This is what’s meant by the phrase “necessity is the mother of invention.”

Unable to find a dirt race for Wildncrazynight, trainer Kelly Breen tried the 4-year-old Jersey-bred gelding on the turf for the first time for his 16^th career start – and in open company. The result: A gate to wire victory in Saturday’s featured $41,500 allowance optional claimer on the penultimate day of Monmouth Park’s 2026 meet.

Heading into Sunday’s closing day there will be a mandatory Pick 6 payout on a carryover of $59,158.

“We ran out of races on the dirt,” said Breen. “He would have run on dirt, turf or glass today. He was ready to run.”

The winning time for the 5½ furlongs over a firm turf course was 1:03.21.

For Breen, the victory was his 23^rd of the meet, leaving him two behind Jorge Delgado in the race for leading trainer honors. Breen has two entered on Sunday’s eight-race card; Delgado has three entered.

Ridden by Jose Gomez, Wildncrazynight blazed to the front and didn’t face a serious threat until the Miguel Clement-trained Pivotal Moment, the race favorite, made a late bid, falling a half-length short.

“He was training good and Kelly felt he would take to the grass well. Like we saw today, he did,” said Gomez. “I saw in his bloodlines that he does have stakes winners on the grass and dirt. I’m not sure if he is bred for the turf but it is definitely in his family.”

Wildncrazynight paid $11.80 to win. It marked the third career win from 16 starts for the son of Midnight Lute.

With three winners on the Saturday card, Luis Rivera Jr. closed the gap slightly on Paco Lopez for leading jockey honors. Lopez, seeking his record-tying 13^th Monmouth Park riding title (and eighth straight), holds a 53 to 48 advantage.

Sunday’s Mandatory Pick 6 payout begins in race 3.