Scheduled Post Time: 3:05 PM EDT
Race Conditions:
• 1 1/16 Miles
• Dirt
• Fillies & Mares 3‑Years‑Old & Up
• Grade II
• $250,000 Purse
The Molly Pitcher Stakes is one of Monmouth Park’s premier summer dirt route races for older fillies and mares. The 1 1/16‑mile configuration rewards tactical speed, strong cornering, and sustained late stamina, and this year’s field is deep with graded‑stakes winners, rising stars, and high‑class routers shipping in from New York, Kentucky, and the Mid‑Atlantic.
Venue: Monmouth Park — Oceanport, NJ
Location: 175 Oceanport Ave, Oceanport, New Jersey
Track Type: One‑mile dirt oval
Configuration:
Long backstretch
Sweeping turns
Fair stretch that rewards sustained finishers
Track Bias:
Slightly favors pressers and stalkers
Deep closers rarely win at 1 1/16 miles
Weather Forecast
Temperature: 82–84°F
Humidity: ~60%
Wind: 6–9 mph from the southeast
Conditions: Partly cloudy, fast track expected
Impact:
Ideal dirt racing conditions
Tactical speed horses gain advantage
No moisture expected to soften the surface
Field Analysis — Grade II Molly Pitcher Stakes (Race 6)
(Morning‑line odds are projections based on typical Monmouth graded‑stakes pricing.)
Post 1 — Jersey Goddess
ML Odds: 4‑1 Trainer: Kelly Breen Jockey: Paco Lopez
Recent Finishes:
1st — Lady’s Secret Stakes (Monmouth, 1 1/16m)
3rd — Grade III Doubledogdare (Keeneland, 1 1/16m)
2nd — Allowance (Monmouth, 1m)
Analysis:
A rail‑draw mare with tactical speed and strong Monmouth form. Lopez is dominant at this track and excels at aggressive inside rides. Goddess corners well and has proven stamina at this distance.
Strengths:
Rail draw suits her style
Excellent Monmouth record
Strong tactical speed
Concerns:
Must avoid getting pinned inside
Vulnerable if pace gets too hot early
Post 2 — Empire Empress
ML Odds: 6‑1 Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Recent Finishes:
2nd — Grade III Ruffian (Belmont, 1m)
1st — Allowance (Aqueduct, 1m)
3rd — Grade II Azeri (Oaklawn, 1 1/16m)
Analysis:
A versatile mare with a strong turn of foot. Empire Empress is improving rapidly and Ortiz excels with horses who make one sustained run. Pletcher’s runners ship well to Monmouth.
Strengths:
Excellent late kick
Improving with each start
Elite jockey/trainer combo
Concerns:
Needs pace to run at
Still learning positioning
Post 3 — Coastal Crown
ML Odds: 5‑2 (Favorite) Trainer: Chad Brown Jockey: Flavien Prat
Recent Finishes:
1st — Grade II Ruffian (Belmont, 1m)
2nd — Grade I Apple Blossom (Oaklawn, 1 1/16m)
1st — Allowance (Aqueduct, 1m)
Analysis:
The class of the field. Crown owns the best speed figures and has already beaten several rivals. Prat fits her perfectly, allowing her to stalk and pounce. Her Ruffian win was visually impressive, drawing off by 2 lengths.
Strengths:
Best class and speed figures
Proven graded‑stakes winner
Ideal running style for Monmouth
Concerns:
Will be heavily bet
Must avoid traffic in mid‑pack
Post 4 — Garden State Grace
ML Odds: 10‑1 Trainer: Greg Sacco Jockey: Jevian Toledo
Recent Finishes:
3rd — Allowance (Monmouth, 1m)
5th — Grade III Doubledogdare
1st — Maiden (Monmouth, 1m)
Analysis:
A grinding type who prefers long, sustained runs rather than quick bursts. Grace is a one‑paced mare who needs a hot early tempo to set up her late kick. Toledo is patient and will try to save ground.
Strengths:
Strong stamina
Runs evenly every time
Could benefit from pace meltdown
Concerns:
Lacks acceleration
Needs perfect setup
Post 5 — Atlantic Angel
ML Odds: 7‑2 Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Edgard Zayas
Recent Finishes:
2nd — Grade III Sixty Sails (Hawthorne, 1 1/8m)
1st — Allowance (Gulfstream, 1m)
3rd — Grade III Rampart (Gulfstream, 1m)
Analysis:
A rapidly improving mare with tactical speed. Angel nearly wired a graded field last out but tired late. Zayas is aggressive and may send hard from the outside.
Strengths:
Strong early speed
Improving with experience
Outside post allows clean run
Concerns:
Distance may push her limits
Vulnerable to late pressure
Post 6 — Boardwalk Beauty
ML Odds: 12‑1 Trainer: Michael Stidham Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Recent Finishes:
3rd — Allowance (Churchill, 1 1/16m)
4th — Allowance (Fair Grounds, 1m)
5th — Maiden (Churchill)
Analysis:
A longshot with modest figures but improving form. Beauty has shown better tactical positioning recently. Gaffalione is a capable rider who will try to work out a mid‑pack trip.
Strengths:
Improving slowly
Can sit mid‑pack
Outsider with upset potential
Concerns:
Lacks graded‑stakes experience
Needs major jump in speed
Pace Projection
Early Speed: Atlantic Angel
Pressers: Jersey Goddess, Coastal Crown
Closers: Empire Empress, Garden State Grace, Boardwalk Beauty
Expect a moderate pace, with Angel trying to clear and Goddess pressing. Crown sits the perfect trip.
