OCEANPORT, N.J. – Hope Haskell Jones’s Mello Groove closed with a wide run around the turn before opening up in the lane to post a 3 ¼-length victory in the $40,000 allowance optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday. 

          With a Mother’s Day crowd of 11,959 looking on, Mello Groove covered the six furlongs over a fast main track in 1:10.27 and returned $9.40, $5 and $2.40.  He’s Cotton completed the $70 exacta and paid $6.80 and $3.80.  It was another neck back to pacesetter Town Policy, who paid $3.60 to show.  Manipulated, the odds-on favorite, checked in fourth in the field of eight colts and geldings. 

          With Eddie Castro aboard, Mello Groove won his fifth career race and his first in as many starts this year.  The 5-year-old New Jersey homebred by Stormello from the Good and Tough mare Good and Groovy now sports earnings of just over $200,000. 

          Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Saturday, May 20.  Gates will open at 10 a.m., as the racetrack beams in all the simulcast action from Pimlico, including the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes, the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown. 

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