The Labor Day program at Parx features three of the track's major stakes, the $350,000 Grade 3 Smarty Jones Stakes, the $350,000 Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap, and the $200,000 Turf Amazon Handicap. The Smarty Jones Stakes, now one of the track's six graded stakes, features some of the nation's top three year-olds and serves as a prep for the $1 million G2 Pennsylvania Derby run here Saturday, September 22nd. The Turf Monster is a Breeders Cup 'Win and You're In' race with the winner getting an automatic berth into the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint run in early November at Santa Anita. The Turf Amazon is the track's top race for female turf sprinters.
The track will have a special giveaway item on Labor Day, a Smarty Jones Bobblehead. The bobbleheads will be given to the first 5,000 fans in attendance. Fans should note that the doors will open at 10AM with post time scheduled for 12:25PM. Fans can also enjoy live music and free Family Fun in the picnic grove. The band 'Axis' is set to perform while kids can enjoy free pony rides, moonbounces, face painting and more all afternoon.
Heading the field for the $350K Smarty Jones Stakes is John Oxley's Prospective. The Malibu Moon colt is a multiple graded winner, winning the G2 Tampa Bay Derby and the G3 Ohio Derby. He also ran second in the G3 Sam Davis at Tampa prior to his win in the Tampa Bay Derby. In all, he's won 6 of 12 lifetime starts. Jermaine Bridgmohan will ride for top Canadian trainer Mark Casse. Another big contender is Teeth of the Dog. Owned by J W Singer, Inc., the Bluegrass Cat colt out of the Michael Matz barn won the G2 Dwyer Stakes at Belmont on June 30th before a fourth in his most recent start over a sloppy track in the G2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Joel Rosario comes in for the ride.
The Turf Monster is absolutely loaded. Last year's winner, the amazing Ben's Cat returns to defend. The 6 year-old gelded son of Parker's Storm Cat has won an incredible 16 of 25 career starts for The Jim Stable and trainer King Leatherbury. Two winner Chamberlain Bridge is back. He won this event in 2009 and 2010 and went on to win the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint in 2010 as well. He's won 19 career races and better than $1.8 million. Also in the field is G1 winner Sean Avery as he makes his seasonal and turf debut. Racing for local trainer Allen Iwinski, he finished 2011 win a 17-1 upset in the G1 Alfred Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga.
The Turf Amazon is led by Three Lyons Racing's Sensible Lady. The 3 year-old Street Sense filly comes into the race off 3 straight stakes wins at 3 different tracks and has won 7 of 12 lifetime for trainer Tim Salzman.
