Oceanport, N.J. – It was an absolute thriller in Sunday’s feature at Monmouth Park as four horses hit the wire together with Full Salute earning a nose victory in the $42,000 allowance/optional claiming event.

Trained by Eddie Plesa, Jr. and ridden by Paco Lopez, Full Salute set pressured fractions of :22 2/5 for the opening quarter and :45 2/5 for the half-mile before reporting home in 1:09.79 for six furlongs over the fast main track.The winner, with El Grande Rojo and even-money favorite Mewannarose to his outside, and a hard-charging D C Dancer to his inside, was passed in deep stretch before battling back for the victory.

In the colors of Morris Bailey, Full Salute returned $8, $4.20 and $2.80 and topped a $60 exacta.Runner-up El Grande Rojo paid $5.40 and $2.80.It was another nose back to D C Dancer, who paid $2.60 to show in the field of five colts and geldings.

A 3-year-old colt by Speightstown from the Milwaukee Brew mare Mazucambera, Full Salute sports a record of 4-3-0 from nine career starts.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday, May 28, the first of the 3-day Food Truck Festival.Gates will open early at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with an 11:30 a.m. opening on Memorial Day Monday.

As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.