Going into the July 6 Jersey Girl Handicap, trainer Anthony Margotta, Jr., felt strongly that the race would Bel Pensiero’s stakes breakthrough and first black type win.

So he couldn’t hide his disappointment when the filly broke through gate, got loose, and was a late scratch.

Undeterred – and with his confidence renewed after Bel Pensiero ran second in her next start against open company in the Regret Stakes – Margotta will take another big swing with the 4-year-old Jersey-bred daughter of Army Mule in Sunday’s $100,000 Incredible Revenge Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Margotta has a second entry in the five-furlong grass race for fillies and mares, 3 and up, in On the Payroll, but “that will be a game-time decision,” he said.

For now, the goal is getting Bel Pensiero that black type win. Time is not a friend in that quest.

“This is real black type, which is what are trying to get for her,” said Margotta. “We own the mother (Milaya) and three siblings, all fillies. We know we have a great Jersey-bred here. Now we’re trying to build her resume. So it’s time to step into this quality of horses to see if we can make the family worth more going forward.”

If the Incredible Revenge Stakes stays on the turf, Margotta knows the task of winning will be even more formidable, despite Bel Pensiero owning a five-furlong turf win at Monmouth Park last year.

Trainer Christophe Clement has a formidable duo entered in Lady Mia and Love Appeals (cross-entered at Colonial the same day), with trainer Brittany Russell sending the ultra-speedy Bosserati as part of an eight-horse field (Pacific Rose is entered as an MTO).

Bel Pensiero, owned by Hudson Stable, Let It Ride Equine Holdings and A R M Racing, has been a consistent money earner with a 3-4-1 line from 12 career starts. But that black-type stakes win remains elusive.

“This race made sense. I was going to breeze her anyway,” said Margotta. “I know it’s a quick turnaround (16 days after her runner-up showing in the Regret Stakes). But the plan is we are going in the Eleven North Handicap (for Jersey-breds on Aug. 25). That’s the target race for us because it is black type and a Jersey-bred race.

“This race happens to fall 16 days after her last one and 14 days before the Eleven North. I’ve done this with Bel Pensiero before. She broke her made (in 2022) 16 days after her first start.”

The most frustrating part about Bel Pensiero being a late scratch in the Jersey Girl is that Margotta felt strongly that was her best stakes chance yet.

“We pointed to the Jersey Girl all year. The whole year we talked about that being the stakes race she was going to win,” said Margotta. “It was just a big disappointment, something that was very difficult to swallow.

“But she’s training good. Sometimes things work out for the better. So we’re going to give this race a shot. I’m kind of hoping the race comes off the turf to be honest. On the turf it’s a much tougher race.”

The Incredible Revenge Stakes also presents another chance for jockey Ramon Moya to win his first stakes race since the 2014 Charles Hesse III Handicap. A recovering addict, Moya did not ride at all from 2016 to 2019 as he battled addiction issues.

“Ramon and I have talked about this. It’s on our bucket list to win a stakes race together,” said Margotta. “For Ramon to win a stakes race it would mean the world to him. For he and I to win one together would be a great testament to anyone in the world who has a problem with drugs or alcohol. It shows there is hope and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

On the Payroll, meanwhile, has two wins and a third at Monmouth Park. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of More Than Ready is owned by Down Neck Stables.

“If they (the owners) want to take a shot and run in here we’ll do that,” Margotta said. “We’ll take a look at it right up until Sunday and that will be a game-day decision.”