Irish Strait in best form of his career

His 3-year-old brother, Irish War Cry, will be standing in the spotlight Sunday at Monmouth Park when he runs in the $1 million Haskell Invitational, but Irish Strait can put his own stamp on the card in the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Stakes.

Irish Strait, vastly improved this year at age 5, is one of six entrants in the Monmouth Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for older horses carded as race 7 at 2:56 p.m. Eastern. He’s the 5-2 morning-line second choice behind 9-5 favorite Money Multiplier, who’s set for his first start since finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Irish Strait, meanwhile, comes off a win over the Monmouth course on May 27 in the Grade 3 Red Bank Stakes, his first graded stakes win.

“This horse, to me, has really turned the corner this year,” said trainer Graham Motion, who also will run the French import Bolting in the Mounmouth Stakes. “He’s just for whatever reason really developed, which is what can happen when you’re able to take your time with a horse.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Irish Strait, by English Channel Last 3 Beyers: 102-98-92

◗ He was a struggling firstlevel allowance horse two years ago, better last year, and has really come around this season. Was third, a half-length behind 2016 Arlington Million runnerup Kasaqui, in the Tampa Bay Stakes, and in the Henry Clark Stakes at Laurel, he finished fourth, beaten less than one length by his stablemate Ascend, who went on to win the Grade 1 Manhattan.

◗ Led all the way in the Red Bank, but Motion said that was jockey Orlando Bocachica’s call.

“He’s tactically versatile,” Motion said.

Money Multiplier, by Lookin At Lucky Last 3 Beyers: 101-94-109

◗ Came strongly to hand last year at age 4 for trainer Chad Brown, hitting a peak with a second-place finish behind the mighty Flintshire in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga.

◗ Caught a very wet turf course while finishing fourth in the Turf Classic at Belmont last fall, then ran below his best form when sixth in the BC Turf.

“He didn’t run his ‘A’ race,” said Brown. “He had some bone bruising and just needed to quiet his whole body down. We turned him out for quite a while. The horse has come back super. I’m really excited about getting this horse started again.”

◗ Raced at Monmouth last summer, finishing second in the United Nations, but that 11-furlong race falls more naturally into Money Multiplier’s ideal distance range, which seems to be 11 or 12 furlongs.

Kharafa, by Kitalpha Last 3 Beyers: 99-91-95

◗ Eight-year-old is 3-0-1 from four starts at nine furlongs and has demonstrated a fondness for the Monmouth course.

Smooth Daddy, by Scat Daddy Last 3 Beyers: 94-91-82

◗ Front-running 6-year-old got away with a slow pace on a wet course and managed to beat the Grade 1-class Time Test when last seen in the Fort Marcy on May 6.