ROWD E ALLIE TRIES TURF FOR FIRST TIME IN SUNDAY’S BLUE SPARKLER 

            Rowd E Allie makes her career debut on the turf, looking for her first stakes win in Sunday’s $60,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes going five furlongs on the Monmouth grass.

            The 5-year-old mare by E Dubai out of the Pine Bluff mare Pining exits the Foxy J G Stakes on the main track at Parx on April 29 where she sat off the early leader before finishing fourth. Her last win came two starts back going five and a half furlongs in allowance optional claiming company, pulling away late to win by 2 ¼ lengths.

            “I think she likes the shorter distance,” said trainer Kelly Breen, who conditions the horse for Shindel Thoroughbred Ventures LLC. “She has some speed breaking from the rail, but she sat second two back and closed well in the stretch. We’ll see what Nik (Juarez) wants to do from the break.”

            She has worked once since her last outing, going three furlongs in :37 4/5 over a fast Monmouth main track on May 17.

            To close out her 2016 campaign, Rowd E Allie rattled off three consecutive victories sprinting on the dirt, all in allowance or allowance optional claiming company and in gate-to-wire fashion.

            Only one horse returns from last year’s edition of the Blue Sparkler. Nite Delite, for trainer Linda Rice, set the pace before being caught mid-stretch and battled on gamely to miss by a head to back-to-back champion Joya Real.

            Three other entrants are proven stakes winners on the grass including Spectacular Me, for Steve Klesaris, Miss Matzoball, conditioned by Roy Lerman, and Robert Reid Jr. trainee Fat Kat.

            The Blue Sparkler is set as race 8 on Sunday’s 9-race card. Gates open early at 11 a.m. for Day 2 of the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival. First post is at 12:50 p.m.

FOOD TRUCKS FESTIVAL CONTINUES ALL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 

            Monmouth Park’s popular Food Truck Festival continues Sunday, May 28 and will span all Memorial Day Holiday weekend.

            Gates will open early at 11 am Sunday, as the day features the full-slate of Family Fun Day activities, including a bounce house, clowns, pony rides, face painters and more.  On Monday, gates open at 11:30 a.m. 

            The food trucks first rolled into Monmouth in 2012 for a one-day event, which has expanded in size and scope to what it is today.  Among those who will be concocting their culinary delights are:  Empanada Guy, Wild Bill’s Soda, Red Hook Lobster and Enzo’s Deli, to name a few.

            Over the three-day holiday weekend first post will be 12:50 p.m.  Admission to the Grandstand, where the food trucks will assemble, is $5 – seniors pay $3 and children 12 and under are free.

            For more information, visit www.monmouthpark.com.

BETFAIR.COM HASKELL TICKETS NOW ON SALE 

            Tickets for the 50th edition of the betfair.com Haskell Invitational, to be renewed on Sunday, July 30, are on sale now.

Clubhouse sections start at $25, while Grandstand seats range from $20-$25. For the Grandstand balcony seat prices go from $13-$18. A complete Grandstand or Clubhouse box ranges from $100-$200 depending on the number of people.

Last year, Preakness winner Exaggerator took down Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist in the slop to take home the 49th renewal.

Admission on Haskell Day, which is not included in the reserved seat price, is $8 for the Grandstand and $10 for the Clubhouse. For seniors aged 55 and up Grandstand admission is $4 and Clubhouse admission will cost $5.     

 Haskell tickets can be purchased by calling 732-571-5563, or by visiting the reserved seat booth (2nd floor of the Grandstand) on any live racing day. In addition, fans can pre-purchase Haskell seats directly through www.monmouthpark.com.   

            The Haskell is part of the Breeder’s Cup Challenge Series: Win & You’re In with the victor earning an automatic berth to the $6 million Classic.