Monmouth Park Monday Racing Targets Traditional Dark Day

Beginning August 1st, Monmouth Park will begin racing on Mondays. The racing will take advantage of a light Monday racing calendar.

Monday Racing

Monday’s are being added to the meet schedule that was used through July of the current meet. The early week card will be added to current calendar which runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Lighter Days

The big advantage of Monday racing is the fact that Monmouth Park will have significantly less simulcast signal to compete with. On Saturday July 30th, the New Jersey track was competing with 29 other North American thoroughbreds that were also running.

On Monday August 1, they will compete with less than half of that. With only 14 other signals being sent out that day, Monmouth is likely to gain a larger percentage of total simulcast handle.

Big Fish, Small Pond

Saratoga used to run on Monday’s but have discontinued that practice. All of the other marquee tracks around the continent tend to take most Monday off. This means that Monmouth Park is likely to be the top dog on Monday’s. Their biggest competition will likely come from Parx and Colonial Downs.

This is a stark contrast to their weekend cards which often play second fiddle to places like Saratoga and Del Mar.

Monday Full Card Analysis

Monmouth Park- Race 1

Post: 2:00 PM ET; $28k Starter Allowance going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 BLUE PAYNT (3-1) gets the top selection. She goes out for the Kantarmaci barn and gets Vargas in the irons. This one has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #3 MISTY TASTE (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She may benefit from a hot pace up front. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Gonzalez and Rojas.
• #1 I'M LISTENING (5-2) isn't without hope. She looks to be the class of the field. Gonzalez sends this one out and will turn to the riding services of Angel Rodriguez.
• #6 SHE'S A BLACK BELT (7-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. The fear is that this one could get a little quick up front and she may have trouble holding on late.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 1 – 6

Monmouth Park- Race 2

Post: 2:27 PM ET; $25k Maiden Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 GRO (4-1) debuts here and is the top pick. He goes out for the Avila barn and gets Jimenez in the irons. In these lower level maiden claimers, it can sometimes be helpful to go with the runner that hasn’t learned how to lose yet.
• #5 QUICKENING (4-1) should improve off the first start and should be competitive in this spot. He goes out for the Orseno barn and gets Camacho in the irons.
• #2 SUPER ROCKER (3-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has the most experience of anyone in the field with 2 races. That should be enough to give him foundation without being a concern that this one is headed for career maiden-hood.
• #3 SHOULDHAVEBEENGONE (7-2) debuts here and isn't without hope. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Gargan and Ferrer.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 2 – 3

Monmouth Park- Race 3

Post: 2:54 PM ET; $26k Claiming going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 ARCADIA CALLS (2-1) looks best here. This one has speed and class numbers that make him a winner here. It seems like the path to this one losing will all be dependent on trip.
• #5 BAILEY (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has races in the past performances that are good enough to get the job done in this spot.
• #1 MOJAC KAT (9-2) should be competitive in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late.
• #4 ROCKYSBUCKAROO (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has enough early foot to be involved. It is hard to get closers home in these short dirt events so it is best to stick with runners on or near the lead.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 1 – 4

Monmouth Park- Race 4

Post: 3:21 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #8 SHACKLEFORD COUNTY (5-1) gets the top selection. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one seems to fit well enough here. The price is enticing and the biggest separator between the top 3.
• #5 FOOLISH HEART (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #7 PLAYERA (5-2) appears to be a major factor in this event. She has races to go back to that are good enough to beat this group.
• #1 ANNIKA GOLD (10-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. Her speed figures fit in this group. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.

Selections: 8 – 5 – 7 – 1

Monmouth Park- Race 5

Post: 3:49 PM ET; $62.5k Allowance Optional Claiming going 5 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 LIBERATED LADY (5-2) is the top pick. She should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 MIDTOWN ROSE (4-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She may benefit from a hot pace up front. This one goes out for the Mosco barn and gets Rodriguez in the irons.
• #1 GOLDEN BELL (3-1) isn't without hope. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 WORLD GONE WILD (7-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has speed figures that suggest she can be involved at the end. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 1 – 7

Monmouth Park- Race 6

Post: 4:17 PM ET; $31k Starter Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 FLOWERS FOR LISA (5-2) looks best here. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 FRIENDLY FELLA (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Gonzalez and Rojas. This one has speed figures on par with these types.
• #1 AEQUOR (6-1) appears to be a contender in this race. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. The recent company suggest this one is well prepped for this start.
• #7 WHAT'S TO BLAME (10-1) is a price horse and isn't without hope. He has races that fit with these horses. This one would benefit from a hot pace up front.

Selections: 2 – 5 – 1 – 7

Monmouth Park- Race 7

Post: 4:45 PM ET; $27.5k Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 9

• #3 PUGILIST (3-1) gets the top selection. She has the top overall power rating in the group and should be able to work out a good trip from the 3 post.
• #1 KITTEN WITH A WHIP (5-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 STRONG GEM (7-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She may benefit from a hot pace up front. Her late kick does play into the normal turf race flow.
• #9 CENTSLESS DRAMA (5-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has run against some tough runners and should be ready to run here.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 5 – 9

Monmouth Park- Race 8

Post: 5:12 PM ET; $23k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 LITTLEBITAMEDAL (7-2) is the top pick. He goes out for the Ness barn and gets Diaz in the irons. This one should be ready to roll.
• #2 NICK THE CARDSHARK (8-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #1 MANOLETE (3-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 TAPSOLUTE (8-1) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. At 8-1 this one feels like a prime contender to key in second and third in exactas, trifectas, and superfectas.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 1 – 4

Daily Coverage

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