RULE WINS THE MONMOUTH CUP STAKES!

Rule, sent off as the third choice in a field of five, put away pace-setting Sloane Ranger in deep stretch and held off a late run from Flat Out to win the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) in strong fashion.

Ridden to victory by Joe Bravo for trainer Todd Pletcher, Rule got off to an excellent start in the one-mile race and quickly settled into the second position, just behind Sloane Ranger. San Pablo was on the far outside in third, followed by Flat Out in fourth toward the inside and Cactus Charlie.

The pace was very slow, with the front runners clicking off fractions of :25 2/5, :49 3/5, and 1:11 flat. The field of five was very compact as well, with only 2 1/2 lengths separating first from last rounding the final turn.

Entering the homestretch, Rule put his head in front of Sloane Ranger and began to draw clear. Flat Out shifted off the fence and put in a strong late run for second, but Rule was decisive in victory, closing his final quarter mile in :23 3/5 to stop the clock for a mile in 1:37 3/5.

Sloane Ranger held on to finish third, followed by San Pablo and Cactus Charlie.

-Keelerman

Monmouth Park Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $200,000 Monmouth Park Stakes (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Monmouth Park. The one-mile race for three-year-olds and upward has drawn a strong field of six, including last year's Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Flat Out, the talented graded stakes winner Rule, and the consistent San Pablo.

1 Flat Out
2 Cactus Charlie
3 San Pablo
4 Ponzi Scheme
5 Sloane Ranger
6 Rule

-Keelerman