6/20/2020

 8  MTH     The Iselin Stakes (GIII)

      $200.000       3yo&Up       1 1/16m   Dirt       3yo 118  Older 124  +penalties

It looks like the betting public was as up-in-the-air on Saturday’s Iselin Stakes (GIII) as I was… the post time favorite went off at greater than 7/2 odds and ran next to last while Court Jester Racing’s Marx On The Moon got the job done at 10/1, winning by a length in a final time of 1:41.31 for the mile and a sixteenth main track event.  Ice Wall, nearly 10/1, ran second with one of my choices, Reckoning a neck back in third at 18/1 odds.

The field of eleven got away from the gate right in front of the grandstand with no lack of early pace as they were seven across the track into the clubhouse turn.  Market Value in front, Ice Wall next to that one, Marx On The Moon five wide and Korean Boyband inside of that one.  Argead from the far outside, Reckoning along the rail and Erupt six wide.  Clueless Joe along the inside just in behind that lineup, Geronimo next to that one, then a gap back to Chaos Broke Out and Clockwork was the early trailer.

Now making their way down the backside and five furlongs to run, Marx On The Moon on the lead while five wide, Argead on the outside of that one, a length and a half back to Korean Boyband, Ide Wall on his inside and Reckoning up the rail, then a gap to Market Value, Erupt still four wide behind that one, then another length and a half back to Chaos Broke Out three wide, Clueless Joe from the rail and Geronimo between that pair, as Clockwork continued to trail the field.

The field was now mid-way on the far turn with five-sixteenth’s of a mile to run and Marx On The Moon continued to show the way by two.  Ice Wall up the rail giving chase, Argead a length and a half back and three wide, Korean Boyband between horses and Reckoning up the rail, then a gap of three back to Erupt out wide, Market Value and Clueless Joe up the rail, Chaos Broke Out widest of all, then Geronimo and Clockwork began to inch forward but was still at the back of this group.

Into the lane, they made their way past the furlong marker and to the wire… Marx On The Moon had a nice lead and was not going to get caught this afternoon, going on to win by a length.  Ice Wall had cut the corner into the lane and used that inside position to hang on to the second spot with Reckoning continuing on well to be third.  Clueless Joe got the minor money, then Erupt in fifth, Geronimo sixth, Clockwork passing a few late to be seventh, Argead eighth, Chaos Broke Out was ninth, Market Value tenth and Korean Boyband closed this one out.

Marx On The Moon is a 4yo black colt by Tetro Moon – Marxist Ballerina, by Marx Brocher, and he was bred by his owner, Court Jester Racing, in NJ.  This was his fourth win from nineteen lifetime starts, his first win of the 2020 season, and he now has earnings of $734.200.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast                Time: :23²  :46¹  1:09⁴  1:41¹
$1 Exacta: 8 – 5 Paid 125.80              $1 Trifecta: 8 – 5 – 1 Paid 1,126.20
Scratched: None

Marx On The Moon broke well, rushed up to take the lead into the clubhouse turn, continued to show the way while extending his lead past the furlong marker, won driving.  Ice Wall rated back off of the early lead while mid-pack, worked his way forward from an inside position, cut the corner, continued on well from the rail, could not get to the winner.  Reckoning raced mid-pack, inside trip, closed full of run while no threat to the winner.  Clueless Joe lacked early pace, trailed, steady gain from an inside position.  Erupt evenly, no threat.  Geronimo showed little, passed tiring rivals late.  Clockwork trailed, passed tiring rivals.  Argead broke alertly on the early pace, tracked the pace to the top of the lane, folded.  Chaos Broke Out was never involved.  Market Value was not a factor, tired.  Korean Boyband showed early foot while tracking the pace, tired.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES