Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Presious Passion To Race In The United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park
Posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
Trainer Mary Hartmann has been sending out winners at Monmouth Park for more than 10 years now, but on Saturday she’ll do something she’s never done before when she tightens the girth on Presious Passion in the $750,000 United Nations Stakes.
“This is my first horse ever in a Grade 1 race,” Hartmann said, “and it’s really exciting.”
Even more exciting is the fact that Presious Passion, a 5-year old gelding by Royal Anthem, actually has a solid chance in the 1 3/8-mile U.N. The Florida-bred, who runs in the colors of Patricia Generazio, won two graded turf stakes over the winter – the Grade 2 McKnight at Calder and the Grade 3 Pan American at Gulfstream Park – and last year won the Grade 3 Cliff Hanger at the Meadowlands. Presious Passion also has a good record at Monmouth Park, topped by a victory in the Jersey Derby of 2006.
“He’s my first graded stakes horse of any kind,” Hartmann said. “It just shows you never know where a good horse will come from.”
Presious Passion, who does his best work on the front end, will have jockey Eddie Castro back aboard for the United Nations Stakes. Jockey Eddie Castro was aboard when Presious Passion broke his maiden in February of 2006 – in a $62,500 claiming event at Gulfstream Park. The jockey also guided the horse to his Jersey Derby score.
This year’s 55th running of the United Nations Stakes has a special distinction, since it’s part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Day at Monmouth Park. The winner of the United Nations Stakes earns an automatic starting berth in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on October 25 at Santa Anita Park.
“To tell the truth,” Hartmann said, “I haven’t looked that far down the road. I don’t even know if he’s nominated. I’m just thrilled that he’s coming into this race in great shape.”
Presious Passion last ran in the Battlefield Stakes here on June 15. That race came off the turf, and the gelding finished second over a very sloppy track.
“He needed to race,” Hartmann said of the decision to stay in the Battlefield. “If we wanted to make this race, he needed to run. I thought he did okay in the slop, especially since that was the first time he ever raced on an off track.
“And the best part is, he didn’t hurt himself. He came out of the race great and he’s trained well since.”
Presious Passion was rank in the Mac Diarmida Handicap at Gulfstream Park in March, and squandered a long lead when he ran out of steam on the turn. In the Pan American, however, he opened a 12-length lead early, but jockey Ariel Smith had his speed under control, and Presious Passion maintained a clear lead to the wire.
“He really doesn’t need to be in front,” Hartmann said, “and I don’t know how this race will set up. It will be up to the rider to judge the pace, and Castro knows the horse.
“He’s a very versatile horse, and that’s why I think he’ll run his race Saturday.”
Horse racing barn notes from www.monmouthpark.com.
"Presious Passion To Race In The United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park" was posted on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm and is filed under Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Monmouth Park, Race Tracks News, Stakes Races, Trainers, USA Horse Racing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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