Summer of Ups and Downs for NJ Breds

It has been an interesting summer of racing for New Jersey-bred horses running at Monmouth Park, and elsewhere, with a few pleasant surprises as some have made big steps forward in their development, while others that seemed poised for a breakthrough have disappointed. Among the top horses, both Javerre and Flay Mignon have had their ups and downs, while others, such as Richiefromshopright and Don’s Peach, appear to be finding the successful form that was hinted at early on in their career.

Javerre looking for consistency in graded-stakes

Unraced as a two-year-old, the Outflanker gelding Javerre had a sparkling debut in 2012, breaking his maiden by three lengths first time out, and taking three of his first four starts before stepping up to win the New Jersey Breeders Handicap. He finished last year with two in-the-money stakes finishes at Laurel Park, and returned to Laurel with a second in the Native Dancer Stakes. He then went into graded-stakes company, and won the Grade III General George Handicap.  He hasn’t found the winner’s circle since, however, and was sixth last time out in the Grade I Forego Stakes at Saratoga.

Don's Peach finally breaks out of the claiming ranks

At the other end of the scale may be Don’s Peach, a five-year-old mare by Don Six. After a handful of firsts and seconds in the claiming ranks in 2011, she made her only stakes appearance in May of 2012, finishing dead last of 12 on the turf at Meadowlands. From there it was back to claiming races, where she failed to get another win in eight tries. Starting in 2013, however, she won her first of the year with $10,000 claimers at Gulfstream, regressed a bit, and then won two straight at Monmouth, including the Open Mind Handicap.