Oceanport, NJ – Jockey Chris DeCarlo captured both of Monmouth Park’s top stakes for 2-year-olds with Bal Harbour taking the Sapling Stakes just two races after Pacific Gale stormed home in the Sorority before a Saturday crowd of 12,829.

            Bal Harbor sat comfortably on the backside before getting space at the top of the stretch.  He battled longshot Awaken through the lane before denying that foe and a hard charging Kowboy Karma by a length and a quarter. 

            Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bal Harbour covered the mile over the fast main track in 1:38.48 and paid $16.40, $5.20 and $3.80 in the field of 10 colts and geldings. Odds-on favorite Kowboy Karma completed the $40.20 exacta and paid $2.40 and $2.20. Awaken finished just a neck back to pay $6 for show.

            “He broke really sharp and I was able to save a little bit of ground,” said DeCarlo. “Once we got to the backstretch, I got him in behind the two leaders and I bided my time. The only way he was getting beat was if someone went by him on the outside. As long as he had a horse next to him, he was going to fight.”

            The son of First Samurai out of the Carson City mare Casino Transaction improved his record to 2-1-0 in five starts for earnings of $65,500.

            In the Sorority, Pacific Gale sat off the pace of Little Dipper before overpowering that foe in mid-stretch and drawing clear to a 3 ¼ length score. 

            Trained by John Kimmel, Pacific Gale covered the six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:10.54 and paid $10.60, $5.20 and $3.80.  Little Dipper completed the $54.40 exacta and returned $5 and $3.60.  Dark Artist, who finished another 2 ½ lengths back, rallied to pay $6 to show.  Jehozacat, the favorite in the field of eight 2-year-old fillies, stumbled at the start before checking in fourth.

            “She broke pretty sharp,” said DeCarlo. “The outside horse (Little Dipper) looked like she was intent on going to the lead so I sat right off. I asked her around the quarter pole and when I asked, she went. She’s a really nice horse and seems to keep getting better.”

            A daughter of Flat Out from the Forestry mare Pacific Whisper, Pacific Gale has won two of her three outings, good for earnings of $82,000.

            Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Sept. 3 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.