Gelfenstein Farm’s Sharp Azteca established a new Monmouth Park track record of 1:40.19 for 1 1/16 miles on the main track when taking the $95,000 Monmouth Cup (G3) by an effortless 7 1/2 lengths on Sunday.
Only three showed up to oppose the Jorge Navarro trainee, who was sent off the heavy 1-5 favorite under jockey Paco Lopez. The duo bided their time in second early in the contest as Classy Class set the pace through splits of :23.93, :47.13 and 1:10.69. Sharp Azteca grew tired of waiting, though, and effortlessly drew even with, and then past, Classy Class.
From there the race turned into a rout, as the dark bay son of Freud opened up with every stride. Sharp Azteca returned $2.60 for the score over the fast dirt, his first since capturing the Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2) by 4 1/2 lengths in his season opener on February 11.
Donegal Moon followed in second while Just Call Kenny came next by 3 1/4 lengths. Classy Class brought up the rear just three parts of a length back. Scuba was withdrawn.
Sharp Azteca entered the Monmouth Cup off a pair of major contests. After his Gulfstream foray in his four-year-old bow, the dark bay colt shipped to Dubai and ran a nice third in the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) at Meydan on March 25, Dubai World Cup Day.
He was given some time to recover from that trip before trying the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park last out on June 10. The Kentucky-bred reputed himself well in that contest, leading in the early going before settling for second behind the favorite.
Hero of the Pat Day Mile (G3) and a half-length second in the Malibu Stakes (G1) last year, Sharp Azteca improved his career record to 13-6-4-1, $956,740, with the Monmouth Cup win.
He is out of the unraced Saint Liam mare So Sharp, who is a half-sister to Grade 2 hero Mint Lane and the dam of Grade 3 victor and 2015 Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Firing Line. Sharp Aztea’s fifth dam is Broodmare of the Year and Canadian champion Kamar.
MONMOUTH CUP QUOTES
Jorge Navarro, trainer Sharp Azteca, winner
“Mission accomplished. We put the mile and a sixteenth away. And it was a relief to get him back in great shape. He almost got loose in the barn last night and cut his head. Then on the way over to the paddock today, he flipped. He was OK, but it was another worry. It was fantastic to see him run so well after all that.”
Paco Lopez, jockey Sharp Azteca, winner
“He was sitting very relaxed in second early on. I waited and waited and then pushed him a little at the three-eighths pole and he started to pick it up. I only asked him a little and he took off. He’s a really great horse.”
Lopez would go on to take the $104,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) later on the card with George E. Hall’s Money’soncharlotte.
The pair grabbed command soon after the start and proceeded to lead the way through splits of :23.78, :47.82, 1:11.64 and 1:36.33. Miss Inclusive tracked in second in the two path while Carrumba stayed in contact on the inside.
Those latter two could not keep up upon hitting the stretch and Money’soncharlotte looked ready to romp in the 1 1/16-mile contest. However, Eskenformoney was just winding up from last and came flying four wide on the turn. She continued her momentum in the lane, closing powerfully, but could not catch Money’soncharlotte, who crossed under the wire 1 1/4 lengths the best.
It was 2 1/2 lengths behind Eskenformoney to Carrumba, who had 1 1/4 lengths to spare on fourth-placer Power of Snunner. Pleasant Mine came next and was followed under the line by Mo’ Green, Miss Inclusive and Behrnik’s Bank.
Money’soncharlotte was sent off the 9-1 fifth choice in the eight-distaffer field and returned $20 for completing 8 1/2 furlongs in 1:42.80. She is now three-for-three on the year, having scored a 5 1/2-length score against allowance/optional claimers while making her five-year-old debut on April 8 at Parx Racing and a three-quarter length victory in the Lady’s Secret Stakes last out over this track on July 2.
Trained by Kelly Breen, the Mizzen Mast mare also boasts a win in the 2014 Hut Hut Stakes and placings in the 2015 editions of the Gazelle Stakes (G2) and Silverbulletday Stakes. Money’soncharlotte has now banked $338,395 to go along with her 20-6-2-2 career mark.
Bred in Kentucky by Dr. Oscar Benavides, Money’soncharlotte is out of the Chimes Band mare Something Wicked, making her a full sister to multiple stakes winner Mizzcan’tbewrong. The pair’s fourth dam is Renounce, a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-winnig sire Intrepid Hero and granddaughter of Grey Flight.
MOLLY PITCHER QUOTES
Kelly Breen, trainer Money’soncharlotte, winner
“We pointed for this. Monmouth is her home track, and she’s been training great. She’s good right now, and when a filly is good, she’s really good. (Jockey) Paco (Lopez) told me before the race that he thought there was a lot of speed in the race and he wanted to take back. OK. So then she’s in front right after the break and I said to (owner) George (Hall), ‘That’s Paco taking back.’ A great win.”
Paco Lopez, jockey Money’soncharlotte, winner
“I planned on sitting second or third, but when no one else was going, we did. She was cruising up front and when we got to the quarter-pole I took a look back and didn’t see anyone coming. I asked her a little bit just to spurt away and she took off.”
