News & Barn notes

Fashion Break Survives Early Speed Duel, Then Holds Off 1-2 Favorite Jimi Bags To Win Sunday’s Feature Race

August 12, 2018

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Fashion Break survived an early speed duel and then had enough left to hold off 1-2 favorite Jimi Bags for a half-length victory in the featured $40,000 optional claimer on Sunday at Monmouth Park. 

Ridden by Hector Diaz, Jr., the Kathleen O’Connell-trained Fashion Break hooked up early with Bow Town Cat through early fractions of :22.16 and :45.20 in the 5½-furlong dash originally scheduled for the turf but switched to the main track. 

Jimi Bags took up the chase in second along the rail after Bow Town Cat bowed out and staged a relentless rally that fell just short. 

“I wasn’t really worried even though we went fast early because she was really comfortable,” said Diaz, Jr. “She was doing it easy. She can run fast early. She’s a fast filly. As long as she does it easily you don’t worry about her.” 

Fashion Break returned $12.60 to win, covering the distance in 1:04.05. 

The 3-year-old daughter of Old Fashioned-Breakshot won for the fourth time in eight career starts for owner Richard Forbush and for the second time at the current Monmouth Park meeting.