Saturday's trip to Monmouth Park boasts a quartet of 6-figure stakes, including the Eatontown, Pegasus, Monmouth and Salvator Mile. It's the latter that intrigues most as a Grade 3 that goes as Race 9 of 10. Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox trainees are back among some familiar visitors to the Jersey Shore.

Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet take advantage of 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on the entire Saturday card at Monmouth.

​​Field Depth:
Grade 1 winner EAST AVENUE and Grade 2 winners BISHOPS BAY, POINT DUME and GIOCOSO are among the headliners, while GRANDE has won at the Grade 3 level. GRAND MO THE FIRST is Grade 1-placed. This group rates stronger than most Grade 3s.
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Pace:
Very competitive early, but that's to be expected at Monmouth and in a middle-distance mile like this. Even so, any bit of patience and ability to pounce could be the winning move.
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Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.

1-GIOCOSO: Both bred for and raced primarily on turf, last year’s Grade 3 Commonwealth winner at Churchill Downs finds a difficult spot for his first dirt success. Trainer Keith Desormeaux has pulled some shockers over the years, and this one does get a rapid pace set-up if able to relax some like past seasons, but in both starts this year he was too involved early for his own good in this race.

2-GRANDE: Todd Pletcher exits a highly forgettable Saratoga skid during the Belmont Stakes Festival and the barn had lost 32 in a row coming into this racing week, dating back to May 23. The mercurial Grande is 4-for-4 at Gulfstream, but runner-up in Aqueduct’s Wood at 3 and most recently sixth in a strong edition of the Alysheba at Churchill. John Velazquez jumping off isn’t a ringing endorsement and there’s concern this colt is in a no-lead, no-pass situation at what figures to be an underlay price while giving 6 pounds to nearly all his rivals.

3-POINT DUME: His General George and Grade 2 Carter wins back-to-back at 7 furlongs, the latter beating last week’s True North winner Book ‘em Danno were career-best efforts. He regressed mightily in the tough Grade 1 Churchill Downs Handicap on Derby Day and now we have to wonder if he’s over-the-top after an extraordinary 32 straight races in the same form cycle without a major, extended break. Much better around 1 turn and a need-the-lead type routing in the past, while the 6-pound allowance he gives most all his rivals increase the level of difficulty.

4-GRAND MO THE FIRST: 2024 Florida Derby third-place finisher and Kentucky Derby alum raced only once in 2025 and once so far this year for Victor Barboza. Steps back up in class off a Gulfstream 1-turn mile allowance victory and gets a rider change back to Paco Lopez. Hasn’t won around 2 turns on dirt and is 1-for-4 with a turf score in that situation. Still, like where he’s at in the form cycle and worth a look.

5-OTTER MISCHIEF: Parx-based allowance runner has been favored in 7 straight races and now takes on easily the toughest test of his career. He should be part of a contested front group of speed players. Lupe Preciado trainee is 2-for-6 around 2 turns and doesn’t appear to have a path to victory vs. these.

6-BISHOPS BAY: Defending Salvator Mile champ, despite a Grade 3-to-Grade 3 move, makes a significant class drop. This Brad Cox trainee faced Grade 1 winner Antiquarian last out and prior to that elite runners Forever Young and Nysos in the Saudi Cup. While racing mostly around 1 turn of late, he’s won 3 straight around 2 turns and is a head shy of 5 straight 2-turn victories dating back to 2023. Should be the one to beat on the title defense under Flavien Prat, whose 2025 Monmouth summer raids netted 4 stakes wins (9: 4-2-2).

7-SEA STREAK: Monmouth’s 2024 Long Branch winner missed 1-1/2 years before a dull return in an allowance sprint in March. Takes a huge bite of the apple here and difficult to recommend as part of what looks to be a contended pace of simply better performers.

8-OFFALY COOL: Parx-based stakes winner hasn’t been seen since last August’s Mayors Mile in greater Philly and changes barns to Julio Rodriguez. Shows perhaps the best finishing ability in this race among a field of primarily speed and pressing-types. Won off an 11-month layoff late in 2024 so he’s shown some ability when freshened. Only prior Monmouth foray came in 2023 when second by a head in the Long Branch Stakes after leading late.

9-EAST AVENUE: Classy colt’s 3 career wins all came in wire-to-wire fashion, most notably the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in 2024. The Brendan Walsh trainee looks much closer to his best form in 2 starts this year after facing a razor-sharp foe Nu Whats Nu in an Oaklawn Mile second and a classy group in the Grade 2 Alysheba at Churchill when fourth. The outside draw and surrounding pace pressure will make the test a challenge, but he’s capable. Until he passes a horse in any race it’s reasonable to pass on him at a shorter price.

Most Likely Exotics Contender:
BISHOPS BAY is 14 for 15 in the exacta lifetime and defending champ proven at this track and trip.

Best Longshot Contender:
Value can be found in well-traveled GRAND MO THE FIRST and the come-backing OFFALY COOL.
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Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$75 exacta BISHOPS BAY over GRAND MO THE FIRST. $25 exacta BISHOPS BAY over OFFALY COOL.