A quick look at the weather report Saturday morning told trainer Felix Flores-CobA and jockey Eliseo Ruiz two important things heading into Monmouth Park’s featured $45,000 allowance.

One was that Carnaby was almost certain make the race off the MTO list when the 5½-furlong dash was taken off the grass.

The other was that Carnaby would love the surface.

Both turned out to be spot on expectations as Carnaby outkicked Thunder Chuck coming out of the final turn and cruised to a 1¾-length victory.

Though the track was listed as fast, a day-long drizzle left enough moisture in the race for Carnaby, a former $7,500 claimer who has now won three straight over the main track.

“I did a little rain dance this morning but I’m not sure it worked the way I wanted it to,” said Flores-Coba. “I wanted it to be pouring. He loves an off track. But it was just wet enough for him.”

A 4-year-old gelded son of Street Sense, Carnaby won for the fifth time in 22 career starts. He entered the day with two wins and a second in three off-track starts.

The winning time was :59.01. Thunder Chuck held for second in the eight-horse field. Maximatch was third.

“I saw the forecast for rain in the morning and I said `this will be perfect for him,’ ” said Ruiz. “Even though they had this track as fast there was water in it and he loves that.”

Breaking from the far outside post, Ruiz and Carnaby, let go at odds of 3-1, were content to be part of a four-horse early scramble. Carnaby, a $230,000 yearling purchase now owned by Serranos Racing Stable, kicked away from the field coming out of the final.

“When he wanted to go I said `okay, let’s go.’ He responded like I know he can,” said Ruiz.