GRECIAN MAIDEN TAKES TWIN LIGHTS AT MONMOUTH PARK

John Heims
Monmouth

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Robert Tell and Wesley A. Ward’s Madman Diaries took control out of the gate and never looked back, winning the Grade 3, $150,000 Sapling Stakes by a half length as Grecian Maiden held on for a nose victory in the $100,000 Twin Lights Stakes before a crowd of 13,469 at Monmouth Park on Saturday.

After setting fractions of :22 2/5 for the first quarter and :46 2/5 for the half-mile, Madman Diaries was confronted by Vengeful Wildcat nearing the eighth pole, but repelled that challenge to win the Sapling, Monmouth’s top race for 2-year-olds.  Madman Diaries paid $13.60, $6.80 and $5.60 and topped the $80.20 exacta.  Vengeful Wildcat held for second and paid $4.20 and $3.20.  It was a neck back to Chipshot, who paid $4.40 to show.  Favorite Maybesomaybenot checked in fourth.

“I was pretty confident in him,” said co-owner Wesley Ward, who conditions the son of Bring the Heat from the Outflanker mare Harper N Abbey.  “He’s been breezing up at Saratoga and had me convinced he can run on dirt, that’s why we took a shot here.”

Ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez, Madman Diaries scored his third win in five starts on Saturday.  After debuting at Keeneland this April, the 2-year-old gelding had run his last four at Woodbine.  The Sapling marked the first start on conventional dirt for Madman Diaries, who has now earned $247,822.

“My horse broke fast from the gate and I felt the whole way like I had a lot under me.  In the stretch, he dug in really well,” Sanchez said.

In the Twin Lights, Grecian Maiden stepped the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:48 1/5 and paid $21.40, $10.40 and $6.80.  Profiteroles, whose late charge fell just short at the wire, paid $6.40 to place and $4.20 to show and completed the $102.40 exacta.  It was another length and a half back to Bet on the Blue, who paid $5.20 to show.

“There wasn’t a lot of pace in the race so we wanted to a lay a little closer,” said winning jockey Julian Pimentel.  “It worked out beautifully.  When I pushed her she just took off.  She really answered today.”

Trained by Michael Trombetta, Grecian Maiden earned her third win in six starts by taking the Twin Lights.  The 3-year-old filly by Ghostzapper from the Two Punch mare Willa on the Move, has now banked $119,980 for her connections.

Live racing continues on Sunday and Monday of this holiday weekend at Monmouth.  Gates open at 11:30 a.m., with first post set at 12:50 p.m.