Mary's Follies tops the field in Boiling Springs
BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer
Mary's Follies closed resolutely along the rail in the stretch to score an upset victory in the $150,000 Boiling Springs Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

The 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, trained by John Forbes and ridden by Stewart Elliott, went off as the fourth choice in the field of eight fillies and paid $15.40, $8.20 and $5.80 across the board.

"She's really a neat filly," Forbes said. "We thought the two [Platinum Girl] and the four [Sandy's Ready] would go out front and hopefully set up a quick pace. We pretty much left everything up to [jockey] Stewie [Elliott].

"This really opens up a whole new door for this horse," the trainer said. "We'll have to sit down and map out a plan with her. She certainly seemed to like the turf today, and right now I can't say whether she'll stay on turf or not."

Kiawah Kat, a 9-1 chance, finished second, a half-length behind the winner and a length and a quarter in front of Obsequious. She completed the $182.20 exacta and paid $10 and $7. Obsequious returned $6 to show. Blind Date, the 2-1 favorite, finished seventh after a wide trip.

Mary's Follies, who was making her debut on the turf, raced the mile and a 16th over a "good" course in 1:41 1/5.

She sat well off a strong pace set by Platinum Girl and Sandi's Ready until straightened away in the stretch. At the eighth pole, Elliott asked her to close down the inside, and Mary's Follies went past horses on the rail and went right on by the leaders.

"I was expecting a hole to open up turning for home, and I knew I had enough horse to go through it," Elliot said. "It opened up for us in the lane, and she just kicked on through. She really impressed me today."

Owned by the partnership of James Dinan, BDL Stables and Phantom House Farm, Mary's Follies won her second straight race at Monmouth after scoring by nearly three lengths in an allowance race on the main track on June 11.

A $40,000 yearling purchase, Mary's Follies ran her career bankroll to $163,880 with the victory, with three wins in six lifetime starts.

On Sunday, Dubb & Park Avenue Racing Stables' Girlfrienontheside waited patiently early on before driving up the inside rail to best pacesetter Snow Lass by a neck in the $60,000 Crank It Up Stakes.

"We sat in behind the early speed and had to wait for a hole," said winning rider Chuck C. Lopez. "I had no choice but to wait, because I had horses on all sides. The lane opened up, and she had a good kick."

Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Girlfrienontheside returned $5, $3.40 and $2.80 as the 3-2 favorite in the field of nine 3-year-old fillies. She stopped the timer in 1:02 flat for 5 1.2 furlongs over a firm turf course. Snow Lass completed the $48.60 exacta and paid $10.60 to place and $7.20 to show.

Lady Alexander was another neck back in third, good for a $5.60 show mutuel.

Sunday's win was the third in seven starts for Girlfrienontheside, a filly by Indian Charlie from the Unbridled Song mare Refrain. She boosted her bankroll to $126,990 for her connections.

Activities abound for holiday weekend

Monmouth Park will celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend with three days of activities for the entire family.

On the racing front, Monmouth will offer six stakes races over the three days, topped by Saturday's Grade 1 United Nations and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile— Breeders' Cup win-and-you're-in events.

For the family, Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be Family Fun Days, with free pony rides, face painters, clowns and bounce houses each day from noon to 4 p.m. Live music will be provided on Saturday by the Cats on a Smooth Surface band, and on Sunday by The Kootz.

A Monmouth Park T-shirt giveaway highlights Saturday, July 4, with all paid admissions receiving a distinctive Jersey Shore shirt.

A special jockey autograph signing and memorabilia sale will be featured on Saturday and Sunday, with proceeds benefiting the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund.

Joey P. recouping in South Jersey

John Petrini's Joey P., the popular sprinter who underwent surgery to correct a twisted intestine last week, left the Mid- Atlantic veterinary clinic Wednesday and is now recuperating at the Black Oak Farm in Egg Harbor Township.

"He'll be turned out for 45 to 60 days to let the surgery heal," said trainer Ben Perkins Jr. "We'll probably bring him back to a farm close to Monmouth after that so he can start jogging, and then he'll be back at the track.

"He's just an amazing horse," Perkins said of the 7-year-old New Jersey-bred gelding. "It only takes 30 days between when you start him back in training until he's ready to start."

Perkins said Joey P. is back acting like his old self and looks as good as always.

"Mr. Petrini's cell phone ring is the call to the post," Perkins said. "The other day, the phone rang when Mr. Petrini was standing next to Joey P., and the old guy pricked his ears and started looking around. He knows what that music means."

Joey P. is expected to race during the Meadowlands fall meeting as he continues his quest to become a millionaire. He currently has a career record of 16-7-1 in 35 starts and earnings of $973,472.