It looks like trainer Eddie Plesa, Jr. has another talented two-year-old in his barn! On Friday afternoon, the Plesa-trained Full Salute scored an easy victory in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth Park, drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a sharp performance.
Ridden to victory by Gabriel Saez, Full Salute got off to a brilliant start and quickly seized command of the lead, running the opening quarter-mile in :22.22 while leading by a half-length over J B’s Big Red and Silverado Star. But as the field rounded the turn, Full Salute began to leave his rivals behind, extending his lead to 2 1/2 lengths through a half-mile in :45.40. Through the homestretch, he was never really asked for serious run from Saez and cruised across the wire in the time of 1:04.20 seconds. Entertainer rallied to finish second, while J B’s Big Red and Silverado tired from their efforts to keep up with Full Salute and retreated to finish sixth and seventh.
A son of Speightstown out of the Milwaukee Brew mare Mazucambera, Full Salute has now compiled a record of one win and one second from two starts, having finished second in his debut sprinting 4 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth last month. He is owned by Morris Bailey and, as mentioned, is trained by Eddie Plesa, who in recent years has conditioned the juvenile stakes winners Itsmyluckyday, Souper Colossal, and Mr. Jordan. Given how impressive Full Salute was this afternoon, he appears poised to join them with a stakes victory of his own in the very near future!
