Aztec Sense lived up to his short price and helped leading trainer Jorge Navarro rebound with a record-tying day following a rough start to the weekend, splashing home to win the featured $41,000 allowance optional claimer by 6¼ lengths on the Mother’s Day card at Monmouth Park on Sunday. 

Conceding he was “worried” after going 0-for-6 on Saturday’s card, Navarro tied the Monmouth Park mark of five winners on a single program that he set on July 23, 2017, pushing his meet-leading total to seven winners. 

          “Of course I was worried after Saturday,” said Navarro, seeking a record sixth straight training title. “Just because I’m the man here doesn’t mean I’m going to win the title again. I have to work hard for it.” 

          Aztec Sense made short work of his four opponents in the mile and one sixteenth event over a track then listed as “muddy,” with jockey Paco Lopez twice peeking back to see where the opposition was during the course of the gate-to-wire victory. The 5-year-old son of Street Sense paid $2.80, $2.10 and $2.10 across the board. The exacta with Nigel’s Destiny came back $6.60. 

          Time of the race was 1:44.81. 

          In addition to Aztec Sense, Navarro won the third race with Be A Hero ($3.40), the sixth race with Indian Guide ($4.00), the seventh race with Terry’s Charm ($2.80) and the eighth race with Indian Chaser ($7.00). 

Live racing resumes at Monmouth Park on Preakness Day, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Post time is 12:50, with gates opening at 10 a.m. to accommodate the Preakness card and Justify’s attempt at the second leg of the Triple Crown.