Sweet Cherry Pie has no problem with off-turf My Frenchman

Sweet Cherry Pie was set to make his turf debut in the $100,000 My Frenchman Stakes on Sunday at Monmouth Park, but a rain-off onto the main track suited him just fine.  

Pressing the pace under Jairo Rendon, Sweet Cherry Pie ($4.80) opened a big lead in upper stretch and splashed to a 4 1/4-length victory in the My Frenchman.  

Super Chow, the race’s lone main-track-only entrant, finished a soundly defeated second. Freedom Road rallied mildly for third, followed by Sir Lancelot and Extendo, who raced detached from the rest of the field the entire trip and was all but eased.

Chiringo, Crispy Cat, Playground Legend, and Smooth Flyin Mike were scratched from this 3-year-old sprint stakes.

Sweet Cherry Pie was timed in 1:04.29 for 5 1/2 furlongs over the sloppy, sealed surface. 

Trained for BBN Racing by Rusty Arnold, who shipped his charge from Keeneland to Monmouth earlier this week, Sweet Cherry Pie debuted March 4 at Gulfstream Park with a long-odds fourth in a strong maiden race. His talent showed bright second time out, when he won a Keeneland maiden splrint with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure, and even losing allowance races at Churchill and Ellis Park, Sweet Cherry Pie had run very well in defeat.  

Bettors made the colt the 7-5 favorite over multiple dirt-stakes winner Super Chow, and Sweet Cherry Pie did not let his supporters down. Sir Lancelot set out to lead through a quarter-mile in 21.70, Sweet Cherry Pie tracking intently before Rendon let his mount engage the leader going into the turn. Sweet Cherry Pie cruised past Sir Lancelot and ran just in front of Super Chow around much of the bend before easily putting that rival away. The race was over at the head of the stretch, though Rendon stayed busy on his mount. 

Bred in Kentucky by Theta Holding 1, Sweet Cherry Pie is by Twirling Candy out of Sweet Cat, by Kitten’s Joy. He’s bred for turf, and while the grass debut is on hold, Sweet Cherry Pie became a stakes winner nonetheless.