Dive into Race 5 at Monmouth Park, where seven seasoned sprinters and up-and-coming three-year-olds battle for the Grade III Charles Hesse III Handicap. They’ll cover 1 mile, 110 yards on the fast main track Sunday, August 24, for a $125,000 purse (winner: $78,750).
Race Details
When: Sunday, August 24, 2025 at approximately 7:42 PM ET
Distance & Surface: 1 mile, 110 yards on fast dirt
Conditions: Three-year-olds & up, allowance optional claiming
Purse: $125,000 added (Winner: $78,750)
Pace & Run-Style Breakdown
Front-running types Smuggler’s Gold and Riding Pretty will vie for command through an anticipated opening half-mile in about :46-flat. Mid-pack stalkers Max’s Glory and Wildncrazynight can tuck in a few lengths behind, poised to pounce. Deep closers Last Romance, Amatteroftime and Forever Chocolate need honest fractions to unleash their late kicks, setting up a classic speed-versus-stamina duel at the top of the stretch.
Field Overview
| Post | Horse | Age | Wt. | Jockey | Trainer | Pedigree (Sire – Dam) |
| 1 | Smuggler’s Gold | 3 | 115 | Gabriel Maldonado | Cathal A. Lynch | Goldencents – Romney Marsh |
| 2 | Max’s Glory | 5 | 116 | Samy Camacho | Chuck Spina | Tonalist – Act of Glory |
| 3 | Wildncrazynight | 3 | 118 | Isaac Castillo | Dan Ward | Midnight Lute – Proud to Be Wild |
| 4 | Riding Pretty | 5 | 118 | Samuel Marin | Eddie Owens Jr. | Jack Milton – High Renaissance |
| 5 | Amatteroftime | 10 | 117 | Luis Ocasio | Silvino Ramirez | Eskendereya – Victory Pool |
| 6 | Last Romance | 6 | 121 | Paco Lopez | Cathal A. Lynch | Tapiture – Fake Romance |
| 7 | Forever Chocolate | 6 | 120 | Sonny Leon | Rory K. Huston | Boys At Tosconova – Chocolate Blush |
Leading Contenders
Max’s Glory (Post 2) – Samy Camacho / Chuck Spina
Overcame early bumping trouble to collar rivals late and win a one-mile allowance at Monmouth by a neck in July. Tonalist’s son rates a strong late kick, and Camacho’s aggressive style should put him in prime striking position down the lane.
Riding Pretty (Post 4) – Samuel Marin / Eddie Owens Jr.
This Jack Milton mare wired a competitive mile handicap here in July by 3¼ lengths, displaying both tactical speed and tenacity when pressed. Marin’s inside draw and Owens’ 25% win rate with similar mares make her a controlling presence early on.
Smuggler’s Gold (Post 1) – Gabriel Maldonado / Cathal A. Lynch
A daughter of Goldencents out of Romney Marsh, she broke her maiden over this distance in June and has flashed tactical speed in each dirt start. Maldonado will look to leverage that early zip to maintain position against older rivals.
Last Romance (Post 6) – Paco Lopez / Cathal A. Lynch
Finished ½ length second after a five-wide rally in a mile handicap in July, showing the heart and sustain to handle strong pacesetting rivals. Tapiture’s progeny often benefit from extra yardage, and Lopez can work out a trip behind the speed that sets up his run.
Dark Horses & Value Plays
Wildncrazynight (Post 3): Isaac Castillo’s mount by Midnight Lute has tactical versatility and a pedigree that underpins a late move if he secures a seat just off the leaders.
Amatteroftime (Post 5): The ten-year-old Eskendereya gelding flashes closing speed, and at double-digit odds, could exploit any pace collapse under Ocasio’s handling.
Forever Chocolate (Post 7): With blinkers off and Sonny Leon aboard, this Boys At Tosconova six-year-old can rally from mid-pack to grab a share if the front tier tires.
Trainer & Jockey Highlights
Cathal A. Lynch fields two contenders (Smuggler’s Gold, Last Romance), showcasing his depth in dirt sprinters at Monmouth Park.
Eddie Owens Jr. teams with Samuel Marin to pilot Riding Pretty, a duo winning at a 25% clip in stakes-level sprints.
Chuck Spina’s stable has excelled with second-time starters, making Max’s Glory a live player based on his allowance breakthrough.
Betting Strategy
Win Bets: Max’s Glory (2) and Riding Pretty (4) as primary plays.
Exacta Box: 2–4–6 to cover pace, stalkers and closers.
Trifecta Wheel: Key 2 over 1,4,6,7 for balanced coverage with upside.
Longshot Overlay: Amatteroftime (5) in multi-race exotics if the race unfolds at a brisk clip.
