by Mike Curry
To view a video replay of the Jersey Shore Stakes, click here.
Custom for Carlos set a strong pace under Eddie Castro and shook free in the stretch to a 6 1/4-length romp in the $194,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (G3) for three-year-olds on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
The third-place finisher in the Swale Stakes (G2) on March 28 at Gulfstream Park, Custom for Carlos entered off a six-length romp in a six-furlong allowance race on May 29 at Churchill Downs for trainer Eddie Kenneally.
The More Than Ready colt dispatched Happy Bull and Snapshot entering the stretch and drove clear, coasting home under a hand ride to win in 1:08.19 on a track rated as fast, less than four-fifths of a second off the track record of 1:07.47 set by Idiot Proof on July 4, 2007.
“He’s really sharp in the morning,” Kenneally said. “I could tell turning for home, looking at the jockey, that he had plenty left. He’s been running against some very good competition.”
Owned by Homewrecker Racing and Avalon Farm, Custom for Carlos improved to three wins in six starts. He defeated Nicanor, a full brother to ill-fated 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Barbaro, on March 7 in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park.
The field for the Jersey Shore Stakes was reduced to four when Beacon Hill Road, the lone stakes winner entered, was scratched. Custom for Carlos broke alertly and set the tempo with Happy Bull and 7-to-10 favorite Snapshot pressing from his outside through an opening quarter in :22.32.
After a half-mile in :44.59, Custom for Carlos put away his challengers entering the stretch and powered away to a dominant win. He is one of four winners from as many starters out of stakes-placed winner Meadow Oaks, by Meadowlake. Custom for Carlos is from the immediate family of Grade 1 winners Megahertz (GB) and Plankton, Group 1 winner Call to Honor, and Grade 2 winner and sire Buckley Boy.
“He does have a nice pedigree for both turf and dirt, but we’re happy with what he’s doing now, so we’ll keep him on dirt,” Kenneally said. “There’s a couple of races at Saratoga [Race Course] for him, so that’s where we’ll go next. The Breeders’ Cup [Sprint (G1)] would be a nice goal; three-year-olds have won it before.”
Runner-up Snapshot finished a length clear of third-place finisher Happy Bull, who held off Wildcat Brief by a neck.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor