Dial Operator took full advantage of the class relief he received, returning to his winning ways with a sharp 1¾-length victory in the featured $51,250 allowance race for Jersey-breds on Sunday at Monmouth Park. 

Ninth in the Grade 3 Gotham in his last start on March 10, Dial Operator easily handled seven rivals with a strong middle move, taking the lead entering the final turn and never looking back for jockey Jose Ferrer. Now 3-for-4 lifetime, Dial Operator covered the six furlongs in 1:10.73. He returned $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite. 

Trainer Jason Servis said immediately afterward that he would likely point the 3-year-old son of Dialed In-Heir Stream to the $60,000 Charles Hesse II Handicap at Monmouth Park on Aug. 26. 

“He’s a nice horse,” said Servis. “I don’t know what happened to him in the Gotham. He was only 7-1 in that race against some good horses but it just didn’t happen for him that day. I’m not sure why.” 

The victory was the second of three on the 11-race card for Servis, who has 17 wins from just 31 starters at the meeting. 

Ferrer, who rode Dial Operator in his first start — a Maiden Special Weight victory at Monmouth as a 2-year-old – said the New Farm-owned colt has improved significantly. 

“He impressed me a lot this race,” said Ferrer. “He just went by these horses today like it was nothing.” 

Longshot I Am The Man rallied for second. It was another eight lengths back to Evil Monkey in third. 

Racing resumes at Monmouth Park with a special nine-race Wednesday card on July 4. Post time is 12:50 p.m.