Stiffed goes for second straight stakes win at Monmouth

Jun 29, 2015 - 8:21 PM Oceanport, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Stiffed, working on a two-race win streak, heads a field of seven older fillies and mares in Friday's $150,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Molly Pitcher begins Monmouth's July 4 holiday weekend.

Trained by John Mazza, Stiffed will be ridden by Gabriel Saez from the inside post as the 4-year-old filly goes for a second straight stakes victory at the track.

Stiffed, owned by Holly Crest Farm, won the Monmouth Beach Stakes on May 24, defeating fellow Molly Pitcher entrant Got Lucky by a half-length as a 34-1 longshot.

"I wasn't too worried when she was a little slow coming out of the gate," said Saez. "The fractions were quick up front, but we were comfortable far off the lead. That's just how she runs. She answered the call at the top of the stretch perfectly."

Stiffed, who will be making her third start of the year, began 2015 with an optional claiming victory at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 6. Last year at Monmouth she was third in the Jersey Girl Stakes. She has four wins in 10 starts for $146,225.

Got Lucky, trained by Todd Pletcher for Hill 'n' Dale Equine and P. J. Steinberg, will be to Stiffed's immediate outside with jockey Paco Lopez. The 4-year-old was 19-10 when she got edged out in the Monmouth Beach.

In 2014, Got Lucky took on the best 3-year-old fillies in the nation, recording a pair of seconds in the Rachel Alexandra and Gazelle. She was seventh to Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks and fifth in both the Alabama and Spinster. Got Lucky has earned $361,340 with three wins and five seconds from 12 lifetime starts.

Here is the field for the Molly Pitcher from the rail out: Stiffed, Gabriel Saez; Got Lucky, Paco Lopez; J's Two Step Halo, Daniel Centeno; Lucky Liberty, Wilmer Garcia; Mary n' Eileen, Angel Serpa; Oasis At Midnight, Orlando Bocachica and Shayjolie, Joe Bravo.

Post time for the Molly Pitcher will be approximately 5:17 p.m. ET.