Joy And Prosperity (#3 inside) under Jorge Vargas bests Te Amo (#4) with Lane Luzzi up in the featured race at the opener for Monmouth-at-the Meadowlands. (Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
On Opening Night Of Monmouth-At-Meadowlands Meet
Tom Luicci/Monmouth Park
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Joy and Prosperity split horses in deep stretch and then held off a late charge by Te Amo to score a neck victory in the featured $52,500 optional claimer during Friday’s opening night of the Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet.
The 4-year-old daughter of Micromanage rallied from off the pace for jockey Jorge Vargas, Jr. in the mile and a sixteenth turf race foe New Jersey-bred fillies, 3 and up. She split Singleberylbourbon and Sea Maiden late, then was able to hold on as Exclusive Champion surged on the outside. Sea Maiden was another 1½ lengths back in third.
The winner is trained by Kent Sweezey for Bergen Stables.
The winning time over a turf course listed as “firm” was 1:45.56, with Joy and Prosperity returning $9.20 to win in the field of seven.
The victory was the second in seven career starts for Joy and Prosperity.
The 10-day all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet resumes with six races Saturday night. First race post time is 7 p.m.
The meet will run every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 14.
