Summer may have unofficially ended on Labor Day, but we still head down the Jersey Shore one last time to feel and hear the “Summer Wind” this year as we will look at the ninth race on their card. Today’s race is the Joey P Handicap, in which a field of 10 New Jersey bred horses will run five furlongs on the turf course.
Monmouth Park Race 9 – Joey P Handicap
Favored in this sprint handicap is the 6 Smithwick’s Spice (5/2 morning line). He last races two weeks ago in the Harvey Pack at Saratoga and was crowded in the stretch. He does have a tendency to go for the lead, but in that last race, there were two other horses that were faster down the backstretch.
An intriguing entry is the 5 Gold Trust (12/1 ML). He came back after a two-month break to win an optional claiming race going a mile last month at Monmouth. His sire’s stats are not good in turf sprints, but he could be looming as they turn for home today proving the stats wrong.
Finally getting back to the green is the 2 Grouch (8/1 ML). He has had some success on the dirt winning on the slop in July, but he did win his lone turf sprint last year at the Oceanport oval. He would benefit from a speed duel developing in front of him this afternoon.
The 8 Ohana Empire (15/1 ML) may not have won a race since the summer of 2022 at Monmouth Park, He closed well to finish third two races back at Monmouth going a half furlong further. But the concern that I have is that his sire’s turf sprint stats are pretty bad. Soaring Empire’s offspring are a career 0 for 36 lifetime in less than a mile. But there has to be a first for everything, right?
Joe’s Pick
This is a tough race here because you have a state-bred race on closing day where some of the connections were getting one last race in before the racing shuts down here and moves to the Meaadowlands for the next month. But there is a Captain Obvious pick here in this race.
The favorite Smithwick’s Spice has some issues last time out at Saratoga and will appreciate the move to state-bred handicap company here. I think even if he were to be on the lead, I think he will be in front of some of the other speed in this race. He can determine the best way to win this race as he has won from off the pace in his career as well.
Some of the horses make me question the odds here, but I do not question the favorite’s chances here. I think Smithwick’s Spice can go gate to wire here, or he could even bee off the pace. He’s most experienced at today’s distance as well, which will help him win today.
Let’s call this race 6-5-2-8 and my play is $20 to win on the 6. Now let’s cue Ol’ Blue Eyes’ “Summer Wind” one last time down the shore as another season down the Jersey Shore ends. Best of luck everyone!