Oceanport, NJ- Andrew Sulley’s Sterling’s Maximus grabbed the lead shortly after the start and never looked back scoring a two-length victory in Friday’s $40,000 allowance optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park.

            Trained by Patricia Farro, Sterling’s Maximus covered the five furlongs over a sloppy main track in :57.54 and paid $34.40, $9 and $3.60 as the longest shot in the race at 16-1. Cloudy River completed the $85.80 exacta and paid $3 and $2.10. It was another four and a quarter lengths back to Bancroft Hall, who paid $2.10 to show.

            “He broke pretty bad, but was still able to get into the race early,” said winning jockey Emmanuel Esquivel. “When the horse challenged him on the outside, I hit him once and he really kicked it in again and it gave me a lot of confidence late.”

            The 6-year-old gelding by Grand Slam out of the Tiznow mare Kemly improved his record to 8-5-3 in 31 starts, good for earnings just shy of $200,000.

            Live racing continues at Monmouth on Saturday, July 15 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m. for the first of the two day Surf & Turf Festival.