The Monmouth Stakes, a listed turf event, returns to Monmouth Park, featuring a competitive field of eight three-year-olds and up in a 1 1/8-mile showdown. With a $150,000 purse, this race serves as a prep for the Grade 2 United Nations Stakes, offering free entry and start fees to the top two finishers.
Race Details
Event: Monmouth Stakes
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 5:45 PM ET
Venue: Monmouth Park, Oceanport, NJ
Surface: Turf (1 1/8 miles)
Purse: $150,000
TV Broadcast: TVG, Fox Sports, NYRA Bets
Top Contenders & Horse Profiles
1. Kingmax (Trainer: Christophe Clement | Jockey: Joel Rosario)
Pedigree: Kingman – Max’s Queen (Street Cry)
Career Record: 5 wins, 3 seconds from 12 starts
Recent Performance: Third in G3 Fort Marcy Stakes
Strengths: Proven turf performer with strong closing speed
Concerns: Needs a fast pace to maximize late kick
2. Atlast (Trainer: Chad Brown | Jockey: Flavien Prat)
Pedigree: Kitten’s Joy – Atlas Shrugged (Empire Maker)
Career Record: 4 wins, 2 seconds from 9 starts
Recent Performance: Winner of G3 Appleton Stakes
Strengths: Versatile runner with tactical speed
Concerns: First attempt at Monmouth Park
3. Redistricting (Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: John Velazquez)
Pedigree: War Front – Boundary Issues (Smart Strike)
Career Record: 3 wins, 1 second from 7 starts
Recent Performance: Second in G2 Pan American Stakes
Strengths: Elite pedigree with stamina potential
Concerns: Needs a breakthrough performance
4. Izzy D’Oro (Trainer: Graham Motion | Jockey: Luis Saez)
Pedigree: Medaglia d’Oro – Izzy’s Charm (Tapit)
Career Record: 2 wins, 3 seconds from 6 starts
Recent Performance: Allowance winner at Keeneland
Strengths: Late bloomer with untapped potential
Concerns: Facing seasoned competition in first stakes attempt
5. Master Piece (Trainer: Michael McCarthy | Jockey: Javier Castellano)
Pedigree: Mastercraftsman – Piece of Heaven (Galileo)
Career Record: 6 wins, 4 seconds from 18 starts
Recent Performance: Fourth in G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes
Strengths: Proven stakes performer with strong finishing kick
Concerns: Struggled in last outing
6. Otago (Trainer: Mark Casse | Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione)
Pedigree: Speightstown – Ocean Breeze (Storm Cat)
Career Record: 3 wins, 2 seconds from 8 starts
Recent Performance: Winner of G3 Tampa Bay Stakes
Strengths: Speedy front-runner with turf adaptability
Concerns: Adjusting to Monmouth’s tighter turns
7. Signator (Trainer: Shug McGaughey | Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.)
Pedigree: Tapit – Signature Move (Curlin)
Career Record: 2 wins, 1 second from 5 starts
Recent Performance: Allowance winner at Belmont Park
Strengths: Improving form with elite connections
Concerns: Needs to prove consistency at graded level
8. Highestdistinction (Trainer: Brendan Walsh | Jockey: Paco Lopez)
Pedigree: Point of Entry – Highest Praise (Unbridled’s Song)
Career Record: 4 wins, 3 seconds from 10 starts
Recent Performance: Third in G3 Muniz Memorial Classic
Strengths: Strong pedigree for distance racing
Concerns: Limited experience at Monmouth Park
Race Strategy & Betting Insights
Pace Projection: Otago and Atlast likely to press early, while Kingmax and Master Piece close late.
Key Matchups: Kingmax vs. Atlast in the stretch battle.
Dark Horse: Izzy D’Oro could surprise with a breakout performance.
