OCEANPORT — Joseph Vitello’s Tenpins was as game as they come Saturday as he scored a one-length victory in the $200,000 Philip H. Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap (G3) at Monmouth Park.

The 5-year-old, trained by Don Winfree and ridden by Robby Albarado, raced the mile and an eighth over a fast track in 1:50 1/5 as he doggedly held his lead through the last sixteenth of a mile. Tenpins paid $4, $2.80 and $2.20 across the board as the favorite.

Aeneas outgamed Jersey Giant by a nose for the place after the latter had waged a long battle with Tenpins. The exacta returned $32.40.

"We were pointing for this since the beginning of the year," Winfree said.

"I don’t run him a lot because he puts a lot into his races. We’ll go to Chicago next [for the Hawthorne Gold Cup on Sept. 28] and then we’ll take a look at the Breeders’ Cup Classic."

Albarado said, "When he gets there [to the lead] by himself he kind of waits. That’s why he never wins by too much, usually a length, length and a half, every time. He ran a tremendous race today."

Julian Pimentel, who rode Jersey Giant, was also impressed with his horse’s performance.

"Oh man, he ran big. I thought I was going to win at the pole," he said. "The other horse [Tenpins] was just better today. But my horse ran big."

This was the second win in two starts this year for Tenpins, and his ninth score in 13 lifetime starts. The $120,000 winner’s share of this 68th running of the Iselin Handicap brought his career total to $938,689.

Sharp Fan Appreciation Day tops Labor Day weekend

With Monmouth Park’s meet running through Sept. 28 this year, the track will offer a three-day Labor Day holiday weekend of racing, Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Saturday’s program will be highlighted by two stakes races, the $100,000 Sorority Stakes (G3) for 2-year-old fillies, and the $50,000 Select Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.

Sunday is Sharp Fan Appreciation Day, with free grandstand admission and half-price clubhouse admission. Throughout the day there will be drawings for Sharp electronics. Three stakes will be offered — the $50,000 Continental Mile for 2-year-olds on the turf, the $50,000 Bob Harding Stakes for older horses on the grass, and the $50,000 Eleven North Handicap for New Jersey-bred fillies and mares. The usual Sunday Family Fun Day activities will also be offered, with live music provided by the Mike Dalton Band.

On Monday, "America’s Day at the Races," Monmouth will offer wagering on the special "America’s Day Pick 4." There will also be a jockey T-shirt toss, and a raffle drawing for tickets to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Stakes action on Monday will be the $45,000 Castle Guard, a two-turn handicap for Jersey-breds on the main track and the $60,000 Icecapade for sprinters. The Family Fun Day activities will include free pony rides, face painters, clowns and live music.

Following the Monday, Labor Day card, Monmouth will reopen for live racing on Thursday and then follow its normal schedule of racing Wednesday through Sunday, first post 12:55 p.m.