Monster Bea turned in the best performance of his career July 15 at Del Mar with a powerful two-length victory in the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on opening day of the summer meet.
The victory was the first stakes win for the 3-year-old son of Hat Trick, who was also represented in the Oceanside by Dressed in Hermes, who closed swiftly from last to just miss out on finishing third. Monster Bea is the fifth stakes winner this year for Hat Trick, who has had stakes winners on three continents.
Coming into the Oceanside off a turf allowance victory at Churchill Downs, Monster Bea was allowed to settle in seventh under Gary Stevens, holding his spot until a quarter-mile to go, when Monster Bea unleashed a furious kick, rolling to the lead down the center of the track to win going away.
New trainer Peter Miller said, “I really want to thank (previous trainer) Mark Casse and his team, they sent the horse ready to run. I would think the (Aug. 6) La Jolla (G3) would be next, then on to the (Sept. 4) Del Mar Derby (G2).”
Owned by Gary Barber, Monster Bea upped his record to 3-1-1 from 10 starts, with earnings of $170,097. The winner was bred in Kentucky by Robert Trussell Jr.