With a barn consisting predominantly of turf runners and an uncooperative Mother Nature for most of the Monmouth Park meet, trainer Jane Cibelli admits it has been an exasperating past few months. 

She hopes to start making up for a little of that on Friday night as the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet resumes with another all-turf six-race card. It’s the second program of an abbreviated five-day meet, with all-turf racing continuing on Saturday and then concluding next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29. 

Post time is 7 p.m. nightly. 

Cibelli’s Blue Chip Prospect heads a field of eight in the featured $35,000 allowance for Jersey-breds at five furlongs. The 3-year-old gelding is listed as the 7-5 morning line favorite. 

“He’s doing well. He’s an improving horse,” said Cibelli. “But finding races for him and for many of my other horses has been a challenge because of all the rain we’ve had. It’s been somewhat frustrating this year. 

“It’s been tough for everybody in my barn because of the weather. I came to Monmouth with horses that were ready. I really targeted Monmouth Park. I love Monmouth Park. So we came with fresh horses and right off the bat I had five turf horses in, ready to go, sitting on wins I thought – or at least big races – and the rain ruined those plans. 

“So this is a gift to have this extra turf racing.” 

Cibelli had a solid meet at Monmouth despite being limited to 42 starters, finishing with eight wins, eight seconds and five thirds. Blue Chip Prospect produced one of those seconds and one of those thirds. 

More than one-third of Monmouth Park’s scheduled grass races during its 52-day meet had to be switched to the main track because of rain. 

“It’s really tough on a horse like him when the weather is as bad as it was this summer because he’s a five-eighths (of a mile) horse, maybe a 5½ furlong  horse, and it’s not always easy to find spots for him,” said Cibelli. “Hopefully, this is a good spot for him. I expect him to run well.” 

Blue Chip Prospect, a son of Bluegrass Cat-High Flying Flag by Our Emblem, has a 1-4-2 line from eight career starts. He has never missed the board in four lifetime grass starts. 

Saturday’s six-race card will feature a pair of allowance races, one at a mile and a sixteenth for fillies and mares, the other at five furlongs for fillies and mares. 

Parking, admission and seating for the all-turf cards are free, both inside and outside the Meadowlands. Live programs are $2, with simulcast books $4. Valet parking is available for $5.