BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Florida-bred Monster, who in five races this year has started at four different tracks in three states, will add Del Mar and Southern California to his list of stops when he enters the starting gate for Saturday’s $200,000 Green Flash Handicap (Grade 2). Ten 3-year-olds and older will sprint five furlongs on the turf with Monster getting a 116-pound assignment, eight less than two-time defending champion Motorious (GB) and his 124-pound impost.
The Green Flash Handicap is a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race, providing the winner with an automatic starting position into the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) to be run at Keeneland on October 31.
A victory in the Greed Flash by Monster would also earn breeders Dr. Ross Russell and Deeann Smith Cavanaugh of Citra, Florida a $5,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo last started Monster at Saratoga Race Course in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, where the 3-year-old son of Leinster led for five of the five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf. He and jockey Edgard Zayas where three in front in midstretch but succumbed to winner Learntodiscover (GB) and runner-up Throckmorton in a three-horse photo, finishing just a neck back in third.
That has been the story for speedy Monster throughout his career as he has led at every early point of call in his last nine starts, going back to his nine-length victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight on the turf at Gulfstream Park in May of last year.
However, he tired to finish fifth in his first two starts this year, first on the Gulfstream synthetic in the $100,000 Texas Glitter on March 21, then on the Keeneland grass in the $287,000 Palisades (Listed) on April 19. He was second, just a half-length off winner Unwritten Rule in the $83,000 Roar back on the Gulfstream all-weather on May 17, then preceding the Quick Call, he was third in a five-and-a-half-furlong allowance race on the Churchill Downs grass on June 17.
Monster is out of Dienda, by Kantharos and has won two with two seconds and two thirds in 11 lifetime starts while earning $198,591. Arindel bought Monster out of the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale for $25,000. He was consigned by Bobby Jones Equine.
Emisael Jaramillo will ride Monster from post one Saturday.
Motorious won last year’s Green Flash through the disqualification of Florida-bred Reef Runner but has not won in three starts since. He was fifth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) won by Shisospicy and seventh in the Joe Hernandez (G2) on the Santa Anita grass in December. In one start this year, the son of Muhaarar (GB) was second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Green Flash-entrant Sumter in an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming going five furlongs on the turf at Del Mar on July 19.
He has earned $1,004,904 from 10 wins in 26 starts for owner Anthony Fanticola and will be ridden by Antonio Fresu from six Saturday.
Others set for the Green Flash are Mescalero with Kazushi Kimura in the saddle, Edwin Maldonado has the assignment on Man O Rose, Incanto (Ire) will have jockey Tyler Baze, Mike Smith rides Sumter, Virat will have Hector Berrios up, No Nay Hudson (Ire) has Juan Hernandez in the irons, Umberto Rispoli will take the reins on Sorrento Sky (Ire) and Saratoga Special has Joel Rosario with the call.
