Babies on display in Grade III Sapling at Monmouth Park
By jack oakley
Staff Writer

Monmouth Park will be showing off the babies Saturday in the Grade III Sapling.

The 2-year-old fillies will be matched in a 6-furlong dash with a purse of $150,000.

Baseball is the usual talk when George Steinbrenner’s name is mentioned, but he has a possible favorite when the ladies go postward.

Trainer John Tammaro will accompany Pure Precision to the paddock after taking over his training chores following a successful run at Calder.

Joe Bravo was aboard Shooter in last year’s Sapling, and the second choice won by a neck against Snow Ridge.

Some of the superstars in racing have competed in the Sapling with Buckpasser heading the classy winner’s field. Buckpasser took the top prize back in 1965. After winning an allowance race at Monmouth, Buckpasser went to the gate in the Sapling and broke a bit slow, but rolled past Tyro winner Our Michael. Buckpasser was a multiple-stakes winner and resides in racing’s Hall of Fame.

Alydar, another Hall of Fame member, won the Sapling back in 1977 and then went on with his classic duels against Affirmed in the following year’s Triple Crown races.

Eibar Coa, Monmouth’s leading jockey, picks up the ride. There will be an "Around the World" wine tasting and luncheon at the track Saturday. The affair will be held in the Turf Club with a gift pack for everyone with door prizes to be awarded. Tickets go for $60. They can be purchased by calling (732) 571-5638.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas has a strange hold on the Sapling. His charges have won the race eight times since 1987. Lukas could have another Sapling entry in Storm Passage.

The Sunday card at the Oceanport oval will feature the Junior Champion Stakes and the Malouf Auto Group Starter Series No. 4.

Two-year-old fillies will also be featured in the Junior Champion race that carries a $36,000 purse. The young ladies will be going a mile on the turf providing it doesn’t rain like it did the past Sunday.

The final race in the Malouf Starter Series is for 3-year-olds and up and will be an endurance race. The distance is a mile and three-eighths and will also be run on the grass. The race has a $45,000 purse.

Then next week it’s time for the $350,000 Iselin Handicap. The meet will close on Sept. 2.

It didn’t take long for apprentice Jennifer Whitaker to reach the winner’s circle. After moving in from Washington state, she was aboard Asbury Carousel on Friday’s program in the second race.

Danny Lopez, second to Coa in the jockey race, had a double on Friday’s card and was aboard Beknown To Me for a second straight win in Sunday’s Lincroft Stakes.

Trainer J. Willard Thompson continues his success this season and has winners at a 25 percent clip.

Gaelic Bay came on fast in the stretch under apprentice Julian Pimentel to give the venerable conditioner his latest trip to the winner’s circle.

Jose Ferrer had a riding triple on Saturday. Last Thursday Engage crossed the finish line ahead of an allowance field and increased his career earnings to more than $75,000. She was a $2,000 yearling purchase.