Mid-Atlantic racing roundup, August 27

by John Piassek | Aug 27, 2019 | Breaking, Racing, Regionwide, Top Stories

Golden Brown and Paco Lopez won the Charles Hesse III Handicap at Monmouth Park on Sunday. Photo By Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO.

Plenty of racing action took place throughout the Mid-Atlantic this past week.

Here’s your five-minute read to get caught up on all of it:

TIMONIUM

Clubman easily won the opening weekend feature, taking the Maryland Coalition Stakes by nine lengths. He rated wide near the back of the pack, while Nova Boy and Aaron’s Tap scampered well clear of the field. At about the halfway point of the race, Clubman made a big three-wide move, rolling past the tiring leaders and winning as much the best. He won the race off just a nine-day layoff, recovering well from a fifth-place finish at Delaware Park. He’s owned by Caonabo Stable, trained by Rodolfo Sanchez-Solomon, and was ridden by Julian Pimentel.
Arnaldo Bocachica had a torrid opening weekend, winning five races from seven mounts. On the other side, Xavier Perez did not have a winner from fifteen mounts, but finished second or third eleven times, and is third in earnings.
Among trainers, Anthony Farrior had the best opening weekend, with five winners from six starters. He lost the opening race of the meet, finishing fourth with Bond, then won with his next five horses. Jason McCutchen, 3-for-4 to start the meet, is second in victories.

CHARLES TOWN RACES

Parisian Diva lived up to expectations on Saturday night, winning the Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes as the 3-10 favorite. Under Jose Montano she broke on top and was allowed to set relatively slow fractions in the seven-furlong contest. From there, she opened up and coasted to a four-length victory. This marked her second stakes win of the year, following a victory in the Its Binn Too Long Stakes in April. She’s trained by Stacey Viands for owner-breeder Melinda Golden.
Last year’s Robert G. Leavitt Stakes winner, Dr. Feelgood, made his first start in nearly a year in a Saturday allowance race, and it looks like he hasn’t missed a beat. With Darius Thorpe up, the Crystal Pickett trainee zipped right to the front and didn’t look back en route to winning by nearly five lengths in 51.17 seconds for 4 ½ furlongs. Dr. Feelgood, owned by Jill Daniel, now has five career wins from six starts.
In addition to his dominance at Timonium, Arnaldo Bocachica picked up three more victories at Charles Town, extending his season total to 98 wins. Christian Hiraldo is a clear-cut second, with 68 victories. He also won three during the weekend.

MONMOUTH PARK

For the second week in a row, a Belmont Park shipper won a grass stakes at Monmouth, Homeland Security prevailing in the Unbridled Essence Stakes on Saturday. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite in a four-horse field, she rated off front-running Nonsensical in the early stages, then pounced once that rival tired on the turn. From there, she drew off to an easy victory. She’s trained by Christophe Clement and was ridden by leading jockey Nik Juarez.
There was plenty of Jersey-bred stakes action on Sunday, and it began with Golden Brown’s upset of the Charles Hesse, III Handicap. He was sent off as the 7-5 second favorite, behind heavily favored veteran Sunny Ridge. However, he drew off to win by two lengths, while Sunny Ridge was a flat third. The winner is owned by ABL Stable, Bossone, Donnelly, and Schnoor, trained by Pat McBurney, and was ridden by Paco Lopez.
Blank Paige pulled off another big upset in Sunday’s Eleven North Handicap, defeating 3-10 favorite Liz’s Cable Girl. Joe Bravo rated Blank Paige just off the lead, while Liz’s Cable Girl sat off leader Billy’s Jump Start on the rail. Blank Paige inherited the lead turning for home and proved much the best over Liz’s Cable Girl. The winner is owned by Daniel Lopez and trained by Scott Volk and returned $18 to win.
Pnutbutter Special took advantage of a perfect trip to win the NJ Breeders’ Handicap. He rated three-wide off duelers Lucky Six and Visionary Ruler, then moved on the turn once those two got tired and won going away. That was his third victory in four starts, and his second win of the Monmouth season. He’s owned by Chick Ridge LLC, trained by Carlos Milian, and ridden by Jann Hernandez.
After accumulating for months, the Jersey Shore 6 jackpot was paid out to one winning ticket on Sunday. The sequence, which paid more than $310,000, was capped by 17/1 Royal Coup getting up late to spring the upset.