The Grade III Salvator Mile Stakes returns to Monmouth Park, featuring a competitive field of nine seasoned milers in a one-mile dirt battle. With a $150,000 purse, this race serves as a key stepping stone for horses targeting the Grade III Monmouth Cup later in the season.
Race Details
Event: Grade III Salvator Mile Stakes
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 4:55 PM ET
Venue: Monmouth Park, Oceanport, NJ
Surface: Dirt (1 mile)
Purse: $150,000
TV Broadcast: TVG, Fox Sports, NYRA Bets
Top Contenders & Horse Profiles
1. Antigravity (Trainer: Dan Ward | Jockey: TBD)
Pedigree: First Samurai – Port Charlotte (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 7YO Gelding, multiple stakes-placed
Recent Performance: Fourth in Allowance at Will Rogers Downs
Strengths: Consistent performer with tactical speed
Concerns: Needs a breakthrough stakes victory
2. Trademark (Trainer: Victoria Oliver | Jockey: Axel Concepcion)
Pedigree: Upstart – Creative Trick (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 6YO Gelding, stakes winner
Recent Performance: Sixth in Keeneland Stakes
Strengths: Proven stakes competitor with strong closing ability
Concerns: Struggled in last outing, needs a rebound effort
3. Tuscan Sky (Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: John Velazquez)
Pedigree: Vino Rosso – South Andros (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 4YO Gelding, graded stakes-placed
Recent Performance: Third in Belmont Stakes prep race
Strengths: Speed figures suggest dominance
Concerns: First attempt at Monmouth Park
4. Offaly Cool (Trainer: Jacinto Solis | Jockey: Abner Adorno)
Pedigree: Kantharos – Assured (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 5YO Gelding, multiple stakes winner
Recent Performance: Winner of Philadelphia Park Stakes
Strengths: Versatile runner with tactical speed
Concerns: Needs to prove consistency at graded level
5. Surface to Air (Trainer: Panagiotis Synnefias | Jockey: Samuel Marin)
Pedigree: Midshipman – Shemazon (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 5YO Horse, stakes winner
Recent Performance: Fourth in Philadelphia Park Stakes
Strengths: Strong pedigree for distance racing
Concerns: Limited experience at Monmouth Park
6. Vitality (Trainer: Joseph Orseno | Jockey: Frankie Pennington)
Pedigree: Street Boss – Belissimo (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 4YO Gelding, stakes winner
Recent Performance: Winner of Gulfstream Park Stakes
Strengths: Speedy front-runner with dirt adaptability
Concerns: Adjusting to Monmouth’s tighter turns
7. Nelson Avenue (Trainer: Jorge Abreu | Jockey: Samy Camacho)
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Via Strata (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 6YO Gelding, stakes-placed
Recent Performance: Fourth in Belmont Stakes prep race
Strengths: Improving form with elite connections
Concerns: Needs to prove consistency at graded level
8. Awesome Ruta (Trainer: Dan Ward | Jockey: Isaac Castillo)
Pedigree: Mendelssohn – Awesome Prayer (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 4YO Colt, stakes-placed
Recent Performance: Third in Monmouth Park Allowance Race
Strengths: Late bloomer with untapped potential
Concerns: Facing seasoned competition in first graded stakes attempt
9. Bishops Bay (Trainer: Brad Cox | Jockey: Flavien Prat)
Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Catch My Drift (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 5YO Horse, multiple graded stakes winner
Recent Performance: Winner of Belmont Stakes prep race
Strengths: Proven stakes performer with strong finishing kick
Concerns: Struggled in last outing
Race Strategy & Betting Insights
Pace Projection: Vitality and Tuscan Sky likely to press early, while Bishops Bay and Offaly Cool close late.
Key Matchups: Bishops Bay vs. Tuscan Sky in the stretch battle.
Dark Horse: Awesome Ruta could surprise with a breakout performance.
