Front Pocket Money Determined In Jersey Shore Victory

Kirk and Judy Robison’s Front Pocket Money was the determined 3/4-length winner of Saturday’s Grade 3 Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park. The sophomore son of Uncle Mo covered six furlongs in 1:09.93 over the fast main track under Antonio Gallardo for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“My horse broke sharp and he felt comfortable on the lead,” said Gallardo. “I had a lot of pressure the whole way, but my horse loves to fight and he fought until the end. When he felt the horse coming on the inside down the stretch, I felt that he wanted to go again.”

Divine Warrior took a brief lead right out of the gates, but Front Pocket Money was right there alongside him and had taken the lead back prior to the first quarter-mile mark. Gallardo slipped his mount up the rail to maintain the ground-saving position as he marked the first fraction in :22.82. As Divine Warrior dropped back it was Colonel Sharp who took up the challenge, pressing Front Pocket Money through a half-mile in :45.51, with Yellow Chips several lengths behind in third.

Rounding the turn for home, Front Pocket Money held a half-length advantage over Colonel Sharp, but Yellow Chips was digging in along the inside rail to mount a challenge. Yellow Chips was very game, but Gallardo and Front Pocket Money held on determinedly to win by three-quarters of a length. Yellow Chips had to settle for second, while Colonel Sharp was third. Divine Warrior finished fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Christina Kelly, Front Pocket Money was a $ 67,000 yearling purchase at the Ocala Breeders’ Company Winter Mixed Sale of 2014. The colt has now won three of his five career races, and the Jersey Shore boosts his career earnings to $ 150,000.

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