BY BROCK SHERIDAN

A winner of the $104,000 Cliff Hanger on the Monmouth Park turf last time, Florida-bred Otago tries for a repeat performance over the same course in Saturday’s $100,000 Monmouth Stakes for 3-year-olds and older at a mile-and-an-eighth. Trained by Kelsey Danner for Crown’s Way Racing LLC, NBS Stable, Edward Delava and Eli Diamant, Otago is 6-1 on the morning among the nine entrants, including Brooklyn Guy, who is entered under main track only conditions.

Run since 2008, the Monmouth Stakes has twice been won by Florida-breds. Presious Passion won in 2009 and Teaks North in 2011.

In his last race on May 24, Otago came from last of eight to nab fellow Florida-bred Forever Souper and runner-up Highestdistinction to win the mile-and-a-sixteenth Cliff Hanger on the grass. Highestdistinction also returns for the Monmouth Stakes. 

 

In two other starts this year, the 5-year-old son of Speightstown was ninth in the ESMARK Turf Classic won by Florida-bred Crystal Quest on March 30 at Tampa Bay Downs and second to Dataman in a conditioned $55,000 optional claiming going a mile on the grass at Laurel Park on May 3.

Last year, Otago won two of seven starts including an allowance race going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Horseshoe Indianapolis grass in May and a second condition, $50,000 optional claiming over a grassy mile at Colonial Downs in August.

 

Bred in Florida by Courtney Meagher and Speightstown Syndicate, Otago is out of Mom’s Deputy, by War Chant and has a career record of five wins in 16 races with three seconds and two thirds. He has $299,825 in earnings.

Axel Concepcion will ride Otago from post six.

The 7-5 morning line favorite is Klaravich Stables Inc.’s Redistricting (GB), who enters off two sixth-place finishes behind winner Idratherbeblessed in the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds on March 22 and in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic won by Spirit of St. Louis at Churchill Downs on May 3.

By solid turf sire Kingman (GB), Redistricting last year was second to Andthewinneris in the Grade 2 Knickerbocker during the Belmont at Big A meet in October and second to Mi Hermano Ramon in the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at Del Mar in November.

Redistricting is trained by Chad Brown and Flavien Prat will ride from post three.

Another strong contender is Kingmax (Ire), who makes his first start since March 2 when fourth, just a half-length off of winner Starting Over in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream Park.

Kingmax is trained by Jorge Delgado for Amo Racing USA and has post one.

Rounding out the field are Atlast (Fr) with Jorge Ruiz set to ride, Izzy d’Oro will have Gabriel Maldonado in the saddle, no rider has yet been named on Master Piece (Chi), Signator will be guided by Samuel Marin and Fernando Jara has the assignment on Highestdistinction.

Return to the June 13 issue of Wire to Wire