As Eddie Owens Jr. prepares for the biggest weekend of his training career at Monmouth Park, he's maintaining his regular routine. Owens is set to send out Sea Streak in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes next Saturday, aiming to make history as only the second Jersey-bred horse to win the Haskell, following Thanks to Tony in 1980. This will be Owens' first Grade 1 starter, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Owens also has unbeaten Little Ni scheduled to run in the $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes next Friday. Little Ni, a Kentucky-bred son of Mohaymen out of Elraazy by Malibu Moon, boasts a perfect 3-for-3 record, winning all his starts – all sprints – by a combined 17 lengths. This will be his first foray into stakes company, and Owens believes he has earned the opportunity.
Little Ni’s competition might include Grade 1 winner Book’em Danno, whose participation will be decided by trainer Derek Ryan by Sunday or Monday. Book’em Danno, with a career record of 7: 5-2-0, recently worked out at Monmouth Park, clocking in at 47 seconds for a four-furlong run. His primary target is the $500,000 Allen Jerkens (G1) at Saratoga on August 24, with the Jersey Shore Stakes or the July 26 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) serving as potential preparatory races.
Sea Streak, owned by Holly Crest Farm, is rebounding from a fifth-place finish in the Pegasus Stakes on June 15, a race Owens attributes to his own poor instructions to jockey Jairo Rendon. Before that, Sea Streak won the Long Branch Stakes, earning entry into the Haskell.
Both Sea Streak and Little Ni are set for their final workouts on Sunday, weather permitting. Owens, who grew up in nearby Long Branch, is keeping a close eye on the weather, which is forecasted to bring rain over the weekend.
With these two promising horses, Owens is poised for a significant weekend at Monmouth Park, aiming for victories that could propel his training career to new heights.