OCEANPORT, N.J.-Padua Stables "Custer" came charging home on the Monmouth Park turf course on Sunday to run down Plenty Coups in the final strides and set a new course record of 1:39.03 in the $48,000 allowance/optional claiming contest by a neck.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr and ridden by PACO LOPEZ, Custer paid $16.60, $7.60 and $6 across the board.

A 4-year-old gelding by High Yield from the Dehere mare Burning Hope, Custer boosted his lifetime mark to 4-4-0 from 14 starts. He has now earned $106,749 for his connections.

Custer lowered the course record previously held by Casey's Joy, who ran the mile and a sixteenth over the Monmouth course with the rail at 24 feet in 1:40.04 on Sept. 1,2007.