Oceanport, N.J. – BNB Racing and Rick Shanley’s Wildcat Creek prevailed in a stretch duel from inside the eighth pole to the wire to capture the $42,000 allowance feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday afternoon by a neck.
Trained by Eddie Plesa, Jr, Wildcat Creek covered six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10 and returned $9.40, $4.40 and $3. Harbor Breeze had to settle for second, completing the $29.20 exacta and paying $3.80 to place and $3.20 to show. It was another four lengths back to Coaltown Legend, who paid $4 to show.
“I always ride this horse,” said winning jockey Angel Serpa. “At Tampa (Bay Downs), I lost two stakes on him by a nose. The last time, I rode him here and lost again. Today I changed the way I ride him. I told Mr. Plesa he does not like the stick and I’m going to hand ride him. When I didn’t hit him today, he changed so much. He ran comfortably.”
Sunday’s win was the first in five starts this season for Wildcat Creek, a 3-year-old son of Wildcat Heir from the Point Given mare Prettyatthetable.
Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, June 29 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:45 p.m. As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.
