Dive into Race 10 at Monmouth Park, where ten fillies and mares aged three and up sprint six furlongs on fast dirt for a $100,000 purse under the lights Sunday, August 24. The winner pockets $63,000, with $20,000 and $10,000 going to second and third respectively.
Race Details
When: Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM ET
Distance & Surface: 6 furlongs on fast dirt
Conditions: Three-year-olds and up, fillies & mares; allowance optional claiming
Purse: $100,000 added (1st: $63,000; 2nd: $20,000; 3rd: $10,000; 4th: $7,000)
Pace & Run-Style Breakdown
Early speed shapes up to be fierce. Summer’s Comin, Howler, Mia’s Crusade and Beach Daze all pressed or vied for the lead in recent starts, promising hot fractions through the first quarter in around :22-flat. Jewel of the Ocean and My Two Sophia’s can stalk just off the speed, while the Margotta raiders (Molly’s a Bullet, Bel Pensiero) and Starview Twinkle will need cover to launch late bids. Kate’s Cuban Kiss projects as a deep closer if she secures a ground-saving trip behind the dueling leaders.
Field Overview
| Post | Horse | Age | Wt. | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire – Dam) |
| 1 | Summer’s Comin | 4 | 8-9 | Sonny Leon | Michael Dini | Summer Front – Emirates Girl |
| 2 | Mia’s Crusade | 6 | 8-11 | Paco Lopez | Chuck Spina | Greenpointcrusader – Mini Moneigh |
| 3 | Howler | 3 | 8-5 | Alexander Crispin | Cathal A. Lynch | Irish War Cry – Collusiva (IRE) |
| 4 | My Two Sophia’s | 4 | 8-5 | Julio Hernandez | Panagiotis Synnefias | Hoppertunity – Mutual Fund |
| 5 | Jewel of the Ocean | 3 | 8-5 | Samy Camacho | Chuck Spina | Sea Wizard – Debonair Darling |
| 6 | Molly’s a Bullet | 4 | 8-5 | Isaac Castillo | Anthony R. Margotta Jr. | Army Mule – Milaya |
| 7 | Bel Pensiero | 5 | 8-10 | Ramon Moya | Anthony R. Margotta Jr. | Army Mule – Milaya |
| 8 | Beach Daze | 6 | 8-10 | Adam Bowman | Farrel Mann | Blofeld – Ysabell T. |
| 9 | Starview Twinkle | 5 | 8-5 | Christian Maragh | Joseph W. Mazza | Honorable Dillon – Hidden Joy |
| 10 | Kate’s Cuban Kiss | 5 | 8-6 | TBA | Steven Krebs | Cuba – Kate’s Cozy Kiss |
Leading Contenders
Mia’s Crusade (Post 2) – Paco Lopez / Chuck Spina
This 6-year-old mare rolled to a 4½-length triumph over allowance rivals at Monmouth in June, showing her ability to press the pace and fend off challengers. Greenpointcrusader daughters tend to fire on all cylinders at this trip, and Lopez’s 24% win rate in six-furlong stakes here makes her a top win bet.
Howler (Post 3) – Alexander Crispin / Cathal A. Lynch
A swift daughter of Irish War Cry, Howler broke her maiden at second asking and then finished a close third behind J J Zo Zo in her latest. Crispin’s patient ride should allow Howler to secure her preferred stalking position before unleashing her dash through the lane.
Summer’s Comin (Post 1) – Sonny Leon / Michael Dini
This four-year-old by Summer Front has tactical speed to stalk two-wide and a proven closing kick, as shown in her recent 5-furlong win at Delaware Park. Leon’s inside draw and Dini’s keen placement record make her dangerous in any pace scenario.
Jewel of the Ocean (Post 5) – Samy Camacho / Chuck Spina
Fresh off a determined win over Kate’s Love at Monmouth last month, this Sea Wizard filly loves this track’s surface and stretch run. Camacho will aim to tuck in just off the leaders and pounce once the early duellers begin to fade.
Dark Horses & Value Plays
My Two Sophia’s (4): Consistent runner-up in stakes at Saratoga and Monmouth; blinkers could sharpen her from the rail.
Bel Pensiero (7): Army Mule mare with tactical speed; turnover to Ramon Moya could unlock a potent late kick.
Beach Daze (8): Blofeld mare with eye-catching closing fractions; a pace collapse could set the stage for her rally.
Kate’s Cuban Kiss (10): Deep closer by Cuba, capable of slicing through tiring fractions if she finds racing room.
Trainer & Jockey Notes
Chuck Spina doubles up with Mia’s Crusade and Jewel of the Ocean, leading all trainers with two entrants in stakes sprints this meet.
Anthony R. Margotta Jr. saddles both Molly’s a Bullet and Bel Pensiero, capitalizing on speed-in-depth from that barn.
Michael Dini and Sonny Leon team up for Summer’s Comin—the duo is 2-for-4 here at six furlongs this season.
Betting Strategy
Win Bets: Mia’s Crusade (2) and Howler (3)
Exacta Box: 2–3–1–5
Trifecta Wheel: Key 2 over 1, 3, 5, 4
Longshot Overlay: Bel Pensiero (7) in multi-race exotics if the fast fractions set up the stretch run
