Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
OCEANPORT, N.J. – A day after booting home Book’em Dano in the Grade 3 True North handicap at Saratoga, jockey Paco Lopez found himself aboard what could be the next Jersey-bred star.
It’s a far way off yet for Cairo Surprise – Book’em Danno has won nine stakes races, two of the Grade 1s – but the 3-year-old gelding is off to the type of career start that hints at something special.
Hooked briefly at the outset of Sunday’s six-furlong $81,000 John J. Reilly Handicap at Monmouth Park by three-time Reilly winner Speaking, Cairo Surprise shrugged off that challenge and cruised to a 6¼-length win.
The winning time was 1:10.84, and Cairo Surprise, the 1-10 favorite, did that wrapped for the final sixteenth.
“I was impressed with his race today because coming in it looked like a pretty tough race,” said Lopez, who won four races on the eight-race card and is well on his way to a record-tying 13th Monmouth Park riding title. “I know a lot of those horses he was running against. There were some good Jersey-breds in this race.
“I really just let him go. He did it by himself. I don’t know (if he is the next Book’em Danno) but he tries every time if you look at his races. He really has not done anything wrong in his career. He did it easy today.”
With Speaking on his flanks for the opening quarter in :22.49, Cairo Surprise left the veteran gelding in his wake as he powered to the half in :45.53, opening up a wide margin as he did so.
Trained by Cal Lynch, Cairo Surprise was bred and is owned by Hope Haskell Jones, a daughter of Armory L. Haskell, the former president and chairman of the board at Monmouth Park for whom the Haskell is named.
Great Navigator was second, 2½ lengths ahead of stablemate Boardwalk Jack. The latter two are trained by Eddie Owens, Jr.
“This was not unexpected,” Lynch said. “He has been consistently good his whole career. We gelded last year and then gave him a break and trained him lightly through the winter, looking to pick a spot or two – which we did – and have him ready to go for this race fit and tight. He’s still developing. He does everything straightforward.
“The really good ones are easy to train and ride.”
A son of Cairo Prince, Cairo Surprise now has four wins and four seconds from eight career starts, with the Reilly being his first stakes win.
“For 26 years I’ve wanted to win the John J. Reilly,” said Lynch. “I’ve won almost every other Jersey-bred stakes but for 26 years I could not win the Reilly. So I’m glad to finally get it.”
Facing older horses in the field of 10, Cairo Surprise won his fourth straight race. One of those was a 5½-furlong turf sprint at Laurel.
“There’s definitely turf in his future,” Lynch said. “We breezed him a few times at Fair Hill on the turf and he won on the turf at Laurel to start this year. I think he may be as good on the turf, if not better. He can run either way. He’s just a cool horse. I wish I had a barn full like him.
“We’ll stay in Jersey with him and race him at Monmouth. He’s eligible for a few of those Jersey-bred turf races, so we’ll see.”
Cairo Surprise returned $2.20 to win.