Colonel Sharp aims for stakes glory in Jersey Shore

by | Jul 22, 2016 | Breaking, New Jersey, NJ Racing, Racing

From a Monmouth Park release

Colonel Sharp (9-2) takes on stakes company for the first time when he enters the gate with five other rivals in Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes, going six furlongs on the main track.

The Jersey Shore is one of two stakes on the Monmouth Park card, with the $60,000 Lamplighter, for three-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on the turf, immediately following it.

“I couldn’t be happier with how he is doing,” said conditioner Todd Beattie. “He’s been doing excellent since his last race and has been really sharp and working strong.”

Owned by DASL Stable, the 3-year-old gelding by Colonel John out of the Cherokee Run mare Extra Sharp is coming off a tenth place finish in a $62,000 allowance optional claiming event at Belmont Park on June 11.

Prior to that start, Colonel Sharp broke his maiden in his first try, taking the field gate-to-wire to win by 13 lengths on April 22 at Penn National. In his first start versus winners, he battled his way to a head victory in a $50,000 allowance optional claiming event at Pimlico on May 12.

Colonel Sharp has worked three times since his last start on June 11. The last bullet came on July 19 when he went five furlongs in :59 1/5.

Nik Juarez will be aboard for the first time on Saturday.

“He was the only 3-year-old in the race at Belmont last time and it was a really tough field,” said Beattie. “I’m not saying we will be the speed of the race, but he will be close up.”

Eddie Plesa Jr. sends out a duo from his barn to try and grab their first graded stakes win. Yellow Chips (9-2) is coming off back-to-back wins in late-closing fashion, while Full Salute (5-2), the morning line favorite, is a three-times stakes winner with the most recent coming in his latest start in the Select Stakes going five and a half furlongs on the turf.

Plesa also figures to have a big shot in the Lamplighter, when he sends out the stakes-placed Brass Compass, who’s 3-1 on the morning line.  The favorite, at 2-1, is Christophe Clement trainee Noble Quality.