Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
For all of the “tough luck” that trainer Jose Delgado has run into during the Monmouth Park meet this summer, Bingo’s Boy can help ease some of the sting with a solid showing in Saturday’s $100,000 Smoke Glacken Stakes for 2-year-olds.
A winner first-time out in maiden special weight company on July 1, Bingo’s Boy heads into the six-furlong Smoke Glacken off a 10-week layoff following his winning debut at 4½ furlongs.
“His first effort was a big surprise because he was a little bit green,” said Delgado. “As a Jersey-bred you don’t get a chance at too many starts as a 2-year-old. So we decided to take a shot.
“He was working okay — nothing that impressed us. So he did surprise us.”
The Smoke Glacken drew a field of nine as part of the closing weekend for the Monmouth Park meet, with live racing Saturday and Sunday before Thoroughbred racing in New Jersey shifts to the Meadowlands for the boutique all-turf meet starting Sept. 15.
Admission and parking are free for the final two days.
For Delgado, a good weekend – he has three in at Monmouth Park on Saturday and two in at Colonial that day, including Sebastian Run in the $125,000 RosiesB Stakes – would give him some momentum before he moves his 18-horse stable to another venue.
He has seven wins from 60 starters at the Monmouth Park meet, with 15 seconds and five-thirds.
“I thought I would have won more races than we have at Monmouth but we’ve run into some tough luck with 15 seconds,” he said. “The horses are running well. I can’t complain about that. This is how the game goes sometimes.”
Bingo’s Boy, a gelded son of Sea Wizard owned by Bingo Racing Stable LLC, is one of six Jersey-breds entered in the Smoke Glacken. One looms especially formidable: The Derek Ryan-trained Book’em Danno, who won his debut by 9½ lengths on Aug. 12 in maiden special weight company at Monmouth Park.
The Carlos David-trained Shea D World, a Kentucky-bred son of World of Trouble, who is 2-for-2 on the dirt also looks prominent. He won his last start at Delaware Park on Aug. 24 by 12 lengths.
But Bingo’s Boy showed the ability to race off the pace, which could be beneficial in a race that has plenty of speed.
“I think he should be okay with the added distance,” said Delgado. “His first start he didn’t show speed. There’s a lot of speed in this race and with 2-year-olds a lot of the time the speed comes back and it can favor a closer.
“It’s a 2-year-old race so anything can happen. He’s not a morning horse. He just does his job. That’s why we were surprised he won first time out. I gave him a lot of time off after that because I wanted get him a little tighter for a stakes race.”
Delgado, who has raced at Tampa Bay Downs the past four winters, said he is undecided where he will go after the Monmouth Park meet ends. He is considering Tampa, Gulfstream, and Turfway.
“I have no idea yet,” he said. “I should know by the end of September.”