The Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, August 15, brings together a competitive field of six older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. The $150,000 event is scheduled as the fifth race, with a 2:57 p.m. Eastern post time.
The 1 1/16-mile distance at Monmouth has generally favored horses racing near the pace. Early-pressing types have accounted for the overwhelming majority of winners in the available sample, while late runners have had a difficult time getting the job done. The inside posts, particularly positions one through three, have also performed well at this distance.
That could make early positioning especially important in this year’s Iselin.
1. East Avenue
East Avenue is one of the top contenders in this race after an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth on June 13. Breaking from the outside post in that one-mile event, he raced wide throughout but still managed to get up by a nose over Bishops Bay.
The victory was particularly encouraging because East Avenue demonstrated a new dimension to his running style. He had previously been much more dependent on being near the front, but this year he has shown an ability to relax and pass horses. He also stalked the pace effectively in the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile earlier this year, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
His Today’s Racing Digest numbers also point to continued improvement. He earned a 153 final-time rating and a 104 Fire Number in his latest start, both strong figures for this field. His best number prior to that was a 141 in the Oaklawn Mile in March, suggesting that he could be moving forward as a four-year-old.
The switch from an outside post to the rail should help, particularly at a distance where the inside posts have performed well. Tyler Gaffalione, who rode him to victory last time, stays aboard.
East Avenue has the combination of current form, speed, tactical versatility and a favorable post to make him one of the horses to beat.
2. Chunk of Gold
Chunk of Gold is an intriguing runner making his second start of the year.
The four-year-old has finished in the top three in 10 of 11 career starts, with three wins and six runner-up finishes. He returned from a lengthy layoff on June 28 at Churchill Downs, setting the pace before finishing second at 1 1/16 miles.
That race produced a slow early pace and a faster finish, which may have contributed to his modest 131 final-time rating. He should be fitter for his second start of the year, and his previous form suggests he is capable of a significantly faster effort.
He earned a 150 final-time rating in last year’s Grade 2 Clark and previously posted a 153 in a romping allowance victory at Keeneland. His past pace ratings have also been strong, including figures of 162, 155, 171 and 156.
The question is how much improvement he can make from his four-year-old debut. With his tactical speed and the inside-friendly post, he has a legitimate chance to take another step forward.
Read more at Today's Racing Digest
