Newtown Anner Stud’s Purple Cat set a pressured pace and held off the late charge of Falbala to capture the $45,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Friday.
Trained by John P. Terranova, II and ridden by Chris DeCarlo, Purple Cat stepped the mile over a fast main track in 1:39 3/5 and returned $6, $4.40 and $3.20 as the favorite in the field of eight fillies and mares. Falbala, who finished nearly a length behind the winner, completed the $94.20 exacta and paid $11.20 and $5.40. It was another 2 ½ lengths back to Be My Candy who paid $2.80 to show.
Friday’s win was the second in three starts for Purple Cat, a 3-year-old daughter of Bluegrass Cat from the Unbridled mare Swift Girl.
