News & Barn notes

Backers Celebrate as Hemp Hemp Hurray Takes Tyro

August 06, 2017

2017_Hemp_391

Oceanport, N.J. – Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Hemp Hemp Hurray rated off the speed before rallying strongly on the turn to stay undefeated and capture the $60,000 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park by 7 1/4 lengths. 

            Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Albin Jimenez, the 2-year-old son of Artie Schiller sat third early in the field of four colts behind the fleet-footed Phonemyposseagain.  Hemp Hemp Hurray tipped outside that rival on the turn and inside of 3/5 favorite Earth to assume command and extended his margin to the wire. 

            Five and a half furlongs on “good” turf was completed in 1:04.91.  Hemp Hemp Hurray returned $4.40 and $3 as the 6/5 second choice and topped a $23.60. 

            “I thought I was going to be in front but [Jose] Ferrer’s horse [Phonemyposseagain] had so much speed I had to sit back,” Jimenez said.  “Around the turn, I had so much horse I just moved out and he did the rest.” 

            Hemp Hemp Hurray is now two-for-two after breaking his maiden at first asking on June 9 at Belmont.  The Artie Schiller colt out of the Malibu Moon mare Druidess now has earnings of $81,000. 

            Live racing returns to Monmouth Park on Friday, Aug. 11 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.  The racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting.