

Finish 9-8-1-2

Well Equipped and Soothing Bell jockeyed for the lead to start the race, but tired as a pack that included winner Silver Rock (IRE), Tres Leches and A Brilliant Idea charged ahead for a photo finish.

Winner Silver Rock (IRE) is owned by Robert Trussell, trained by Patrick L. Biancone, and jockeyed by Pablo Fragoso.

I have to go investigate an accident at the intersection of Silverside and Oceanport Avenue in Little Silver, but I am going to come back for more races later on...

Fifth Race - 2:38 p.m. Post Time

The accident in Little Silver was cleared by the time I got there. It was nothing major, the fire department responded for a door pop.

In the fifth race, seven horses three-years-old and upward will run one mile and battle for $20,000 in purse money, according to the official program.

Final odds:

1. R J's Prospect (6-1)
2. Il Divo (9-2)
3. Zoran (5-2)
4. Brown's Hill (5-2)
5. Bonnistar (9-1)
6. (Lockup, scratched)
7. Nkosi Reigns (5-1)
8. Summerlucky (9-1)

Finish 1-3-2-7

Winner R J's Prospect (6-1) is owned by Robert Falcone and John J. Lee, trained by Teresa M. Pompay, and jockeyed by Carlos Marquez, Jr. 

Zoran (5-2) placed, Il Divo (9-2) showed.

Sixth Race - 3:25 p.m. Post Time

The sixth race on the program is the Mary Beth Salmon Memorial Race for $38,000. Three year olds or four year olds and upwards which have never won two races will run six furlongs.

Final odds:

1. Put To The Test (20-1)
2. Stand Proud (2-1)
3. R U Smokin (12-1)
4. Spicy Salsa (8-1)
5. Bambi Bound (5-2)
6. Brother in Arms (7-5)

Finish 2-3-1-6

In a race that came down to a dead heat for third, Stand Proud won, R U Smokin placed, and Put To The Test and Brother in Arms tied to show.

Put To The Test and R U Smokin dueled early on, but Stand Proud charged ahead in the final furlongs to pick up the victory.

Stand Proud is owned by Gary and Mary West Stables, Inc., trained by Chad C. Brown, and jockeyed by Paco Lopez.

Seventh Race - 3:56 p.m. Post Time

Maidens, fillies and mares three years old and upward registered New Jersey breds will vie for $45,000 in the 17th Running of the Ryan, McGahran, Ryan and Friel, Etc.

Final odds:

1. Kim Esq (13-1)  1A. Candylicious (13-1)
2. Blues Heir (1-1)
3. Charlies Dream (22-1)
4. Lauren M C (5-1)
5. Jennifer's Romeo (26-1)
6. Princess Perfect (38-1)
7. Deliguska (8-1)
8. Precious Paula (7-1)
9. Just Do It Please (4-1)

Finish 2-7-9-8

Blues Heir (1-1) wins, Deliguska (8-1) places, Just Do It Please (4-1) shows.

Winner Blues Heir is owned by Ed Ferren, trained by Ben W. Perkins Jr. and jockeyed by Elvis Trujillo.

Eighth Race - 4:27 p.m. Post Time

They're headed back onto the turf for the eighth race of the day, as a field of ten willl run one and one-sixteenth of a mile, starting in the center of the track. The purse is $50,000.

Final odds:

1. Golden Galleon (3-1)
2. Brushed By A Star (17-1)
3. Great Gracie Dane (3-1)
4. Little Often Anni (27-1)
5. Tropical Sunset (17-1)
6. Basic Trick (30-1)
7. Miner's Tune (9-1)
8. Pedroia (7-1)
9. Lady Kafca (12-1)
10. Settling Seas (5-2)

Finish 1-5-4-10

Golden Galleon (3-1) wins, Tropical Sunset (17-1) places, Little Often Anni (27-1) shows.

Jockey Joe Bravo and Golden Galleon separated themselves from the field coming around the final turn to cruise to a confident win. Golden Galleon is owned by Thoroughbred Futures Racing and trained by Todd A. Pletcher.

Ninth Race - 4:58 p.m. Post Time

A field of 12 horses three years old and upward that are registered New Jersey breds will contend for a purse of $50,000 in the ninth race of the day. They will run one mile and seventy yards.

It has cooled off a bit in the late afternoon here.

Final odds:

1. Deputy Honor (36-1)
2. Discreet Interview (60-1)
3. (Sounds Appealing, scratched)
4. Victor's Boy (6-1)
5. Disco Rhythm (7-1)
6. No Fret (9-1)
7. Jersey Brother (4-1)
8. Macho Mo Mon (5-1)
9. Jax Maxx (2-1)
10. Sinatra's Dancer (30-1)
11. Mikes Bet (16-1)
12. Steady Gentleman (18-1)

Finish 9-4-7-10

Jax Maxx (2-1), owned by Dorothy Dweck, trained by Ben W. Perkins, Jr. and jockeyed by Chuck C. Lopez  wins, Victor's Boy (6-1) places, Jersey Brother (4-1) shows.

Wind Mill Top Dogs Again

A public address announcement around 5:05 p.m. informed us that has been picked by a panel of judges as "Best Hot Dog" and "Best Hamburger" in the Hot Dog Showdown.

Mamma Marci's Mobile Gourmet Kitchen's meatball burger with Mozzarella and Marinara (which I have not sampled... yet) has been named People's Choice for Best Hamburger, and their jumbo hot dog with homemade sauerkraut, seasoned and sauteed in garlic and onions won People's Choice for Best Hot Dog.

Tenth Race - 5:28 p.m. Post Time

Eight three-year-old fillies will duke it out for $70,000 in purse money in the tenth race, which is the Little Silver Stakes. The race runs the Haskell course, which is one mile on the track's inner turf.

Final odds:

1. Annabel Lee (16-1)
2. Artisanal (7-5)
3. Skating (4-1)
4. Madame Defarge (27-1)
5. Salary Drive (5-1)
6. Satilla Shores (18-1)
7. Oak Marsh (9-2)
8. (Ruthenia, scratched)
9. Sovereign Crisis (6-1)

Finish 2-5-3-7

Artisanal (7-5), owned by Starlight Racing, trained by Todd A. Pletcher and jockeyed by Chris DeCarlo wins, Salary Drive (5-1) places, and Skating (4-1) shows.

OK, I'm getting hungry... hope Mamma Marci's is still serving up that meatball burger!

Eleventh Race - 5:58 p.m. Post Time

Six horses will run six furlongs to decide the $75,000 Red Cross Stakes.

Final odds:

1. Jehan (2-1)  1A. Bronx City Girl (2-1)
2. Love That Dance (2-1)
3. (Karmageddon, scratched)
4. D'Wild Ride (7-2)
5. Feel That Fire (2-1)
6. Landing My Way (12-1)

Finish 1-1A-4-6

Winner Jehan (2-1) is owned by Farnsworth Stables, LLC, trained by Martin D. Wolfson and jockeyed by Joe Bravo, his second victory of the day.

Bronx City Girl (2-1) placed, and D'Wild Ride (7-2) showed.

Twelfth Race - 6:28 p.m. Post Time

Ten horses will battle for this $24,000 maiden claiming which runs one and one-eighth miles on the inner turf.

Final odds:

1. Historically (7-1)
2. Cranky (55-1)
3. (Journey to Nowhere, scratched)
4. Key To The Empire (4-1)
5. Marshall (14-1)
6. Concorde County (4-1)
7. (Conway Candy, scratched)
8. Roars More (75-1)
9. Fifty Six (14-1)
10. Griffin Rock (99-1)
11. Wildcatter (4-5)
12. Herculon (23-1)

Finish 11-6-8-4

Winner Wildcatter (4-5) is owned by Ramona Bass and trained by Christophe Clement.

If this were ice hockey, jockey Joe Bravo would have received a few hats, as he rode Wildcatter to his third victory of the day.

Monmouth Park is Open Memorial Day

That's going to wrap it up for Hot Dog Showdown Day here at Monmouth Park.

The racetrack is open for Memorial Day Monday. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. and post time for the first race is 12:50 p.m.