SAIL AHOY GETS BY MIDNIGHT CELLO LATE TO TAKE SUNDAY FEATURE 

            OCEANPORT, N.J. – Phipps Stable’s Sail Ahoy motored home in the final sixteenth, getting by pacesetter Midnight Cello late in the lane to post a ¾-length victory in the $40,000 allowance/optional claiming feature at Monmouth Park on Sunday afternoon. 

            Trained by Shug McGaughey, Sail Ahoy went the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:45.29 and paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.80 and topped the $24.40 exacta.  Midnight Cello paid $4.40 and $3.  It was another two lengths back to Don’s Marsh, who paid $3.60 to show. 

            “Shug told me to let him settle,” said winning rider Nik Juarez.  “I saw they were going quick up front.  I just tried to save as much ground as possible.  This horse really dug in for me in the stretch and got the job done.” 

            A 4-year-old gelding by Bernardini from the Seeking the Gold mare Matlacha Pass, Sail Ahoy earned his second career win in 12 lifetime starts. 

            Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Friday, June 9 – the first Friday of the 2017 racing season.  Gates will open at 11:30 a.m., with a special first post of 1 p.m. 

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