BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)

Trainer Jose D’Angelo told the Gulfstream Park media staff that he was thrilled with the effort from Arindel’s Florida-bred Monster in last week’s $225,000 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (Grade 3) at Saratoga on July 19. 

Monster set the pace in the five-and-a-half-furlong Quick Call on the Saratoga turf, was three in front in mid-stretch before but he was run down in the final strides by winner Learntodiscover (GB), who was a neck faster than Throckmorton in second. Monster was a head farther back in third.

Monster, whose two career wins came last spring and fall at Gulfstream, is being pointed to the Spa’s Mahony (G3) to be run on August 16, also for 3-year-olds sprinting five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf.

“It was tough to get beat but I think he ran his best race last Sunday. We were very happy with it,” D’Angelo said. “We made some changes with him and I think it was very easy to see how he improved. Hopefully we’ll have better luck in the next race.”

Bred in Florida by Dr. Ross Russell and Deeann Smith Cavanaugh, both residents of Citra, Monster is by Leinster out of Dienda, by Kantharos and has earned $198,591 from two wins, two seconds and three thirds in 11 starts.

In his third career start, Monster dominated a five-furlong maiden special weight on the Gulfstream grass, winning by nine lengths on May 23 last year. He was next second to Bobrovsky in the $139,000 Skidmore on the Saratoga turf in August and third in the $75,000 Leinster Hollywood Beach won by Florida-bred Lennilu sprinting on the Gulfstream sod in September.

He finished last year with a nearly five-length win in a $75,000 optional claiming on the Gulfstream syntetic and counts a second to Unwritten Rules in the $83,250 Roar on the all-weather course at Gulfstream among his five starts this year.

— Brock Sheridan contributed to this report

Return to the July 25 issue of Wire to Wire