Monmouth Park: Morrow Cove pulls away in Serena’s Song Stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Todd Pletcher scratched Morrow Cove from the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks on Saturday, avoiding a showdown with Grace Hall.

Good call.

Pletcher employed the backup plan, running Morrow Cove instead in the $75,000 Serena’s Song Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Sunday at Monmouth Park.

She came through with a dominant victory, her first in a stakes.

Morrow Cove and jockey Paco Lopez pressed the pace set by Minesave. When Ageless ranged up three wide on the final turn, Lopez turned his filly loose.

It was no contest from there.

Morrow Cove pulled away effortlessly, opening up daylight by midstretch. Moment in Dixie, the 3-5 favorite and distant trailer after stumbling at the break, made up a ton of ground to get second, 4 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Morrow Cove paid $9.80 to win as the second choice.

The time was 1:43.69 for the one mile and 70 yards.

The win was the third on the card for Lopez.

“She came with her run when I called on her,” Lopez said. “She’s a talented filly and she kicked away pretty easily. She had plenty left at the end.”

Ainsley was third, followed by Street Crew, Ageless, Salad Girl, and Minesave.

The Serena’s Song is the prep for the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks on Aug. 11.