Stuart S. Janney III’s Data Link benefited from a perfectly-timed ride by John Velazquez to win the $200,000 Monmouth Stakes (gr. IIT) by just over a length June 10.

Get Stormy was second, with Get Serious hanging on for third. Final time for the nine furlong turf contest was 1:45.93 over the firm going.

Monmouth Stakes Quotes:

WINNING TRAINER (SHUG McGAUGHEY) – “He’s a pretty good horse. We got a little bit of a pace set up and Johnny was patient with him and got him to relax good for him. When he wheeled him out, it was here we come.”

 
WINNING JOCKEY (JOHN VELAZQUEZ) – “It was perfect. There was a lot of speed in the race and he likes to come from behind. It just worked out perfect for us. All the speed held up pretty well and when I pulled him outside at the quarter-pole, he responded right away. It’s easy when you ride this kind of horse.”


EDDIE CASTRO (RIDER OF GET STORMY) – “I had to move about the 5/8ths pole, which was sooner than I wanted to go.  He did everything right today, the other horse just caught us.”

 
PABLO FRAGOSO (RIDER OF GET SERIOUS) – “I think everyone moved sooner than they wanted to.  My horse really tried.  I didn’t think we’d be in front.  Today we were able to sit off the speed.  I was very impressed with him today.”