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1-2 Bella Shambrock goes for a stroll at Monmouth Park
Sunday, July 30, 2006
BY ANDY BELFIORE
For the Star-Ledger
Jockey Chris DeCarlo never had an anxious moment. Riding 1-2 favorite Bella Shambrock in the $60,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park yesterday, DeCarlo was in cruise control from the start, leading the field every step of the way before hitting the line eight lengths to the good.
It was the third straight victory for Bella Shambrock, who broke his maiden by 14 1/4 lengths at Mon mouth June 2 and came back to take the Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes at Prairie Meadows July 4.
Bella Shambrock was sent off the odds-on chalk to add to his winning streak in the Tyro, and he lived up to his odds. Alone on the front end through a quarter in :22.03 and a half in :45.35, he added to his advantage down the stretch to win as much the best.
"I was able to secure position early and that forced the others to try and keep up," DeCarlo said. "He did the whole thing so easily. I never had to get into him -- I just rode him out to the wire."
Added Anthony Sciametta, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher, "This horse never misses a beat -- he just loves the game."
The winner paid $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10. He is likely to make his next start in the $150,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Sept. 4.
Last year's Tyro winner, He's Got Grit, picked up another Mon mouth stakes win yesterday, leading every step of the way in the $60,000 Rumson Stakes. Sent off the 9-5 favorite in the eight- horse field, the dark bay gelding returned $5.60, $3.20 and $2.80 after completing the 6 furlongs in 1:09.24.
Sidelined for more than seven months after going a perfect 4-for-4 in 2005, He's Got Grit opened this season with a pair of third-place finishes, most re cently hitting the line 10 3/4 lengths behind the talented Henny Hughes in the July 1 Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes at Mon mouth.
The Florida-bred faced more manageable company in the Rumson. Sent right to the front by jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, he dashed through a half in :44.76 and pulled away down the lane to win by five lengths over Town Council and jockey Joe Bravo.
"He broke so sharp, and that's to his advantage," Bridgmohan said. "He was able to settle easily early on. When we hit the half- mile pole, he was really pulling on me, but I didn't want to go too soon. I waited until we turned for home, then he switched onto his left lead and sprinted away from them."
Todd Pletcher picked up his fifth stakes win of the Monmouth meeting with Bella Shambrock yesterday; he'll go for No. 6 with Bovell Road in the $60,000 Col leen Stakes this afternoon. The 2-year-old filly takes on four rivals in the 5 1/2-furlong affair.
Bred in Canada by her owner, Eugene Melnyk, Bovell Road made her debut against $40,000 maiden claimers at Monmouth June 22 and romped to a 6 1/4-length score under Chris De Carlo. DeCarlo has the call once again today.
Bovell Road jumps right into the stakes ranks off just one effort, but only one horse in the field, She's Roughin It, boasts more experience. The daughter of Forest Camp broke her maiden in her third start, besting $80,000 maiden claimers by seven lengths at Churchill Downs June 16. She came back to be third in the July 2 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park and is the even-money favorite on the morning line. Bridgmohan will be in the saddle.
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