Oceanport, N.J. – Monmouth Park’s leading trainer Jorge Navarro set the all-time record for most wins in a day with five victories, capping it off with Fire Mission’s victory in Sunday’s feature.

            Navarro took the first three races of the day and four of the first five with Don’t Tell Vanessa ($3.80), Mandeville ($6.80), Bun Bun ($4.40) and Valentino’s Day ($3) before winning with Fire Mission in the day’s $42,000 allowance optional claiming feature.

            “I want to thank my owners and my staff in the barn,” said Navarro, who’s been top trainer at the Oceanport racetrack for the past four seasons. “They do everything. It’s truly an amazing honor.”

            The previous record of four wins on a card was set by J. Willard Thompson in 1975 and subsequently equaled by Robert Klesaris (1987), John Forbes (1989), Bruce Alexander (2011), Kiaran McLaughlin (2011) and Navarro twice (2013, 2014).

            Al and Michelle Crawford Racing’s Fire Mission sat off the early speed before swinging out wide and battling the leader Gin Makes Ya Sin, grabbing the victory by three quarters of a length.

            The 7-year-old gelding covered the six furlongs over the fast main track in 1:09 and paid $7.40, $4.80 and $2.40. The pacesetter Gin Makes Ya Sin completed the $32.80 exacta and paid $6.20 and $2.60. It was just a nose back to post-time favorite He’s Got Talent, who paid $2.10 to show.

            “I was just watching the leaders in front of me and waited,” said winning jockey Nik Juarez. “I was able to make a move to the outside and he just grinded all the way to the line.”

            The son of Wildcat Heir out of the Pioneering mare Peruija boosted his career record to 13-6-11 in 56 starts, good for earnings just shy of $300,000.

            Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, July 28 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.  As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.