While it may have only been one one-hundredth of a seconds faster then Alydar Stables‘ Flambetta back in 2014, Maxmillion Farm’s Angel Shark looked impressive turning for home and stopping the clock in 1:39.88, capturing her first ever Graded title. This was her third straight victory since March of this year.
- The Eatontown Stakes- Grade III Purse-$150.000
- Monmouth Park – For Fillies and Mares Three Years old and up
- Mile and a sixteenth- Turf course
- June 22nd, 2019
Coming off a brilliant win over at Belmont in the Mount Vernon prior to this event, Angel Shark’s instructions were to the letter for this event. . While Quick Fix ( Mb Stables ) and Woman On A Mission (Estero Farms) would battle it out entering the clubhouse turn, Angel Shark (2-1) was held in check by rider N Juarez. She would slip past Woman On A Mission( 2-1*) through the turn heading to the backstretch, with Quick Fix( 9-1) in command. By the time the trio hit the far turn, Quick Fix was still on top with opening fractions of 23.99, 47.42 and 1:10.45, with Angel Shark still a length shy. Woman On A Mission left the rail for the center of the track to avoid getting squeezed out by the front pair. Early trailers Bach In Tune ( Threshold ) and Deleter Of The World ( TwinTowersRacing ) were starting to mount a charge, pulling alongside Arindel’s Venusian Moon ( 11-2).
Waiting once again till just inside the sixteenth pole as she did in the Mount Vernon, Angel Shark would bite into the lead and thrash her way to the wire in a final time of 1:39.88. The victory was her fourth in seven career starts and has brought her total earnings to slightly better then $228.000.
As for runner-up Quick Fix, it was surprising to this writer that this chestnut filly was let go at such pricey odds. Having never missed a top three finish in six starts is quite a feat in itself, and she proved her talents once again today. She should definitely get more respect next time out of the gate.
Woman On A Mission would show she was full of run to the eventual winners outside, she just ran out of racing room. Would definitely like to see if she will continue at this distance, or shorten up once again. Either way, she has the class to be competitive.
Late charging efforts by Deleter Of The World ( 7-1) and Bach In Tune ( 4-1) would have them separated by a nose at the wire in a photo for fourth and fifth. Would love to see this duo go at it again in a much longer affair. Bach In Tune has won two nine furlong events, while Deleter Of The World missed by a length in her only try at that distance with a closing charge.
Rounding out the event was Venusian Moon who was trying her fourth pay event and first for her new interests. She was quite productive over at the free tracks, so hopefully her new trainer will get this one focused soon.
Side Note: Its been a long and productive road for Maxmillion Farm since that lone win back in 2007 in a Claiming 2.00 event with On The Contrary. He would purchase the black from Neddy for a mere dollar in the auction, only to have it claimed from that event by Spankys Barn. Little did he know that some twelve years later he would be at this point in his career, with ten seasons of fifty plus percentage in the money, ten years of 18% or better in the win column, and with this victory some 122 Graded titles to his credit placing him ninth amongst names like Blushing Meadows and Barcelona Farms. Though he has never won a Triple Crown or Breeders event in his career, he has always been a humble player of the game, never to busy to help someone improve, share an idea, or just pass out a smile at no charge. As for his filly Angel Shark be warned, if you jump into her tank, be prepared to be gobbled up by her talents.
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
