Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Eddie Owens has had enough of his slow start to the Monmouth Park meet thus far. Though he has a pair of thirds from five starters, he has yet to make it back to the winner’s circle – after winning 10 races from 35 starters at the Jersey Shore track a year ago.
His mounting frustration will be evident this weekend when he plans to send out more than a one-third of his 22-horse stable, with Rock the Rainbow and Riding Pretty going in the Spruce Fir Handicap and Jersey-bred first-timer Midnight Voodoo trying opening company in a 4½-furlong Maiden Special Weight race for 2-year-olds on Saturday.
On Sunday, he has Speaking, Great Navigator and Boardwalk Jack in the John J. Reilly Handicap while also entering a pair of first-time 2-year-old starters that day.
“If they run the way they’re training I should have a pretty good weekend,” said Owens. “I’m coming at them this weekend. They’ll know I’m there.”
The $75,000 Spruce Fir, at six furlongs, drew a full field of 12 Jersey-bred fillies and mares, with 6-year-old Riding Pretty making the 20th stakes start of her career. Ten of those of been in open company, with the other nine against state-breds.
She has won four Jersey-bred stakes during her 32-race career.
“She’s good and healthy, so we’ll see,” he said. “Every time I run her she gives me her best. I don’t think six furlongs is her best distance but if she is on her game she should be right there.”
A daughter of Jack Milton owned and bred by Holly Crest Farm, Riding Pretty was fifth in her last start in the Serena’s Song Stakes on May 16. She has eight career wins overall, with one coming this year in a $125,000 optional claimer at Gulfstream Park on the synthetic on March 26.
“I really try not to have favorites, but she has been with me a long time so she would have to be one of them,” said Owens.
Rock the Rainbow, a 4-year-old daughter of Sea Wizard owned and bred by ReRon Stable, has yet to re-capture the form that dazzled onlookers when she won her debut in 2024 by 18 lengths at Monmouth Park.
She has hit the board just once in four starts since then, but her most recent effort – a third-place finish against state-bred allowance company – was encouraging to Owens.
“After her first race we breezed her once and she suffered a condylar fracture to one of her hind legs,” said Owens. “She raced against some tough horses in Florida this winter. She is training really good right now. If she breaks well she will be a filly to reckon with in this race.”
Sunday’s ambitious plans will see two of Owens’ more accomplished horses in the John J. Reilly Handicap for Jersey-breds.
Speaking, a winner of $517,770 lifetime, has won the John J. Reilly three consecutive years and owns six stakes wins overall. Great Navigator was second in the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga in 2022 and has also banked more the $500,000 in his career.
Boardwalk Jack, meanwhile, will be making his stakes debut in the John J. Reilly Handicap after going 3-for-3 last year.
Sea Devil and City Streaker, both owned and bred by Holly Crest, are two of the seven 2-year-olds Owens has in his care. Both are sons of Sea Wizard.