Every year since 2006, trainer Jim Ryerson has scored at the Monmouth meet with a firster getting Lasix for the first time. This year's (first) winner was Sweet Talking Gal ($9.00), who captured today's 2nd race fairly easily. This is an angle worth following, and it's also important to note that all of the winners going back four years (there have been six of them now) have been 7/2 or less, so the board is the best guide, as usual when it comes to firsters.
The 3rd race featured a good amount of speed and figured to favor the closers, and that's how it played out. Catch a Thief ($8.20) rallied from well back to best another rallier, Patriotic Viva, as an early duel set both up to run their best races. Look for the speeds in this field, such as Souma, who held well for third, next time, and downgrade the first two finishers, unless another pace perfect set-up looms.
Though Monmouth has the reputation of being a speed track today's 3rd illustrates how closers can win under the right circumstances.
