Monongahela Steps Up to Take Laurel Monday Feature

Monongahela Steps Up to Take Laurel Monday Feature

Rainbow 6 Carryover for Return of Live Racing Friday, Dec. 8
            
 LAUREL, MD – Gunpowder Farms’ Monongahela, taking a step up in class off a win over older horses 18 days earlier, rallied with a steady drive on the far outside to catch Final Prospect approaching the wire and win Monday’s featured eighth race by neck at Laurel Park.
 
It was the fifth win from 10 starts this year and fourth against his elders for the 3-year-old Monongahela ($14), who has finished worse than third only once in 12 career tries. The Pennsylvania-bred was racing at Laurel for the first time since running second in his career debut last October.
 
Regular rider Dana Whitney made the trip from Penn National to be aboard for trainer Kelly Rubley, and had Monongahela settled off a leisurely quarter-mile of 25.20 seconds set by Mythos. Fellowship made a bold move up the rail to forge a short lead after a half in 49.97, and was still in front when Final Prospect surged once straightened for home and took over.
 
Monongahela swept to the far outside and was set down for a drive down the stretch, gradually reeling in Final Prospect to take the $47,000 third-level optional claiming allowance in 1:45.46 for about 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track. Wake Up in Malibu, the 9-5 favorite, was third, with late-running Bodhisattva fourth.
 
There will be a jackpot carryover of $1,970.46 in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 when live racing resumes with a nine-race program Friday. First race post time is 12:30 p.m.
 
Multiple tickets with all six winners Monday each returned $209.18.
 
Notes: Jockey Kevin Gomez registered a riding double aboard Jump Jive an Wail ($3.20) in the sixth race and Annapolis Class ($6.60) in the ninth. Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado took off his remaining mounts and said he was sore but OK after being thrown when Eyesfirst went down in the third race.